Start With A Win

In this powerful episode of Start With a Win, Adam Contos is joined by Dr. Alexa Chilcutt - executive presence expert and faculty lead at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School - for an eye-opening conversation about what it really takes to lead with confidence, credibility, and authenticity. From navigating imposter syndrome to mastering the unspoken signals that define how others perceive you, this episode uncovers the often-overlooked elements that can elevate -or quietly undermine - your leadership. If you've ever wondered why some leaders inspire trust and authority the instant they enter a room, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

Alexa Chilcutt, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized expert in executive presence, team communication, and professional public speaking. She is the Faculty Lead for the Business Communication Certificate at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and co-leads the Academy for Women and Leadership. In addition to her work at Johns Hopkins, she designs custom corporate training programs and teaches executive education for Texas Christian University and The University of Alabama. A certified Executive Coach, Chilcutt specializes in leadership development for women and technical professionals. She is also the founder of Maestro CE LLC, delivering tailored communication coaching and programs for corporate clients. Previously, she directed The University of Alabama’s Public Speaking Program for over a decade and developed communication curricula for UAB’s Dental School and NSF-funded engineering research programs.

00:00 Intro
02:51 What is executive/leadership presence? 
05:34 If you are not doing this that scares you then you are not taking this…
09:08 How to deliver this without being egotistically?  
10:44 Professional vs Personal Values  
13:35 One of the biggest questions on executive presence?
18:10 Action to take - What is your judgement of them as a leader? 
22:50 How to own the space?   
24:15 Difference between good and great leaders!
26:36 Key piece of wisdom!
29:12 Grounded? 

Https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-chilcutt-phd/

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

When somebody's talking, do you listen to respond? Many people wait to talk, not to understand. They're listening to interrupt. Are you one of those people who constantly interrupts? Don't do that. Speak far less. Remember, we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Use your ears twice as much as your mouth. Sit calmly, listen, take things in, process, and be interested. Ask questions. This will take you much further in life than just giving your opinion. Stop talking so much. Start listening more. Listen with a smile and intent in your eyes. Nod your head. Ask great questions when you can, but don't force them. Be interested. Listen more.

#ActiveListening #ListenToUnderstand #CommunicationSkills

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱?  ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

Positive influence vs. negative influence: Imagine two people—one with a smile, seeking opportunities to excel in business, eager to help and succeed. The other avoids interaction, spreading misery and negativity. The difference is clear: positivity drives growth and success, while negativity hinders progress.

Human nature often leans towards negativity, so consciously choose positive influences. Support those who uplift and inspire, rather than drain energy with negativity. Seek positivity in your interactions—it's key to a successful day.

#PositiveInfluence #ChoosePositivity #QuickWin

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱?  ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

This episode of Start With a Win dives into the remarkable story of how a motorcycle brand transformed from the brink of collapse to becoming an iconic global powerhouse. Host Adam Contos sits down with Ken Schmidt, the former head of communications at Harley-Davidson, who reveals how shifting focus from simply selling products to creating authentic human connections reshaped the brand’s destiny. Packed with powerful lessons on leadership, loyalty, and the psychology of consumer behavior, this conversation is a masterclass in standing out and building unshakable emotional bonds with customers.

Ken Schmidt is one of the business world’s most demanded executive advisors and speakers, driven by the acclaim he earned leading Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s against-all-odds turnaround in the 1990s from the brink of financial ruin to global dominance. He’s the author of Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance, the host of the Tailgating with Geniuses podcast, and co-founder of Torque Sessions Leadership Training. Ken’s success, unconventional business approach, and playful outspokenness led him to consulting assignments with household-name brands and transformed him into a highly requested speaker with more than 1,200 keynotes presented globally to date.

00:00 Intro
01:52 What is fun about a company at it’s worst point?
05:01 What should you be known for to get this?
11:36 Can you find glorious discoveries by an accident? 
16:08 What are your five pillars?
21:01 Great businesspeople never talk about what they sell…   
22:06 What is noise of a business?
28:10 Is efficiency the key?
31:37 What are your three to five words as a leader?    
34:40 I do this over coffee…
 
https://kenspeaks.com/
https://www.torquesessions.com/

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱?  ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership

Trust starts with consistency. Be predictable in your words and actions to build the foundation of any great team. 🛠️ #Leadership #Trust #TeamBuilding

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

The best leaders don’t just think about their own growth — they think about the growth of the leaders around them.
Leadership development is retention strategy. It’s culture strategy. It’s future-proofing.

What are you doing right now to grow the leadership capacity of your team?

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱?  ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership
Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

In this episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos is joined by leadership strategist and author Dr. Vijay Pendakur to explore what it really takes to lead through disruption. Drawing from his experience at top tech companies and Cornell University, Vijay unpacks the secret to building high-performing teams when the ground is constantly shifting beneath you. From the invisible forces of trust and belonging to the raw challenges of leading through crisis, this conversation offers a bold reframe of leadership - one that is both deeply human and urgently practical. If you've ever wondered how to turn volatility into opportunity, this episode is your blueprint.

Dr. Vijay Pendakur is the founder of Vijay Pendakur Consulting and a seasoned leader across tech and higher education, with senior roles at Zynga, VMware, Dropbox, and Salesforce. He previously served as Dean of Students and Presidential Advisor for Diversity and Equity at Cornell University. Vijay’s upcoming book, The Alchemy of Talent (Dec 2024), is a practical guide to building high-performing teams. He also authored Closing the Opportunity Gap (2016), a widely used resource on equity in student success. A faculty member at USC’s Race and Equity Center and recognized as a top DEI leader by Channel Futures and Untapped, he also advises Ezra Coaching and Enterprise Ireland. Vijay lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Katie, and their two daughters, Mira and Savi.

00:00 Leadership Is About Relationship
00:29 Welcome to Start With a Win
00:55 Introducing Dr. Vijay Pendakur
02:03 From Education to Corporate Disruption
04:02 Growth Happens Through Pain
06:28 Why “The Alchemy of Talent”?
09:33 Leading Teams Through VUCA
13:07 Trust, Belonging, Connection Framework
15:08 How to Build Trust as a Leader
27:46 Where to Find the Book + Final Thoughts

https://www.vijaypendakur.com/

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

The biggest business shift starts with a mindset shift.
Growth stops the moment we stop growing ourselves and our people.

You don’t need a radical change — you need a daily one.
Grow your mindset. Grow your team. And your business will follow.

What’s one way you’re helping your team grow this week?

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱?  ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership
Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

Every day as a leader is a chance to realign.
Ask yourself: Did I serve someone today? Did I stretch myself? Did I truly see someone for who they are?

Leadership isn’t about having a title — it’s about being a daily touchpoint for impact.
Try journaling your answers to those three S’s at the end of each day: Serve. Stretch. See.

How do you check in with yourself to stay aligned as a leader?

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱?  ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership
Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

Stress is a signal, not a stop sign.
Great leaders don’t ignore tension — they notice it, name it, and guide through it.

Try this: when pressure rises, pause and use the “one-two-three” rule.
One deep breath. Two clarifying questions. Three focused steps forward.
You can’t eliminate stress, but you can lead through it.

How do you help your team navigate stress when it hits?

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱?  ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership
Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook  ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter  ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram  ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory