Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Doug Wheeler, Former President of Washington Performing Arts. Doug shares leadership lessons learned as he engaged the community with the organization’s mission and service to the community.

Highlights:

• Producing a radio program for WAMU and how it started Doug’s relationship with Patrick Hayes
• Doug Wheeler’s efforts on engaging the broader community in the arts and the mission of Washington Performing Arts
• What drove Doug to greater involvement with Leadership Greater Washington and the Washington DC Chamber
• Why and how Doug Wheeler led a charge for greater equity
• Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asking Doug to chair friends of music at the US Supreme Court 

Also mentioned in this episode:

Patrick Hayes, Founder of Washington Performing Arts Society

Jenny Bilfield, President of Washing Performing Arts

Connect with Doug Wheeler:

Washington Performing arts

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

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More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Robert Rosenberg, CEO of Dunkin Donuts for 35 years and author of the book “Around the Corner to Around the World: A Dozen Lessons I Learned Running Dunkin' Donuts.” Robert Rosenberg shares his origin story, leadership successes and mistakes, and lessons learned in growing Dunkin Donuts to the household name it is today, and his advice on how to effectively lead an organization. 

Some highlights:

• Robert Rosenberg on the origin story of Dunkin Donuts 
• Why and how Robert Rosenberg became the CEO of Dunkin Donuts at age 25
• How in his first 5 years as CEO, Robert Rosenberg led the impressive growth of Dunkin Donuts’ and took the company public with a market cap of $120 million
• Dunkin Donuts’ secret to success
• Exploitation vs. Experimentation and why striking the right balance is critical for organizational growth
• How learning to listen helped Robert Rosenberg recover from leadership mistakes 
• How and why Dunkin Donuts focused on the success of its franchisees
• Robert Rosenberg’s Top 4 essentials in leading an organization: Strategy, Organization, Communication, and Crisis Management
• Robert Rosenberg’s advice on how best to prepare for a crisis
• The importance of trust in leadership and building impactful business relationships

Also mentioned in this episode:

Charles Lubin, founder of Sara Lee

Nathan Cummings, founder of Consolidated Foods

David Halberstam, author of “The Best and the Brightest”

Bob and Edna Demery, Dunkin Donuts franchise owners in Hartford, Connecticut

Thomas Schwarz, former president of Dunkin Donuts

Leo Prieto, Dunkin Donuts franchise owner in the Philippines

Rosabeth Moss Kanter, author of “Think Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can Change the World One Smart Innovation at a Time”

Howard Samuels, former director of the Small Business Administration (SBA)

Connect with Robert Rosenberg:

Around the Corner to Around the World website

Around the Corner to Around the World on Amazon

Robert Rosenberg on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Kathy Hollinger, President, and CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), who has been recognized as one of the Most Influential Minorities in Cable and honored by Washington Business Journal as one of 20 Women Who Mean Business. Kathy shares how she has been able to create a positive culture within the community even during the pandemic.

Highlights:

• How Kathy Hollinger’s Persian Heritage provided a solid foundation on family, respect, and leadership.
• What and why Kathy Hollinger and her husband chose Washington DC over other places.
• What Kathy Hollinger learned through her experiences in the DC government.
• How did Kathy Hollinger learn to separate politics from personal life and how it affected her decision-making.
• Kathy Hollinger’s transition from politics to the region’s restaurant association.
• What are Kathy Hollinger’s steps to ensure a win-win situation for the industry during the pandemic.
• Kathy Hollinger’s thoughts on the industry’s future.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, American educator, and former scientific researcher and politician

Adrian Fenty, Former Mayor of District of Columbia, DC

Vincent Gray, Former Mayor of District of Columbia, DC

Connect with Kathy Hollinger:

Kathy Hollinger on Twitter

Kathy Hollinger on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva, Founder & Chief Reinvention Officer at Reinvention Academy and author of the book, How to Thrive in Chaos. Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva shares how reinvention can help individuals and organizations thrive in constant change. 

Some highlights:

• How Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva’s origins influenced her to set up a company called We Exist Reinvention Agency
• Why reinvention is important for the survival of organizations
• Learning how to live with uncertainty and volatility
• Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva explains the Titanic Syndrome and its relevance to leadership
• Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva’s advice on how to reinvent during a crisis
• Understanding the nature of chaos and turning chaos into the greatest business advantage

Also mentioned in this episode:

Bruce Lipton, a developmental biologist and author of The Biology of Belief

Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, Built to Last and How the Mighty Fall

Henry Mintzberg, author of Rebalancing Society and Bed Time Stories for Managers 

Book Resources:

Elastic: The Power of Flexible Thinking by Leonard Mlodinow

No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Erin Meyer and Reed Hastings

Other Resources:

Reinvention Society Facebook Group

Connect with Nadya Zhexembayeva:

Nadya Zhexembayeva on LinkedIn

Nadya Zhexembayeva on Twitter: @NadyaZhexembay

Nadya Zhexembayeva on Instagram:  @chief_reinvention_officer

Nadya Zhexembayeva on Facebook

Reinvention Academy Official Website

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Dr. Irma Beccera, the seventh president of Marymount University, talks about her journey becoming a higher education leader, her research in knowledge management, how to see setbacks as opportunities for growth and her vision for the future of Marymount University.

