Karen Elliott House was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting for her coverage of the Middle East. Arguably, she knows more about the region, and Saudi Arabia in particular, than any other active journalist or author. 

For her latest book, Why Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Matters to the World, Karen conducted more than half a dozen in-depth interviews with the 40-year-old Saudi Crown Prince, known universally as “MBS.”

For global business owners and executives, the dramatic Saudi transformation over the past decade, spearheaded by MBS, presents both promise and peril: vast opportunities for investment and growth but also political and legal risks that demand careful navigation.

The pace of change under MBS has astonished even veteran observers like Karen, who has traveled to the kingdom more than 45 times since the late 1970s.

Today, Saudi women can drive, hold jobs across industries, and participate openly in public life. Entertainment venues — from concerts to theme parks — are thriving. Restaurants that once erected wooden partitions to shield women from the public now bustle with mixed crowds.

Karen compares his confidence and determination to that of Jack Welch at General Electric or Lee Kuan Yew, a founding father of modern Singapore. Like them, MBS is willing to make unpopular decisions in pursuit of national transformation. Whether his reforms endure, she cautions, depends on two factors: keeping the economy growing and avoiding foreign policy missteps that could unite his enemies.

With a half-century potentially ahead of him as the next Saudi King, Mohammed bin Salman will be an unavoidable force in global politics and business. As Karen puts it, Americans must move beyond old stereotypes and reckon with the kingdom as it is — complex, evolving, and essential.

Purchase Your Copies of Karen’s Insightful Books on Saudi Arabia:

• The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia

• On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines - and Future

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Karen Elliott House Posted: September 22, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 57:20 Episode: 14.16

Mike Kelly, a veteran of senior leadership roles at Michelin and Macy’s, now coaches business owners and managers through his advisory, Right Path Enterprises. His mission: to help leaders guide their organizations more effectively by first learning to lead themselves.

Unlike many experts, Mike believes that genuine influence begins with leading yourself. Investing in personal growth pays dividends at work, at home, and in the community, he says.

Mike is the author of Leaderfluence: Secrets of Leadership Essential to Effectively Leading Yourself and Positively Influencing Others.

Among the topics Mike discusses on this week’s episode are when to trust the data over your own instinct, how to keep top talent without paying more than you can afford, and why you should encourage your employees to take risks at work.

Mike also outlines seven priorities that will enable leaders to look back with confidence, knowing they stayed aligned with what matters most to them.

His approach delivers a double benefit: leaders grow as individuals while becoming more effective and inspiring managers.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Mike Kelly,  Right Path EnterprisesPosted: September 15, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 48:378 Episode: 14.15

POPULAR EPISODES:

• Authors Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley Offer 52 Ways to Bolster Employee Satisfaction and Productivity

• The Enduring Ability of “The Power of Habit” and “Smarter Faster Better” to Improve Your Life

• Bestselling Author Joanne Lipman Shares Her Formula for Professional and Personal Reinvention

Mick Torbay has a simple verdict on most advertising campaigns: they don’t work.

“Most ads are rubbish,” he declares. “They accomplish nothing, they waste people’s time, and they waste peoples’ money. When the commercial break comes on, people stand up and go to the bathroom or turn the volume down.”

It’s harsh, but accurate nonetheless.

Ads created by Mick, on the other hand, are the kind that inspire listeners and viewers to turn up the volume, talk about the spots with family and friends, and remain lodged in their brains until they morph into paying customers.

Mick, a wildly successful maverick marketer and one of the elite Wizard of Ads partners, is the rare expert who knows — and can explain — why some ads succeed spectacularly while most crash and burn. And he knows who most often is to blame.

Brace yourself, as Mick shares his bold ideas and imaginative strategies that lead to long-lasting customer loyalty. If you’re tired of throwing away money on ads that don’t work, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Mick Torbay, Wizard of Ads  Posted: September 8, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 52:50 Episode: 14.14

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More than 80% of Trevor Bower’s customers reorder from him within 30 days. That’s an enviable benchmark in any industry.

