Off the Rak

On radar, mentors, and accountability with the world’s premier expert on women’s leadership

Cited in Forbes as the world’s premier expert on women’s leadership, Sally Helgesen is the bestselling author of “How Women Rise.” She has been inducted into the Thinkers 50 Hall of Fame, which honors those whose ideas have shaped the field of leadership worldwide. She is credited with bringing the language of inclusion into business and in this wide-ranging chat, shares the challenges — and solutions —faced by leaders today.

About the Guest

Sally Helgesen is an internationally best-selling author, speaker and leadership coach. She has been inducted into the Thinkers 50 Hall of Fame, which honors those whose ideas have shaped the field of leadership worldwide. She is ranked Number One in leadership by Global Gurus, and has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Institute for Management Studies.

Sally’s latest book, Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace, offers practical ways to build more effective relationships with people we may perceive as different from ourselves. Rising Together builds on Sally’s remarkable success with How Women Rise, co-authored with legendary executive coach Marshall Goldsmith, which examines the behaviors most likely to get in the way of successful women as they move forward in their careers. Rights have been sold in 24 languages.

For 35 years, Sally has delivered seminars, keynotes and master classes for companies, partnership firms and associations around the world, working in 37 countries. She is a contributing editor for Strategy + Business magazine and a member of the 100 Coaches Network and the New York and International Women’s Forums. She lives in Chatham, NY.

Links in this Episode

Visit Sally Helgesen’s website at https://sallyhelgesen.com 

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“My life’s purpose has been to improve the lives of others.” Bob McDonald spoke those words after being nominated to become the 8th U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Bob’s career exemplifies service-driven leadership as a distinguished graduate of West Point, a U.S. Army captain, and the former Chairman, President, and CEO of Procter & Gamble through and beyond the Great Recession. Join us for a deep dive into the pursuit of purpose through service, transformative leadership through character, and innovation through growth strategies on the next episode of Off the Rak. 

About the Guest

Robert A. “Bob” McDonald exemplifies service-driven and innovative leadership, with deep roots in values forged early in life. Born in Gary, Indiana, and raised in Chicago, Illinois, McDonald’s disciplined foundation began at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in the top 2% of his class with a degree in engineering. Following his graduation, McDonald served as a U.S. Army Captain in the 82nd Airborne Division, earning the Ranger tab and Airborne wings during his military career.

As the former Chairman, President, and CEO of Procter & Gamble (2009–2013), McDonald was at the helm during one of the company’s most transformative periods. He led efforts to expand P&G’s reach, adding nearly one billion new customers while achieving consistent organic sales growth of 3% annually. Under his leadership, the company prioritized innovation, focusing on customer-centric product development and geographic expansion. McDonald championed sustainability, embedding environmental responsibility into the company’s strategy, and streamlined operations to drive efficiency. His visionary approach ensured P&G maintained its status as a global leader in consumer goods while adapting to changing market dynamics.

In 2014, President Obama appointed McDonald as the eighth United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. During his tenure, he enacted critical reforms, including halving veteran homelessness, reducing the disability claims backlog, improving same-day access to primary and mental health care, and modernizing the VA’s medical supply chain. His leadership significantly enhanced the veteran experience and the operational efficiency of the VA.

A West Point Distinguished Graduate (2017), McDonald’s contributions extend internationally. He was honored with the Public Service Star by the Republic of Singapore for his work in developing Singapore as a global hub. 

Beyond his accolades, his unwavering dedication to service and leadership continues to inspire, as witnessed in the global McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character held annually at West Point. 

Bob McDonald’s career is a testament to purposeful innovation, transformative leadership, and a lifelong commitment to service.

Links in this Episode

Follow Bob McDonald online here:

• https://www.robertmcdonald.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/people/Bob-McDonald/
• https://x.com/Bob_McDonald75
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-mcdonald-188b2a193/

Learn more about Off the Rak and watch past episodes at waltrakowich.com/offtherak

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Filmmaker Elliot V. Kotek first came to our attention by being the writer and director of “The Hidden Power of Purpose,” a moving documentary that affirms living with purpose can improve your health and longevity. Since then, we’ve learned about a career that’s stretched from mergers and acquisitions law to tech innovation and storytelling, driven by the idea that purpose, passion and meaning align to bring about real impact. Elliot believe ideas + empathy = impact — tune in to hear why and how from an award-winning filmmaker (Emmy, Cannes, SXSW) and founder of The Nation of Arts, Beyond Cinema and the Not Impossible Foundation. 

