Off the Rak

Exploring what collaboration and positive influence look like in the workplace with a former P&G executive!

Can collaboration and disruption unite to positively influence a workplace and grow the bottom line? This Off the Rak guest built a venerated career at P&G doing just that. As the sales lead to Walmart, Tom Muccio and his team revolutionized how retailers and their supplies did business together. The story of that reinvention — and some advice on how to be an agent of change when you face incredible resistance — are why you’ll want to tune in!

About the Guest

Tom spent 35 years at Procter & Gamble, where he held several key roles, culminating as President of Global Teams. He was also the initial architect and team leader for the P&G Walmart relationship. Throughout his career at P&G, Tom held various sales and marketing assignments across every product division, both domestically and internationally. Beyond P&G, he served on the boards of The Blanchard Company and Cardone Industries.

After retiring, Tom became CEO of a start-up BioBased Company from 2003 to 2009, which was eventually sold to Cargill Industries. He has since provided consulting services and delivered speeches for global companies across diverse industries. As a thought leader in leadership development and collaborative growth strategies, he has taught and lectured at numerous universities both in the U.S. and abroad. A keynote speaker and author of Collaborative Disruption, Tom continues to influence leaders, fostering strong teams and driving innovation through collaboration.

Links in this Episode

Tom Muccio on LinkedIn

Collaborative Disruption on Amazon

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"Some occupational categories might disappear, but many more will simply evolve, requiring new sets of skills over time and providing new opportunities for workers."

Named by Fortune as one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business,” former Guardian CEO / Board Chair Deanna Mulligan joins Off the Rak in this look back to season one for a chat on purpose, talent, and the work of leadership to foster both for organizational success. Tune in to the conversation for an insightful look at overcoming tech disruption and how investing in people fuels growth.

About the Guest

Deanna M. Mulligan is President and Chief Executive Officer of Guardian. She is a member of Guardian’s Board of Directors and a Director on the Board of Arch Capital, a Bermuda-based re-insurer.

Ms. Mulligan was named Chief Executive Officer in July 2011 and previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer since 2010. She joined Guardian in 2008 as Executive Vice President in charge of the company’s Individual Life & Disability business. In this role, she was responsible for developing and leading Guardian’s product and business strategy to drive the company’s continued growth in these markets.

Ms. Mulligan’s background is in both strategy consulting and operational management. She founded DMM Management Solutions, LLC, a life insurance consultancy, and was a Principal at McKinsey and Company. While at McKinsey she also served as co-leader of the North American Life Insurance Practice and was a member of the firm’s Organizational Performance Practice. Ms. Mulligan has held senior positions at AXA Financial, New York Life Insurance Company, and ChannelPoint, a technology enterprise, throughout her career.

Active across the industry and in the community, Ms. Mulligan is currently a member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council. She is also a Board member of the Partnership for New York City, the Economic Club of New York, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), and the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT. Ms. Mulligan was appointed to, and served on, the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans from 2014 to 2015, and was Chair of the Board of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) from 2015 to 2016.

In 2013, Fortune named her one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” and, in 2015, Crain’s New York Business recognized her as one of “The 50 Most Powerful Women in New York” for the third time since 2010.

Ms. Mulligan graduated from the University of Nebraska with High Distinction and holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Links in this Episode

Deanna’s LinkedIn

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You’ll influence approximately 80,000 people in your lifetime, according to this bestselling author, leadership speaker and coach.

World-renowned keynote speaker and bestselling author Tommy Spaulding estimates that you’ll influence about 80,000 people in your lifetime — that’s 2 or 3 people you interact with every day. How you choose to interact with them can have a lasting imprint — good or bad. Tommy joins Off the Rak to explain his math and why the power of influence is a gift for building your personal and professional legacy. Come for the insight, stay for the humanizing stories, and leave inspired to redefine the word “influencer” to mean a positive impact on those you lead.

About the Guest

Tommy Spaulding is the founder and president of the Tommy Spaulding Leadership Institute, a leadership development training organization based in Denver, CO, and the NYT bestselling author of “It’s Not Just Who You Know” and “The Heart-Led Leader.” The former president of Up With People, Spaulding consults, trains, and speaks to hundreds of businesses and organizations across the country each year. He lives with his wife, Jill, and children in Colorado and Minnesota.

