12 O’Clock High, an award-winning podcast on business leadership, brings together stories from history, the arts, sports and movies, research, and current events to consider leadership lessons. In this episode, Tom is joined by Alec Burlakoff, who shares his compelling journey from a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry to a cautionary tale of white-collar crime.

Alec recounts his background in coaching and social work before transitioning to the pharmaceutical field, where his rapid climb to senior vice president halted due to off-label drug promotion and bribery charges. He discusses the ethical pitfalls he encountered, the consequences of his actions, and his subsequent indictment, pleading guilty, and serving a federal prison sentence. Alec emphasizes the importance of compliance departments in preventing ethical lapses and the necessity for sales and compliance to work in synergy. He also sheds light on the mindset of white-collar professionals, the dangers of working in the gray, and how organizations can cultivate a culture of accountability and integrity. Throughout the conversation, Alec’s transformation offers invaluable lessons for compliance professionals and corporate leaders on fostering ethical practices in heavily regulated industries.

Key highlights:

Resources:

Alec Burlakoff on LinkedIn

Limitless! Consulting

Tom Fox

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12 O’Clock High, an award-winning podcast on business leadership, brings together stories from history, the arts, sports and movies, research, and current events to consider leadership lessons. In this episode, Tom is joined by Jared Connors to navigate PFAS Regulations, Trade Sanctions, and Sustainability Reporting in 2025.

Tom welcomes former colleague Jared Connors to discuss key compliance issues as 2024 approaches. Their conversation dives into PFAS regulations, trade sanctions, sustainability reporting, and how businesses must navigate these complex landscapes. Jared explains the critical impact of PFAS ‘forever chemicals,’ shedding light on state-level and federal restrictions and the international obligations of companies involved in manufacturing and distribution. The episode also tackles the implications of trade sanctions and how companies can manage their supply chains to avoid disruptions, especially in light of global tensions and shifting political dynamics. Moving forward, Jared provides insight into upcoming sustainability reporting obligations, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and California’s new stringent laws, emphasizing the importance of data collection and transparent reporting in mitigating risks. This episode provides a comprehensive overview for compliance professionals looking to stay ahead of regulatory changes and market expectations.

Key highlights:

 Resources:

Jared Connors on LinkedIn

Assent Compliance

Tom Fox

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12 O’Clock High, an award-winning podcast on business leadership, brings together stories from history, the arts, sports and movies, research, and current events to consider leadership lessons. In this episode, Tom is joined by Sabine Kvenberg to discuss the skill of listening in leadership.

Sabine Kvenberg, a celebrated speaker and expert in corporate communication, brings a unique perspective shaped by her diverse background in performing arts and her career transition from a claim adjuster. Her expertise underscores the significance of effective communication, particularly for women in tech who may struggle with confidence in voicing their ideas. Kvenberg advocates for strategies such as setting clear objectives, rehearsing key points, and integrating storytelling to engage and connect with audiences, enhancing leadership and team dynamics. By focusing on body language, vocal variety, and the intricacies of word choice, she helps individuals improve their self-communication and overall interaction skills, fostering a more positive and collaborative corporate environment.

Key highlights:

Resources:

Sabine Kvenberg on LinkedIn

Sabine Kvenberg Website

Tom Fox

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12 O’Clock High, a podcast on business leadership brings together stories from history, the arts and movies, research and current events to consider leadership lessons. In this episode, we consider the movie Man for All Seasons. 

·      Movie Storyline

·      What is conscience?

•       “Let Your Conscience Be your Guide”

•       More never condemned the King. “The king’s good servant, but God’s first.”

•       Wrongdoing Makes You Lose Your Conscience-Cromwell and Richard Rich

·      Leadership Lessons

•       Practicing integrity for the modern business leader is not a simple and straightforward endeavor. Social media only exacerbates this. 

•       A modern leader is “poured into the world’s mold of compromise and deceit”. You need an ethical grounding.

•       Practicing integrity demands that we, as leaders, constantly assess our relationships. Business and Personal

·      Standard of Trust Leadership

•       Competence, Pro-active and Accountable. 

•       Creating an environment that allows strong moral roots to grow and be sustained.

·      Wrap Up and Close

·      Final Thoughts

·      Watch the Movie; see the play, read the book

Resources

Ten Timely Lessons from A Man For All Seasons

Leadership Lessons from St. Thomas More

A Leader for All Seasons

Virtuous Leadership-Thomas More

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In this engaging episode, Tom Fox welcomes back James Gellert, Executive Chairman of RapidRatings and Chair of Advisory Board at LogicSource.

They are to discuss the evolution of supply chain risk management post-COVID. They delve into how the pandemic accelerated existing initiatives, highlighting the increased focus on using data and new technologies to enhance supply chain resiliency. Gellert emphasizes the shift from ‘just in time’ to ‘just in case’ strategies, the heightened importance of managing indirect suppliers, and the impact of current inflationary pressures on middle-market and private companies. They also explore the critical role of communication between supply chain executives, board members, and shareholders in navigating these complexities. The discussion underscores the need for more proactive engagement from all stakeholders to manage supply chain risk effectively.

