Elevate Your Leadership

Dr. Scott Miller is the president of Virginia Wesleyan University with a remarkable 34-year career in higher education leadership. Recognized for his transformative leadership style, Dr. Miller is a seasoned college president guiding institutions towards international recognition. With a background in journalism and a track record of being a change agent, he excels at moving organizations to the next level through innovative strategies and forward-thinking leadership.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode, Robert Pizzini is joined by Dr. Scott Miller to share his insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the future of education. From his upbringing on the main line of Philadelphia to his four college presidencies, Dr. Miller discusses the importance of transformational leadership and the need to continuously innovate to stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of higher education. He emphasizes the significance of implementing a Blue Ocean Strategy to find new markets and opportunities for growth.

Learn about all of these and more nuggets of insight in this latest episode of the Elevate Your Leadership podcast.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Dr. Miller's leadership philosophy focuses on guiding and impacting outcomes within groups or organizations, emphasizing the importance of being a transformative leader and driving change.

• He highlights the concept of a Blue Ocean Strategy to find new market opportunities and revolutionize traditional approaches in higher education.

• The discussion touches on the benefits of technology in the classroom, exploring ways to incorporate innovations such as e-sports programs and utilizing advanced tech tools for enhanced learning experiences.

• Dr. Miller's approach to leadership involves assembling a team of superior individuals with diverse skills and expertise to drive organizational success and forward momentum.

• Changing the landscape of social media, student engagement, and mental health on college campuses, emphasizing the need for continuous adaptation and innovation.

QUOTES

• "If an institution is standing still, it's really going backwards, and my philosophy of leadership has always been to take what's broken and fix it and to take an organization to the next level."

• "I hire superior individuals. I was 31 years old. I had a 67-year-old academic VP who probably... I had people superior in their areas of specialty, and I learned that it was my job; I was ultimately judged not by any one thing but by how the overall organization produced."

Get to know more about Scott Miller:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottd2/

About Robert:

Robert is a #1 Best Selling Author, Speaker, Award-Winning CEO, and above all, a Leadership Coach by heart. Join Robert and together you will lead with confidence, unify your team, and expand your comfort zone.

Where to find Robert:

Website - https://robertpizzini.com/

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-your-leadership/id1547181480

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqx9fuoZnq0--c1ttdckwLg 

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Jessica Quintero Howard is the founder and general manager of Turnkey Cleaning, a residential and commercial cleaning company focusing on vacant properties. Originally from San Andres Island, Colombia, Jessica migrated to the United States and pursued the American dream with ambition and a growth mindset. She has a strong background in business strategies, organizational development, operations, sustainability, and corporate finance. Jessica is known for her dedication to empowering women, training and developing skilled cleaning professionals, and giving back to the community by assisting those struggling with hoarding issues.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode, Robert Pizzini discusses leadership and business strategies with Jessica Quintero Howard. Jessica shares her journey from starting a cleaning company to transitioning into commercial cleaning projects and empowering other women to start their own cleaning businesses. They delve into the importance of effective leadership, communication, and building trust within teams. Jessica also talks about her commitment to personal growth and embracing challenges for professional development.

Key themes include Jessica's resilient upbringing on a small island, her entrepreneurial spirit, the impact of COVID-19 on her business strategy, and her dedication to helping the Latin community start their own businesses. The episode showcases Jessica's leadership philosophy centered around leading by example, fostering open communication, and empowering her team through mentorship and guidance.

Learn about all of these and more nuggets of insight in this latest episode of the Elevate Your Leadership podcast.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Jessica's journey from starting a cleaning company to empowering other women to establish their own businesses.

• The importance of effective communication, asking the right questions, and active listening in leadership.

• Jessica's commitment to personal growth, resilience, and perseverance in pursuing her goals.

QUOTES

• "Lead by example and always learn something before teaching it to others."

• "Effective communication and asking the right questions are essential for guiding team members in the right direction."

• "The Latin community is full of smart, hardworking individuals striving for the American dream."