Links in this Episode

Find Tommy Spaulding and his books on the web at https://linkin.bio/tommyspaulding/

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Bestselling author of “Love Is Just Damn Good Business,” “The Radical Leap,” and “Greater Than Yourself” and founder of The Extreme Leadership Institute Steve Farber talks leadership, empathy,and influence. The Extreme Leadership Institute is an organization devoted to the cultivation and development of extreme leaders in the business, nonprofit and educational communities. He’s one of Inc’s top 50 global leadership and management experts. He’s a true thought leader and incredibly inspirational speaker.

About the Guest

Steve Farber is the president of Extreme Leadership, Incorporated, and the founder of The Extreme Leadership Institute, organizations devoted to the cultivation and development of Extreme Leaders in the business community, non-profits and education. His third book, Greater Than Yourself: The Ultimate Lesson In Leadership, was a Wall Street Journal® and USA Today® bestseller. His second book, The Radical Edge: Stoke Your Business, Amp Your Life, and Change the World, was hailed as “a playbook for harnessing the power of the human spirit.”  And his first book, The Radical Leap: A Personal Lesson in Extreme Leadership, is already considered a classic in the leadership field. It received Fast Company magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award and was recently named one of the 100 Best Business Books of All Time. Farber’s much-anticipated new book, Love Is Just Damn Good Business, was listed by Book Authority as one of the top Business Strategy books for 2020.

A subject-matter expert in business leadership and one of Inc’s global Top 50 Leadership and Management Experts, Farber is a leadership speaker and a senior-level leadership coach and consultant who has worked with and spoken to a wide variety of public and private organizations in virtually every arena, from the tech sector to financial services, manufacturing, health care, hospitality, entertainment, retail, and government. His accessible, deeply inspirational, and eminently practical Radical LEAP framework is widely used across the business, non-profit and education spectrum. Farber has been credited with redefining leadership in deeply personal yet practical terms and re-energizing thousands of people to make a significant difference in their businesses, lives, and the world around them.

In 1989, after having run his own financial services company, Farber devoted his professional life to the field of leadership development and has been at it ever since. He was director of service programs at TMI, an international training consultancy, and then worked for 6 years as Vice President and Official Mouthpiece (that’s what it said on his business card) of The Tom Peters Company where he met several of his mentors including author/gurus Tom Peters, Jim Kouzes, and Terry Pearce. In 2000, Farber established his own company, Extreme Leadership, Inc, where he is president and CEO. He is a member of The Transformational Leadership Council and has served as Vice Chairman on the Board of Directors of the world-renown, Up with People, global leadership program for students from 18 to 29 years old.

Coaching and inspiring Extreme Leadership at all organizational levels is Steve’s passion, and he does so with a style that is part strategist, part social commentator and all energy.

Links in this Episode

stevefarber.com

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In this look back from season 2, Off the Rak sits down with the CEOs of Denver Scholarship Foundation and Colorado UpLift to explore what makes their partnership tick, how they’re teaching servant leadership fundamentals and the subtle practices that fuel their motivation every day.

About the Guests

Lorii Rabinowitz is the CEO of Denver Scholarship Foundation and has been with the organization since 2017. With a heart for nonprofits, Lorii has found herself in executive roles with the entrepreneurial venture Denver Center for Arts & Technology, and Rebound Solutions, a local consulting firm specializing in strategy and change for public, private, and nonprofit clients. Lorii has a passion for learning and invests much of her time to Denver Scholarship Foundation and volunteering in her community. 

Dr. Joe Sanders is a retired Air Force Colonel and the former Director of the Center for Character and Leadership Development, United States Air Force Academy. Joe earned his PhD in Leadership and Human Resource Development from Colorado State University in 2003. In addition to currently serving as CEO of Colorado UpLift, Joe is an adjunct professor at UCCS. He is also the founder of Touchstone Leadership Academy which focuses on creating new possibilities for current and future leaders in underserved communities. 

Links in this Episode

Colorado Uplift

Denver Scholarship Foundation

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Off the Rak welcomes Cheryl Bachelder, restaurant industry executive and former CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. She’s the author of “Dare to Serve,” and a passionate advocate of servant leadership. When she took over the company in 2007, the company had been through four CEOs in the previous seven years. And the stock had slid by over 60% during that time. Ten years later, the stock had risen by over 500% under her leadership and the rest is history — she shares more of the story in this riveting conversation about the importance of serving others in leadership.

