Leadership Life Stories

Season Two of Leadership Life Stories examines Disney leadership as The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In this episode, Part 1 of a two-part interview, hosts Rebecca Morgan and J.B. Adams welcome Dave Vermeulen, 48-year Cast Member and former executive with leadership experience at every Disney theme park resort location around the world. Our guest describes his leadership philosophy of knowing the product and serving as a role model, his Disney leadership role models, his early years growing up in Southern California and working at Disneyland in the 1960s, and his perceptions of how Disney leadership changed over the years.

02:29 -- Leadership philosophy, Disney leadership role models

11:05 -- Self-Awareness Quiz

14:02 -- Growing up on a farm in Southern California, working at Disneyland

22:50 -- Walt Disney World Insider Free Association

26:28 -- Disney leadership through the decades, balancing focus on both results and people

The Awesome Leader League -- https://theawesomeleader.com/

Guest -- Dave Vermeulen, https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-vermeulen-b56b90a/

Host -- Rebecca Morgan, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccapmorgan/

Host -- J.B. Adams, https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamslearning/

Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/

Creator -- J.B. Adams

Executive Producer -- Gerard Mitchell

Audio Design -- Michael Orlowski

Mixing and Editing -- Manni Simon

Season Two of Leadership Life Stories examines Disney leadership as The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In this episode, Part 2 of a two-part interview, hosts Rebecca Morgan and J.B. Adams welcome Valerie Oberle, 27-year Cast Member, former Vice President of Disney University and the first woman executive at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. Our guest describes the adversity of being first and how she dealt with it; the sense of accomplishment that can come from getting employees involved in the development and execution of new business ideas; and her best business and career advice.

02:36 -- The adversity of being the first woman executive in Walt Disney Parks organization

17:52 -- Involving Cast Members in creating new revenue generating products

30:06 -- Best advice for leaders and closing comments

The Awesome Leader League -- https://theawesomeleader.com/

Guest -- Valerie Oberle, https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-oberle-657037180/

Host -- Rebecca Morgan, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccapmorgan/

Host -- J.B. Adams, https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamslearning/

Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/

Creator -- J.B. Adams

Executive Producer -- Gerard Mitchell

Audio Design -- Michael Orlowski

Mixing and Editing -- Manni Simon

Season Two of Leadership Life Stories examines Disney leadership as The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In this episode, Part 1 of a two-part interview, hosts Rebecca Morgan and J.B. Adams welcome Valerie Oberle, 27-year Cast Member, former Vice President of Disney University and the first woman executive at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. Our guest describes her leadership philosophy of finding treasure in people, how she found her way to Disney, her perceptions of how Disney Parks leadership has changed over time, and how to build a culture of high engagement.

02:41 -- Leadership philosophy, being a barrier breaker, guest’s role model

13:25 -- The Self Awareness Quiz

17:56 -- Backstory and finding her way to Disney

25:42 -- WDW Insider Free Association

28:26 -- Perceptions of Disney leadership through the decades

The Awesome Leader League -- https://theawesomeleader.com/

Guest -- Valerie Oberle, https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-oberle-657037180/

Host -- Rebecca Morgan, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccapmorgan/

Host -- J.B. Adams, https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamslearning/

Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/

Creator -- J.B. Adams

Executive Producer -- Gerard Mitchell

Audio Design -- Michael Orlowski

Mixing and Editing -- Manni Simon

Season Two of Leadership Life Stories examines Disney leadership as The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In this episode, hosts Rebecca Morgan and J.B. Adams introduce themselves to listeners, discuss their leadership philosophies, and consider the impact that The Walt Disney Company has had on the leisure and entertainment industry as well as on their own careers as leadership consultants. Is Disney leadership a big deal? Tune in, listen, and decide for yourself.

03:09 -- Leadership philosophies and why Disney leadership is a big deal

07:08 -- The Self Awareness Quiz; hosts share backstories

18:56 -- WDW Insider Free Association; Disney leadership through the decades

23:00 -- The greatest accomplishment; hosts define success

25:27 -- Hosts share their greatest adversity stories

32:19 -- Leader’s best advice, hosts introduce each other

The Awesome Leader League -- https://theawesomeleader.com/

Host -- Rebecca Morgan, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccapmorgan/

Host -- J.B. Adams, https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamslearning/

Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/

Creator -- J.B. Adams

Executive Producer -- Gerard Mitchell

Audio Design -- Michael Orlowski

Mixing and Editing -- Manni Simon

Do you have a conflict situation in your life? How can you apply listening to be more effective in dealing with conflict? Today, host J.B. Adams poses these questions to listening expert Dr. Rick Bommelje, who currently serves as a speaker, consultant, and coach, and as a professor in the Department of Communication at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. In part 4 of this interview, Dr. Bommelje responds to questions posed from listeners and discusses how to respond to conflict.