• "Building trust with team members starts with genuine care and support for their growth and development."

• "Completing challenges like the 75 Hard program requires perseverance and dedication to personal growth."

Get to know more about Jessica Quintero Howard:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-quintero-howard/

About Robert:

Robert is a #1 Best Selling Author, Speaker, Award-Winning CEO, and above all, a Leadership Coach by heart. Join Robert and together you will lead with confidence, unify your team, and expand your comfort zone.

Where to find Robert:

Website - https://robertpizzini.com/

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-your-leadership/id1547181480

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqx9fuoZnq0--c1ttdckwLg 

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Dave Cooper is a distinguished former U.S. Navy SEAL and an expert in change leadership and complex system science. With a career marked by valor, innovation, and leadership, Dave has been at the heart of critical operations across Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. His leadership and strategic acumen were instrumental in some of the most significant special operations missions in U.S. military history. After retiring, Dave pursued advanced education, earning master's degrees in change leadership from the University of Oxford and HEC Paris, as well as a master's degree in complex adaptive system science from Arizona State University. Today, as the founder of Verge, Dave integrates high-performance teaming concepts from his SEAL days with advanced organizational and complex system science theories to guide businesses and teams through complexity and change. He is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Culture Code."

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode, Robert Pizzini Pizzini interviews Dave Cooper, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and expert in change leadership and complex system science. Dave shares insights from his remarkable military career and discusses the importance of leadership, culture, and teamwork in achieving success. He highlights the role of education in personal and professional growth and emphasizes the need for leaders to lead by example and foster a positive organizational culture. Dave also delves into the concept of complex systems and how understanding them can help organizations navigate change and improve performance.

Learn about all of these and more nuggets of insight in this latest episode of the Elevate Your Leadership podcast.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Leadership is about influencing a group of people towards a common goal.

• Culture is the collective programming of the mind and shapes how individuals think and act within an organization.

• Effective leadership involves leading by example, actively listening to teammates, and co-creating solutions to complex problems.

• Education plays a crucial role in personal and professional development, enabling individuals to enhance their skills and contribute more effectively to their teams.

• Understanding complex systems and their dynamics can help organizations adapt to change and improve performance.

QUOTES

• "Leadership is influence in a group of people aimed at a common goal."

• "Culture is where stuff grows. It determines how we act and what we find important in the world."

Get to know more about Dave Cooper:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-cooper-387aaa3b/

About Robert:

Robert is a #1 Best Selling Author, Speaker, Award-Winning CEO, and above all, a Leadership Coach by heart. Join Robert and together you will lead with confidence, unify your team, and expand your comfort zone.

Where to find Robert:

Website - https://robertpizzini.com/

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-your-leadership/id1547181480

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqx9fuoZnq0--c1ttdckwLg 

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Marty Strong, a three-time guest on the "Elevate Your Leadership" podcast, is a former Navy SEAL, author, and Chief Executive Officer. With three published books – "Be Nimble," "Be Visionary," and "Be Different" – Marty draws on his SEAL experience and corporate leadership to explore unconventional thinking and innovative leadership strategies. He emphasizes the importance of challenging norms, fostering creativity, and embracing change to achieve exceptional results. Throughout the podcast, he discusses crisis leadership in "Be Nimble," strategic vision in "Be Visionary," and the significance of bending rules judiciously in "Be Different." Marty's insights revolve around encouraging leaders to break away from conventional wisdom, nurture creativity, and adapt continuously in a rapidly evolving world, drawing inspiration from historical figures and his own diverse background.

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SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Elevate Your Leadership podcast, Navy SEAL Veteran and CEO Bob Pizzini dives deep into the art of leadership and innovation with Marty Strong, a successful CEO and author. Marty draws from his experiences as a Navy SEAL to discuss his trilogy of books - "Be Nimble," "Be Visionary," and "Be Different." They explore how leaders can bend, break, or ignore conventional rules to drive results, fostering a culture of intellectual creativity, curiosity, and humility. Unveiling the myths around creativity and stability, they reveal how leaders can embrace change, challenge norms, and navigate uncertainty in today's evolving landscape.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

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QUOTES

Get to know more about Marty Strong.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-strong-9676bb13/

ABOUT ROBERT

Robert is a #1 Best Selling Author, Speaker, Award-Winning CEO, and above all, a Leadership Coach by heart. Join Robert and together your will lead with confidence, unify your team, and expand your comfort zone.