About the Guest

Cheryl A. Bachelder served as CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. from 2007 to 2017. Ms. Bachelder led a remarkable turnaround of the company’s financial results with a compelling strategic roadmap for growth and an inspiring purpose and set of principles. The results – industry leading performance for the franchise owners and the shareholders.

Ms. Bachelder has more than 35 years of experience in brand building, operations and public-company management at companies like Yum Brands, Domino’s Pizza, RJR Nabisco, The Gillette Company and The Procter & Gamble Company. 

At the time of Ms. Bachelder’s 2007 appointment to CEO, Popeyes guest visits had been declining for years, restaurant sales and profit trends were negative. The company stock price had dropped from $34 in 2002 to $13. The brand was stagnant, and relations between the company and its franchise owners were strained. 

Ms. Bachelder and her team created a workplace where people were treated with respect and dignity yet challenged to perform at the highest level. Silos and self were set aside in favor of collaboration and team play. And the results were measured with rigor and discipline. 

By 2014, average restaurant sales were up 25 percent, and profits were up 40 percent. Popeyes’ market share had grown from 14 percent to 21 percent, and the stock price was over $40.

In 2012, Ms. Bachelder was recognized as Leader of the Year by the Women’s Foodservice Forum and received the highest industry award, the Silver Plate, for the quick service restaurant sector, presented by the International Food Manufacturer’s Association. She was also recognized as a 2012 Nation’s Restaurant News’ Golden Chain Award recipient.

Ms. Bachelder holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She is married to Chris Bachelder and they have three grown daughters.

Links in this Episode

Learn more about Cheryl at her website at cherylbachelder.com

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Garry Gilliam played football for the Nittany Lions, the Seahawks and the 49ers before putting his Penn State degree to work by launching The Bridge Eco-Village, a purpose-driven organization that transforms abandoned commercial properties in urban centers into self-sustainable mixed-use communities. They’re building bridges to opportunity by integrating affordable housing, education, food security and arts and culture. I’m thrilled to welcome this fellow Pennsylvania native to talk about the formative experiences in his childhood that shaped his career growth — on and off the field — and how we, too, can become bridge builders in our own communities.

About the Guest

Garry Gilliam is the Founder and CEO of The Bridge Eco-Village, a sustainable, mixed-use community ecosystem in Harrisburg, PA. The Bridge Eco-Village will feature solutions to many of the problems facing underserved communities: housing, retail, co-working spaces, education opportunities, entrepreneurship incubators, urban agriculture, sports, and entertainment. Prior to launching the Bridge, Garry played in the NFL for five seasons for the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. He graduated from Penn State in 2013 with degrees in business development, psychology, and advertising.

Links in this Episode

GarryGilliamJr.com

TheBridgeEcoVillage.com

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As lead solo pilot for the legendary Blue Angels flight team, John “Gucci” Foley mastered the art of flying at an elite level — flying among the top 0.01% of US military pilots and earning recognition as a “Top Ten Carrier Pilot” six times. He brings that same elite energy to his keynote presentations and coaching major organizations on exceptional performance and gratitude. John has helped Fortune 500 companies like Google, Microsoft, BMW, and Coca-Cola apply the same high-trust, high-performance principles of flight mastery to inspire leadership, master teamwork, and embrace change with innovation. As a visionary leader, John joins Off the Rak for a conversation on what it takes to soar beyond excellence.

About the Guest

John Foley is a former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels, a Sloan Fellow at the Stanford School of Business, and an expert in the “how” of High-Performance teams. As a Blue Angel, John consistently performed in an extreme, high-stakes environment, flying at speeds of more than 500 miles per hour and in formations as close as 18 inches apart. To survive in those circumstances, he relied on a culture of high trust and leadership that turned inherently unforgiving flight into extraordinary experiences.

In John's post-Naval experiences as an entrepreneur, a venture capitalist, and a business consultant, he employs the intense realities of his aviation career as a metaphor to motivate teams to reach for their highest potential and sustain excellence under dynamic change.

For over a decade, John has shared his exciting, rare journey with audiences around the world, becoming one of the most in-demand leadership and performance experts. John has worked with some of the world's top organizations, such as Microsoft, Hitachi, Intel, Cisco, Mercedes-Benz, Chevron, Marriott, Hilton, Penske Racing, the LA Kings, the Mayo Clinic, Merrill Lynch, Mass Mutual, Bank of America, GE, P&G, Gillette, and Google.