Trevor owns AdvancedSupps, a single brick-and-mortar health supplements store in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with a robust online presence. In his ten years in business, he’s earned an international reputation for formulating unique, high-value supplements and providing unmatched customer education and service. 

In a brutally competitive retail environment, Trevor has overcome the odds — not with gimmicks or giveaways, but with a strategy that any entrepreneur — in any industry — can replicate.

Among the recommendations he makes:

• Clarify who benefits most from your products or services, and build around them.

• Educate your customers and prospects.

• Markets shift, but your values shouldn’t. Stay grounded in what works for you.

• Know that “trust” is your real product.

Think of Trevor’s insights as the ultimate business supplement: all natural, fast-acting, and formulated to strengthen your bottom line.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Trevor Bower, AdvancedSupps.comPosted: September 1, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 55:24 Episode: 14.13

Overseeing a $10 billion residential and commercial portfolio, Bianca D’Alessio reigns as the  #1 real estate agent in both New York City and New York State. She also stars in HBO Max’s Selling the Hamptons.

But Bianca’s rise wasn’t smooth. Early setbacks and bouts of impostor syndrome nearly sidelined her career. Instead, she built a foundation using vulnerability, intentional self-talk, and gratitude to transform herself into one of the most dynamic leaders in real estate.

In her new book, Mastering Intentions: 10 Practices to Amplify Your Power and Lead with Lasting Impact, Bianca blends candid personal stories with actionable strategies that any business owner or entrepreneur can apply.

Visit this special Monday Morning Radio “Open House” to discover the same practices Bianca uses to master her goals — and how you can apply them to achieve your own business and personal success.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Bianca D’Alessio, Mastering IntentionsPosted: August 25, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 44:04 Episode: 14.12

Gary Engels teaches business owners and entrepreneurs the disciplined sequence of steps that lead to lasting success.

His wisdom isn’t drawn from an MBA program or corporate leadership seminars — it’s forged from decades on the mats. “Sensei Gary” is a serial entrepreneur, app creator, and a 4th-degree black belt in Taekwondo. 

Gary’s list of ventures and partnerships is long. Among them, he is the founder of Leadership Academy, a martial arts school dedicated to developing leadership skills in students of all ages, and the creator of the Legacy Missions app, which helps users build positive daily habits. 

He also serves as CEO of MyGig, which connects businesses with essential services in accounting, marketing, HR, IT, and financial optimization. 

Unlike many entrepreneurs who obsess over selling, Gary has built his career on service. His approach begins with a simple question: “How can I help?” Service builds trust, trust builds relationships, and relationships drive revenue. It’s a principle that has kept his martial arts school thriving for 20 years — a milestone that very few such schools attain.

So, join us this week in the “Monday Morning Radio Dojo.” Remove your shoes, step onto the mat, and begin mastering the “business katas” that will make you a fierce marketplace competitor.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Gary EngelsPosted: August 18, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 50:12 Episode: 14.11

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• Rob Kessler, a Second-Generation Entrepreneur, Marks a Dozen Years of Innovation, Success, and Struggle

• Butch Meily on Life with Billionaire Reginald Lewis — and the Personal Price of Ambition

• Veteran Journalist Al Lewis’s Substack Lets Readers Learn From the Blunders of Others

Marcy Syms became the youngest female president of a publicly traded New York Stock Exchange company when she was named to the position with her family’s business in 1983.

At its peak, the Syms chain of off-price, brand-name fashion stores operated 46 outlets across 16 states, generating annual sales approaching $350 million.

The chain’s slogan — coined by founder Sy Syms, Marcy’s father — was iconic: “An educated consumer is our best customer.”

While Syms was not the very first off-price fashion retailer when it opened its original store in 1959, Sy and Marcy Syms went on to define the sector and dominate it until — faced with increased competition and a soft economy — Syms filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors in 2011 after more than 50 years.

Marcy shares her compelling story and the story of Syms Corporation in a new book, set for release on August 26th. The book is titled Leading with Respect: Adventures of an Off-Price Fashion Pioneer.

“Respect,” as she explains on this week’s podcast, is the key trait — often misunderstood — of effective leadership.