Where to find Robert.

Website: https://robertpizzini.com/

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-your-leadership/id1547181480

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqx9fuoZnq0--c1ttdckwLg

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Susan Kilrain is an American aerospace engineer, former United States Navy officer, and a former NASA astronaut. She is the youngest person to pilot a Space Shuttle. She has flown more than 3,000 hours and among her merits she was awarded with the Defense Superior Service Medal.

SHOW SUMMARY

Join host Bob Pizzini in an inspiring conversation with NASA astronaut Susan Kilrain, where she shares her extraordinary journey from a childhood fascination with flying to becoming one of the few women to pilot the Space Shuttle. Susan's remarkable career, from aeronautical engineering to Navy test pilot to two space shuttle missions, reflects her determination to defy barriers and achieve her dreams. Discover her experiences in space, the challenges she overcame, and her inspiring insights on leadership, resilience, and pursuing one's passions.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

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QUOTES

Get to know more about Susan Kilrain.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-still-kilrain-ba527734/

ABOUT ROBERT

Robert is a #1 Best Selling Author, Speaker, Award-Winning CEO, and above all, a Leadership Coach by heart. Join Robert and together your will lead with confidence, unify your team, and expand your comfort zone.

Where to find Robert.

Website: https://robertpizzini.com/

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-your-leadership/id1547181480

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqx9fuoZnq0--c1ttdckwLg

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Rear Admiral Paul Becker is a retired Naval Intelligence Officer with 30 years of experience in the intelligence community. He is the CEO of the Becker T3 Group and a professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. He has received numerous awards for his service, including the National Intelligence Community and Department of Defense's Distinguished Service Medals.

Retired Admiral Paul Becker discusses the importance of leadership and introduces his T3 framework: teamwork, tone, and tenacity. He emphasizes the role of leaders in taking risks and establishing relationships to build trust and loyalty within teams. He also highlights the value of lifelong learning and provides examples of leadership from various fields.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

​

QUOTES

About Robert:

Robert is a #1 Best Selling Author, Speaker, Award-Winning CEO, and above all, a Leadership Coach by heart. Join Robert and together you will lead with confidence, unify your team, and expand your comfort zone.

Where to find Robert:

Website - https://robertpizzini.com/

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-your-leadership/id1547181480

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqx9fuoZnq0--c1ttdckwLg 

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Alan Mack, US Army, Chief Warrant Officer Five -- Retired, a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, served over 35 years in the US Army before retiring in 2016. His military career included 17 years in Army Special Operations. His awards include the Legion of Merit, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 3 Bronze Stars, 10 Air Medals (one with Valor Device), and a Combat Action Badge. Additionally, he logged more than 6700 flying hours during his tenure. During Operations Desert Shield and Storm, Mack participated as a CH-47D Chinook pilot. He then flew MH-47s while assigned to the 160th SOAR, the Army’s only Special Operations Aviation Regiment. His crew was one of the first into Afghanistan and the first into Mazar-iSharif as part of America’s Response to the attacks on 9/11. His cargo, a 5th Special Forces ‘A’ Team (ODA 595), aka ‘the Horse Soldiers,’ helped topple the Taliban, capture the country’s capital, and reclaim possession of the US Embassy. As a Special Operations Flight Leader participating in special operations worldwide in support of the Global War on Terror, Mack collaborated with Army Rangers, Delta Force, Special Forces, Navy SEALS, assorted Special Operations Units, and Other Government agencies.