John graduated from the US Naval Academy with a degree in mechanical engineering. As a defensive back for the Midshipmen, he played in two bowl games and helped Navy to one of the best four-year records at that time. As a pilot, John was a ''Top Ten Carrier Pilot'' six times before becoming a Marine instructor pilot and a Blue Angel. He holds master's degrees in business management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, in international policy studies from Stanford University, and in strategic studies from the Naval War College. In 2016, John was awarded an honorary PhD from UNAM in Mexico.

In 2011, John founded the Glad To Be Here Foundation. Through the foundation, John donates 10% of all his speaking fees to charity. To date, the foundation has raised over 1 million dollars for over 100 charities around the globe.

Links in this Episode

Follow and connect with John online:

• Website: https://johnfoleyinc.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnguccifoley/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnguccifoley/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnGucciFoley

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Clarity is a process that helps make sense of the chaos, change, the ambiguity that we’re leading from. 

We’re joined today by Brad Deutser, the founder and CEO of Deutser, an award-winning management consulting firm and the Deutser Clarity Institute, a think tank, an idea accelerator, and an innovative learning center. He’s helped individuals and organizations navigate through transition and through chaos. And we all know what the last 12 months has looked like, it’s been a tough year, it’s been chaotic. And so we are very eager to learn about leading with, what Brad calls, clarity and why that’s important. 

About the Guest

The CEO of Deutser, Brad Deutser is a trusted counselor and executive coach, as well as a leadership guru for CEOs, Board Chairs, and top corporate management. His unique insight and original approach to affecting change through organizational clarity have transformed many prominent businesses and cause-based organizations. Brad is recognized for his ability to navigate complex, ambiguous business and people challenges inside organizations. He is sought after as a speaker and authority on matters of organizational change and leadership. He is the author of “Leading Clarity: The Breakthrough Strategy to Unleash People Profit and Performance” and is an active contributor to many national media outlets. Brad has incredible experience leading Deutser and helping a multitude of companies and organizations navigate change and align your organization with your leadership.

Links in this Episode

• Brad’s website
• Brad’s LinkedIn
• Brad’s Facebook

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Finding and recruiting talent is an art. Mollie Plotkin founded her namesake keynote speaker and entertainment booking agency in Philadelphia in 2005 within a day of discovering a gap in the market. She cultivated that art into a successful business representing some of the biggest names in the sports, media, and entertainment industries. With innovative strategies for cultivating talent and using a team approach to connect speakers with the right audience, Mollie joins Off the Rak to chat about the art of connection, the power of storytelling, and the gift of impactful relationships.

About the Guest

Mollie Plotkin is the founder and principal of The Mollie Plotkin Group (MPG), a keynote speaker agency based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Established over 20 years ago, MPG connects clients with a diverse roster of keynote speakers, including professional athletes, business leaders, and entertainers. The agency's mission is to inspire and educate audiences by bringing engaging and meaningful stories to events worldwide.

Mollie is passionate about connecting people and helping them share their stories. She enjoys getting to know her speakers, listening to their experiences, and finding the right audiences for them. This dedication has been a driving force behind MPG's success in the live events industry.

The agency represents a wide range of talent, including motivational speakers, business experts, and celebrities. Notable figures in their roster include Super Bowl champions Tom Brady and Saquon Barkley, best-selling author and business speaker Seth Godin, and Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses. MPG also offers services for event emcees, moderators, and corporate entertainers like mentalists and magicians.

Mollie leads a dedicated team that shares her passion for connecting audiences with inspiring speakers. The team includes professionals like Operations Manager Nic Pirhalla and Content Marketing Manager Derek Victor, who contribute to the agency's mission of delivering exceptional experiences for clients and audiences alike.

Under Mollie's leadership, MPG has built strong relationships within the live events industry, earning a reputation for reliability and excellence. The agency's commitment to personal connections and understanding clients' needs has made it a trusted partner for event planners seeking impactful keynote speakers.

Links in this Episode

Follow and connect with Mollie and the Mollie Plotkin Group online:

• Website: https://mollieplotkingroup.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MolliePlotkinGroup 
• X: https://x.com/MPGKeynoteAgent 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollieplotkin
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollieplotkingroup/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mollieplotkingroupkeynotes5587

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