01:14 -- Introduction Dr. Bommelje

02:19 -- Why listening is difficult, listening strategies, and the Golden Pause

14:00 -- Responding to conflict, enhancing awareness, and staying on track

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.

Listening Pays by Rick Bommelje -- https://amzn.to/335xapj

Listening Leaders by Lyman K. Steil & Richard K. Bommelje -- https://amzn.to/331OITj

Be Quick to Listen by Rick Bommelje -- https://amzn.to/2Kt8DEj

Listening Wisdom -- https://listeningwisdom.org/

Listening Pays -- https://www.listeningpays.com/

A Survival Guide for Leaders (HBR) -- https://hbr.org/2002/06/a-survival-guide-for-leaders

Thomas Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument -- https://kilmanndiagnostics.com/overview-thomas-kilmann-conflict-mode-instrument-tki/

Guest: Rick Bommelje -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickbommelje/

Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/

Creator / Host -- J.B. Adams

Executive Producer -- Gerard Mitchell

Video Production -- Jeremy Harmsen

Leadership begins with awareness, and self-awareness is critical for effectiveness when servant leaders face adversity. In this show, host J.B. Adams interviews Dr. Rick Bommelje, who currently serves as a speaker, consultant, and coach specializing in the areas of listening and leadership, and as a professor in the Department of Communication at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. In Part 3 of this interview, Bommelje discusses personality self-awareness and shares how he overcomes his greatest adversity.

01:09 -- Introduction

01:35 -- Personality self-awareness

10:43 -- The greatest adversity

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.

Listening Pays by Rick Bommelje -- https://amzn.to/3Ahtlf5

Listening Leaders by Lyman K. Steil & Richard K. Bommelje -- https://amzn.to/3A3tBy1

Be Quick to Listen by Rick Bommelje -- https://amzn.to/2WSsxyR

The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute -- https://amzn.to/3CcZcPQ

Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg -- https://amzn.to/3ijEq9h

The Five Factor Model of Personality -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits#Measurements

Thomas Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument -- https://kilmanndiagnostics.com/overview-thomas-kilmann-conflict-mode-instrument-tki/

Guest -- Rick Bommelje, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickbommelje/

Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/

Creator / Host -- J.B. Adams

Executive Producer -- Gerard Mitchell

Video Production -- Jeremy Harmsen

Leaders are made not only through the things that happen to them, but also in how they respond to the things that happen to them. In this show, host J.B. Adams interviews Dr. Rick Bommelje, who currently serves as a speaker, consultant, and coach specializing in the areas of listening and leadership, and as a professor in the Department of Communication at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. In Part 2 of this interview, Bommelje discusses the early influences and lessons that shaped his development and helped him become the leader he is today.

01:45 -- Early Influences

04:54 -- Parental influence

14:27 -- Turning points & takeaways

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.

Listening Pays by Rick Bommelje -- https://amzn.to/3Ahtlf5

Listening Leaders by Lyman K. Steil & Richard K. Bommelje -- https://amzn.to/3A3tBy1

Be Quick to Listen by Rick Bommelje -- https://amzn.to/2WSsxyR

Listening Wisdom -- https://listeningwisdom.org/

Listening Pays -- https://www.listeningpays.com/

Guest -- Rick Bommelje, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickbommelje/

Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/

Creator / Host -- J.B. Adams

Executive Producer -- Gerard Mitchell

Video Production -- Jeremy Harmsen

When leaders don’t pay attention to the signals they get from their environment, they risk disaster. In Part 1 of this series of interviews, host J.B. Adams talks with Dr. Rick Bommelje, “the Listening Doctor.” In addition to serving as a speaker, consultant, and coach specializing in the areas of listening and leadership, Bommelje is also a professor in the Department of Communication at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He reminds us that listening is a key characteristic of servant leadership.

01:08 -- Introduction

04:50 -- The Greatest Accomplishment, Part 1: Healthy marriage

11:10 -- The Greatest Accomplishment, Part 2: Becoming a listening expert

20:19 -- The Greatest Accomplishment, Part 3: Coaching philosophy

As an affiliate, Victor Media Group may earn from qualifying purchases.

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell -- https://amzn.to/3gNbsfq

Crummer Graduate School of Business -- https://www.crummer.rollins.edu/

PowerDMS -- https://www.powerdms.com/

Joy & Tom Studios, Inc. -- www.joyandtomstudios.com

The Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship -- https://crummer.rollins.edu/centers-excellence/advanced-entrepreneurship/

Cari Haught Coats -- https://www.accendoleader.com/

Guest: Rick Bommelje -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickbommelje/

Production by Victor Media Group, Inc. -- https://victormediagroup.co/

Creator / Host -- J.B. Adams

Executive Producer -- Gerard Mitchell

Video Production -- Jeremy Harmsen