In this episode of Elevate Your Leadership, Robert Pizzini is joined by Alan C. Mack, to share his unique experiences and insights from his 35-year military career. He discusses growing up in New Hampshire, his journey to becoming a helicopter pilot, and his deployments to Afghanistan and other parts of the world. He also talks about the challenges and rewards of serving in Army Special Operations and the importance of teamwork and trust in high-stakes situations. Mack shares a touching story about the significance of a wedding ring during a mission and how it influenced his decision to never carry anything valuable while on duty. He also mentions his upcoming book, which will focus on the perspectives of crew chiefs and flight medics in the military.

Learn about all of these and more nuggets of insight in this latest episode of the Elevate Your Leadership podcast.

ELEVATING WISDOM

WHY ALAN LEFT THE MILITARY

“I figured I'm one of the only night stalkers that could write the book because of the way I left, and I'll explain. When you leave a special operations unit, everybody hates you right? Doesn't matter I did 17 years there and if I had just left, you know what guys? I'm gonna give up, I'm gonna retire, everybody hates you, they're mad at you for leaving and I never understood that but it is what it is. But when my wife dies, they know I need a change of venue and they're like “okay” and then the regimen takes care of me. It gets me up there to New York and they've been great.”

WHAT LEADERSHIP MEANS TO ALAN

“I call it the Tom Sawyer style of leadership. Okay, you know the story of Tom Sawyer where he's given the job to paint a fence and wash it right? And he ends up pretending that he likes it and he gets all of the neighborhood kids to paint for him. What are you doing? Huh? I'm painting a fence. Can I do it? No and so that was my idea. The Tom Sawyer style of leadership. Get them to do what you want but they think it's their idea” - Alan Mack

Get to know more about Alan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-c-mack-75b9a667/

Website: https://alancmack.com/

About Robert:

Robert is a #1 Best Selling Author, Speaker, Award-Winning CEO, and above all, a Leadership Coach by heart. Join Robert and together you will lead with confidence, unify your team, and expand your comfort zone.

Where to find Robert:

Website - https://robertpizzini.com/

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-your-leadership/id1547181480

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqx9fuoZnq0--c1ttdckwLg 

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In this most sobering, yet fascinating episode of the Elevate Your Leadership podcast, Ukrainian Air Force Colonel Hennadiy Kovalenko (Colonel H) discusses the current state of affairs regarding the war with Russia and the potential outcomes, including a total collapse of Russia. He has served Ukraine in uniform for 32 years and is highly experienced and educated. Colonel H discusses how President Putin was told that the Ukrainian people would welcome the invading Russian army with hugs, smiles, and flowers, and how this war really began in 2014 with the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. He has been assigned to NATO ACT in the United States since 2019, and will return to fight in his homeland within weeks.

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In this episode of the Elevate Your Leadership podcast, Michelle Ellis Young, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA South Hampton Roads, discusses her leadership journey culminating in her current role serving people in need in the Hampton Roads community. Michelle shares how her upbringing in New Orleans LA helped shape who she is today. She tells a story of how the YWCA helped save a woman from an abusive relationship, ultimately helping her achieve nursing qualifications, independence, and a career in the medical field. Michelle's energy is high, her demeanor is beyond pleasant, and she said that her flight experience at iFLY Virginia Beach instilled another layer of courage to do something that she did not think she would do.

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What is a Navy EOD Technician and what is it like to become one? Who was the father and founder of Navy EOD and Navy SEALS? In their book Unsung, Joseph Shaffer III and Dr. Paula Kapp Greene share their in-depth interviews with the dedicated men and women of the US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community, who quietly undertake some of the most dangerous missions performed by members of the American military. This first-person narrative incorporates the perspectives of the family members of these brave men and women, revealing the raw emotion of such a demanding military profession. I center my discussion on chapter three, A Brief History, and chapter eight, Leaders and Leadership. You can purchase this most revealing book on Amazon at UNSUNG: Quiet Voices of the US Navy's EOD Warriors and Their Families: Shaffer III, Joseph E., Greene, Dr. Paula Kapp: 9798358155909: Amazon.com: Books

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