Marcy is a former member of the board at Midlantic Bank and Rite Aid. She is president of the Sy Syms Foundation, which continues her family’s philanthropic legacy supporting charitable, educational, and cultural organizations, including the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University. The foundation has awarded over $60 million to worthy organizations.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Marcy Syms, Sy Syms FoundationPosted: August 11, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 49:00 Episode: 14.10

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• Hear How Bob Moog’s University Games Became the Largest Independent Game Company in the World

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• Dean Guida Bootstrapped His Way to Building a Multinational Enterprise Software Company

In a world awash with free educational videos and paid programs from platforms such as Udemy and Teachable, Damon Lembi and his team at Learnit are thriving by delivering impressive results.

Their secret? Equipping small and mid-sized businesses with the tools to outmaneuver corporate giants, while helping employees build confidence, sharpen skills, and boost job satisfaction.

To date, Learnit has served over 14,000 organizations and helped more than 1.8 million professionals master new skills or improve on existing capabilities.

This week, Damon delivers a masterclass on the mindset business leaders must embrace to thrive in today’s hyper-competitive landscape.

It’s one of many valuable and actionable business insights we’ll hear from Damon.

Please take your seats. Class is in session. 

[Be sure to pick up a copy of Damon’s book, The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits and Tools]

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Damon Lembi, LearnitPosted: August 4, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 48:25 Episode: 14.9

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• Teaching a Person to Fish is Okay; Training Others to Teach Fishing is Sublime

• Can You Prove the Worth of Employee Training, Community Outreach, DEI, and Other So-Called “Soft Skills”?

• Trainual CEO Chris Ronzio on Bringing Onboarding and Employee Training into the 21st Century

Ken Banta is the founder and CEO of The Vanguard Network, a by-invitation-only community for top-level executives. He and his firm help C-Suite executives and business owners fine-tune their management skills, build valuable new relationships, and elevate the performance of their organizations.

One of Ken’s surprising recommendations is that companies do away with long-term strategic plans and instead focus primarily on the immediate horizon.

“The way things move today is so quick and so unpredictable that having detailed strategies …seems to me to be really antiquated,” he says, akin to trying to predict the location of the next lightning strike.

Ken is the author of Seeing Around Corners: C-Suite Wisdom from America’s Most Insightful Leaders, a powerful collection of leadership insights from dozens of wise CEOs, general counsels, and boardroom veterans.

But Ken’s insights aren’t only applicable to large companies and for-profit organizations. Any effective leader can take away a great deal of actionable advice from Ken’s book and this week’s conversation. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to see around the next corner?

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Ken Banta, The Vanguard Network Posted: July 28, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 43:54 Episode: 14.8

POPULAR EPISODES:

• Discover Johnny Molson’s Proven Method to Win Lifelong Customers and Build Cascading Profitability

• Why Civics, Good Governance, and Ethics Are Essential for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

• Are Your Customers and Clients Likely To Wear Your ‘Team Colors’ As They Clap and Stomp for Your Success?

Melissa Dinwiddie doesn’t have an MBA. She’s never worked for a consulting giant, such as McKinsey, Boston Consulting, or Bain.

She is a ukulele-playing, jazz-singing, Julliard-trained dancer and improv entertainer.

Yet when companies, including Meta, Google, Uber, Intuit, and Salesforce, seek fresh thinking on innovation and team creativity, they turn to Melissa for results.

Melissa draws parallels between performance troupes, such as her All That Jazz improv jazz group, and business teams. To be successful, she notes, all members must listen closely, support one another, adapt on the fly, and create something from nothing.  

Melissa is the founder and CEO of Creative Sandbox Solutions, communication, connection, and creativity experts. Her firm’s specialty is helping teams blast through creative roadblocks. She is the author of The Creative Sandbox Way: Your Path to a Full-Color Life, which she wrote to help readers be comfortable with and embrace their own, authentic creativity.

As Melissa explains this week, her unconventional background and unorthodox methods —  including having six- and seven-figure salaried executives build with Lego bricks — consistently unlock breakthrough ideas and enhance team performance.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Melissa Dinwiddie, Creative Sandbox SolutionsPosted: July 21, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 49:42 Episode: 14.7