About the Guest

Elliot Kotek is an Emmy-winning, Cannes-recognized Australian producer, filmmaker, poet, photographer, nonprofit founder, and editor-in-chief. He is the founder and CEO of The Nation of Artists, the founder of Beyond Cinema, and the co-founder of Not Impossible.

A former mergers and acquisitions lawyer specializing in biotech, Kotek holds a law degree and a BS in pharmacology and toxicology from Monash University. After moving to the U.S. in 2000, he studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and completed UCLA's Professional Program in Screenwriting. 

Kotek is passionate about the power of content and campaigns to create meaningful change and takes pride in projects that deliver real impact. As the producer of groundbreaking work, he has created documentaries and virtual reality content for major brands, including Qualcomm, Intel, HP, Sony, LEGO Education, and Participant Media, with global distribution. His work has earned seven Emmy nominations, five South By Southwest Innovation Awards, five Cannes Lions, 50+ Tellys, and numerous other accolades, including a Gold Stevie Award and the Kellogg School of Management’s Innovation Fellowship.

As a leading voice in purposeful content, technology for good, and storytelling for social impact, Elliot has spoken at TEDMED, the United Nations, the US Institute of Peace, and other prominent forums. His strategic “4P” philosophy emphasizes Passion, Purpose, People, and Possibility as keys to creating change.

Links in this Episode

• Watch "The Hidden Power of Purpose" documentary on YouTube, Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV or at AARP
• Learn more about The Nation of Artists here
• Follow Elliot Kotek online here: 
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliotkotek
  • https://www.instagram.com/nationofartists
  • https://x.com/ElliotKotek
  • https://www.facebook.com/elliotkotek/

Learn more about Off the Rak and watch past episodes at waltrakowich.com/offtherak

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For the last few years Off the Rak podcast interviews have ended with the same question: What in life are you most grateful for?

The answers have been so revealing, encouraging, inspiring, and thought-provoking that they led to a new capstone question for all Off the Rak as a new season launches: What purpose are you most passionate about pursuing?

For Walt Rakowich, gratitude and purpose aren’t just ideas—they’re the guiding principles of his life and leadership. 

Don’t forget to follow Off the Rak on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a little purpose-infused inspiration. And if you’d like to continue watching on LinkedIn Live or YouTube, you’re still welcome to join in there! Until the next episode, ask yourself "What purpose am I most passionate about pursuing?" Then listen to what others have to say on upcoming shows. You’ll be inspired by what you hear.

Learn more about Off the Rak and watch past episodes at waltrakowich.com/offtherak

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Walt Rakowich's passion to help shape a generation of leaders who lead with honesty, humility and heart inspired him to launch Off the Rak: Conversations on Transformative Leadership. Featuring rich and raw conversations with notable leaders across different industries, every episode inspires curious leaders to embrace challenges, seize opportunities and become positive influences in their world.

After three seasons as a live monthly video interview series, Off the Rak is now available as a podcast. Tune in for new episodes and re-releases of some of our best interviews. Highlights in this introduction include:

• Anita Moorjani, New York Times bestselling author and speaker
• Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
• Susan Packard, co-founder of HGTV
• Tommy Spaulding, bestselling author, leadership speaker, and coach
• Joel Peterson, former chairman of JetBlue Airways

Walt Rakowich brings a real-world perspective to leadership that’s based on experience, not just theory. Walt was CEO of Prologis, the world’s largest owner of industrial warehouses and a critical partner to companies distributing products throughout the global supply chain. The company was near bankruptcy when Walt took over at the height of the Great Recession. While leading Prologis back to prominence, and in the years since, Walt realized leaders today must lean into timeless values and principles, but with a fresh perspective on the new realities of our leadership climates. He is the author of TRANSFLUENCE: HOW TO LEAD WITH TRANSFORMATIVE INFLUENCE IN TODAY'S CLIMATES OF CHANGE.

Learn more about Off the Rak and watch past episodes at waltrakowich.com/offtherak

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