Key Highlights:

Resources:

James Gellert on LinkedIn

Rapid Ratings

LogicSource

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In this engaging episode, Tom Fox interviews Caroline Biesalski, an accountant turned podcast host and coach, who shares her inspiring journey from the accounting world to podcasting. Biesalski discusses her chapter in ‘Circle of the One Volume One’ and her successful ‘Inspired Choice Podcast,’ where she has conducted over 400 interviews in nine months. She delves into the critical role of intuition and influential works such as Napoleon Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich’ in shaping her path.

Biesalski highlights strategies for unlocking success and authentic voices in corporate settings, emphasizing structured dedication, goal-focused thinking, and the importance of speaking from the heart. Additionally, she touches on the significance of making inspired choices and being proactive in changing one’s professional and personal circumstances. Caroline invites listeners to participate in her free daily book study on Be Connected and shares her aspirations for future in-person events and charitable projects focused on education and community.

Key Highlights:

Resources:

Caroline Biesalski on LinkedIn

Inspired Choice podcast

Tom Fox

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In this episode, Tom Fox welcomes Gary De Rodriguez, an expert in humanistic neuro-linguistic psychology. We take a deep dive into his unique journey from volunteer work in the AIDS community to becoming an expert in neuro-linguistic programming and humanistic psychology.

De Rodriguez shares insights into how he developed accelerated change techniques to help people resolve issues quickly, leading to his current role in training and consulting. They discuss the importance of self-leadership, the impact of executive alignment on organizational culture, and the significant role of emotional intelligence in fostering successful work environments.

De Rodriguez also highlights the transformative power of kindness and humanity in bridging generational gaps within the workforce.

Key Highlights:

  Resources:

Gary De Rodriguez on LinkedIn

Gary De Rodriguez

Peopleistic

Humanistic Business: Profit Through People with Passion and Purpose on Amazon.com

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In this episode, I visit with Tom, who welcomes Ron Karr, a long-time thought leader in the art of leadership, persuasion, and influence. They take a deep dive into the science of influence and persuasion and help the compliance professional understand how they can use this science to move the compliance ball forward in an organization.

This script explores the belief that data is precious but accounts for only 80% of the decision-making process. The remaining 20% comes from an assessment of the individual’s current situation, mindset, energy, and skill sets. The importance of not solely relying on data is emphasized through a reference to the movie ‘A Beautiful Mind,’ where a Nobel Prize-winning professor suggests that math (or data) can solve 80% of problems, indicating the necessity of beyond-data factors in solving the remaining 20%.

Key Highlights:

·      The 80/20 Rule for Leadership

·      Purposeful Reflection for Effective Decision-Making

·      Neurochemical Impact on Influencing Others Successfully

·      Propelling Success through Adaptive Strategies

·      Empowering Personal Growth Through Story Rewriting

·      Enhancing Professional Success Through Peer Engagement

·      The Velocity Mindset: Achieving Success Through Networking

 Resources

Ron Karr on LinkedIn

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The Velocity Mindset

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In this episode, I visit with Onno Koelman, whose consultancy, Dynamic Leader Development, operates on a three C's framework - clarity, climate, and competence - aimed at enhancing teams' leadership skills and performance. We visit on the challenges of managing multigenerational teams with diverse responses to leadership styles, highlighting the need for different skills at various leadership levels.

Onno Koelman, has a diverse professional background that includes design engineering, sales, and leadership roles in environmental startups. Koelman's perspective on professional development and leadership transition is shaped by his unique experiences and emphasizes dynamic growth and adaptation over simply acquiring a set of skills. He advocates for vertical development, which involves enhancing capabilities, refining worldviews, and reducing reactivity. His approach to leadership training focuses on understanding and interrupting existing behavioral patterns within individuals and organizations, rather than merely imposing new behaviors. Koelman also underscores the importance of clarity, a supportive climate, and the right competence within teams, and acknowledges the complexity of leading multigenerational teams, suggesting that leaders should understand and cater to the diverse motivations and responses of team members from different generations.

Key Highlights

·      Enhancing Leadership Skills through Human Behavior Understanding

·      Dynamic Leadership Development Through Skill Progression

·      Fostering Success: Essential Ingredients for Teamwork

·      Vertical Development for Effective Leadership Transformation

·      Influential Tone in Leadership for Organizational Success 

Resources

Onno Koelman on LinkedIn 

Dynamic Leader Development

Tom Fox

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In this episode, I visit with Dan Silberberg, who is a seasoned leader with a diverse background in tech, consulting, and business management, boasting 15 years of experience in the Fortune 500. His perspective on 21st-century leadership, shaped by his extensive experience and a master’s degree in leadership and coaching, is that traditional leadership methods are no longer sufficient in today’s rapidly evolving world.

Silberberg advocates for a shift towards “human leadership,” emphasizing the importance of curiosity and fostering more leaders within organizations. His belief in the transformative power of understanding one’s own thoughts, behaviors, and choices led him to develop the Leader Council program, a unique initiative designed to help C-suite executives become more engaged and connected leaders. Through this innovative approach, Silberberg is significantly influencing how leaders navigate their roles in the 21st century.

Key Highlights:

Resources:

Dan Silberberg on LinkedIn

Entelechy

Tom Fox

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