Some Highlights:

• Dr. Irma Becerra shares how her upbringing as a Cuban-American has impacted the kind of leader she has become
• How a setback allowed Dr. Becerra to form a partnership with her future research funder
• What knowledge management is and why it is so impactful to organizations
• How Marymount University adapted and pivoted throughout the pandemic to meet the needs of the students
• Dr. Irma Becerra’s vision for the future for Marymount university, innovations for new programmatic offerings, and the university’s role in the Greater Washington DC DMV region
• Dr. Becerra’s advice for leaders

Connect with Dr. Irma Beccera:

Dr. Irma Beccera on LinkedIn

Dr. Irma Beccera on Twitter

Marymount University on Instagram

Marymount University on Facebook

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli talks about Persian New Year, Nowruz, and its relevance to renewal, rethinking, reimagining, and reinventing which is needed by all, most especially now.  The episode ends with a fun surprise, set to powerful music magnifying a message of hope and renewal.

Some highlights:

• Mahan Tavakoli shares why the spirit of renewal matters,  most especially now
• How the Persian New Year celebration of Nowruz embodies traditions of renewal.
• Mahan Tavakoli on why and how we can use this moment to rethink, reimagine and reinvent.
• A powerful message of hope and renewal, set to music.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Amanda Gorman, National Poet Laureate

Jim Collins, Business Author

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with David Rutstein, former general counsel at Giant Food. David shares inspiring stories in his journey, what an ‘Ethical Will’ is, his 10 principles for leadership, and most important of all—how to lead with integrity and have an impact in the community.

Some highlights:

• David Rutstein shares how his grandparents’ community leadership inspires how he leads and mentors younger people
• How getting rejected at Penn Law School led him to the Greater Washington DC DMV Region 
• David’s 5 impactful objectives in his retirement
• What an ‘Ethical Will’ is and why it’s so important
• How persistence helped David in battling health issues
• David Rutstein’s 10 principles for leadership

Also mentioned in this episode:

Raymond R. Dickey, former senior partner at Danzansky, Dickey, Tydings, Quint and Gordon

George Bloom, head of the public utilities commission in Pennsylvania

Edward Friedman, Solicitor General

Israel “Izzy” Cohen, former chairman of Giant Food and Supermarketing Pioneer

David Rubenstein, co-Founder of the Carlyle Group and author of  How to Lead

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jim Kerr, Founder of Indispensable Consulting and Author of the book INDISPENSABLE: Build and Lead A Company Customers Can’t Live Without, and shares his thoughts and insights on how being indispensable is a very important aspect of leading and creating a great culture.

Some highlights:

• Why Jim Kerr wrote his book INDISPENSABLE
• Jim Kerr shares his thoughts on how to create a new culture of leadership
• How leadership by example changes the culture of the team
• Jim Kerr’s thoughts on why encouraging dissent is critical in nurturing a great organizational culture
• How to lead so your organization becomes indispensable

Also mentioned in this episode:

Marshall Goldsmith, author and executive coach

BOOK:

INDISPENSABLE: Build and Lead A Company Customers Can’t Live Without

 Author James M. Kerr

Connect with Jim Kerr:

Jim Kerr on Linkedin

Jim Kerr on Twitter 

Indispensable consulting

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli talks with Cary Hatch, CEO of MDB Communications. Cary Hatch discusses what it took for her to succeed as a female business owner and how difficulties can build up resilience, and the joy of having an impact on people and the entire Greater Washington DC DMV region.

Some highlights:

• Cary Hatch shares how to use fear of failure as a driving force to move forward and achieve goals.
• The power of advertising and its influence on organizations and brands.
• How to build resilience through repeated setbacks.
• Cary Hatch on the importance to help others through volunteering.  
  
  
  

Also mentioned in this episode:

Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus of Ogilvy & Mather 

Rosie Allen Herring, President & CEO United Way National Capital Area

Lyles Carr, Executive Vice President The McCormick Group

Bob Buchanan, Principal Buchanan Partners

Connect with Cary Hatch:

Carry Hatch LinkedIn

Carry Hatch Twitter

MDB Communications

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli talks with Jonathan Littman, co-author of The Entrepreneurs Faces: How Makers, Visionaries and Outsiders Succeed, and several other best-selling books. Jonathan Littman talks about the importance of innovation in business and how business leaders can learn to create an entrepreneurial spirit in their teams and organizations.

Some highlights:

• The importance of creating an intrapreneurial culture to reinvent an organization.
• Jonathan Littman talks about a human-centric approach to entrepreneurship.
• The importance of understanding entrepreneurial archetypes.
• How to bring more entrepreneurship and an intrapreneurial spirit into the organizations.
• Jonathan Littman on the importance of embracing change and transformation. 

Also mentioned in this episode:

Susanna Camp: Co-author The Entrepreneurs Faces: How Makers, Visionaries and Outsiders Succeed

Connect with Jonathan Littman:

Jonathan Littman on LinkedIn

Jonathan Littman on Instagram

Entrepreneur's Faces Book

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website