Stood in the Gap

Wayne DeVeydt is the Executive Chairman of the Board of Surgery Partners, Inc and the former CEO. In his journey to senior leadership, Wayne constantly reminds others to be humble, selfless, and to use the gifts God has given you. 

Wayne admits he grew up prideful and selfish, characteristics he still struggles with today. Only when his luxurious life disappeared did he pay attention to God’s calling.

In this episode, Derrin and Wayne get vulnerable about the difficulty of family and leadership journeys. Listen to his story and his advice to young people trying to accelerate their life and career.

In This Episode: 

• [02:46] – This/That with Wayne
• [04:58] – Wayne’s pivotal moments
• [09:06] – A hero moment
• [14:13] – The danger of pride
• [15:38] – Your wife left you
• [21:25] – Wayne’s advice to those struggling
• [24:19] – How Wayne’s husband/father philosophy has evolved
• [27:02] – Overcoming selfishness
• [31:36] – Wayne’s leadership advice

“I believe in you.” 

On the verge of quitting the family company, Seth Morales heard these words and took ownership of the situation. Before becoming CEO of the Morales Group, Seth was increasingly frustrated with how the company was being run. 

In this episode, Seth shares how he changed the company to be something he believed in and what guiding principles helped him accomplish it.

In This Episode: 

• [02:12] – This/That with Seth
• [03:52] – Seth joins the family business
• [05:45] – A pivotal moment in Seth’s career
• [11:15] – Following in his father’s footsteps
• [15:22] – Seth’s guiding principles
• [18:03] – Be open and authentic
• [21:43] – The impact of “I believe in you.”
• [23:11] –  Mental health in leadership
• [25:52] – Seth’s career advice

Quotes From This Episode: 

• “At a leadership level, there needs to be alignment and cohesion. If you don't have that type of cohesion then you can kiss having fun being part of an organization like that goodbye.”
• “I’ve learned you have to have radical candor. If you can't speak the truth, if you can't have some of these difficult conversations, it's really going to affect your relationships.”
• “As a leader, you're a firefighter. You have dark clouds you're always navigating around, problems and challenges, and you have to be cozy or comfortable with it.”

“You are doing what you were called to do.”

Joyce Irwin is the President and CEO of the Community Health Network Foundation, where she gives her time to those in need daily. Diagnosed with meningitis at an early age, Joyce understands the need for compassion and meeting people where they are in their times of need.

In this episode, Joyce shares how she discovered her calling. As you listen to her story of hope, resilience, and courage, pay attention to the ways you can identify the callings in your life.

In This Episode: 

• [02:02] – This/That with Joyce
• [03:30] – Diagnosed with meningitis 
• [06:30] – Becoming CEO of the Community Health Network Foundation
• [10:30] – Meeting George W. Bush
• [14:01] – Listening to what the world calls you to do
• [16:00] – How Joyce’s faith shapes her perspective
• [17:45] – Joyce’s career advice

Quotes From This Episode: 

• “Sometimes, it's not the big things that trip us up. It's the little things that really make your world come crashing down.”
• “We are called to meet people where they're at, help them in their time of need, and be there for them.”
• “We need to be open, and we need to listen.”

“Life is always speaking to you.”

In this episode, Andrea Butcher, President of HRD Advisory Group, joins Derrin Slack for a conversation about leadership, listening, and honesty. As she shares her story, see if you can identify the way life might be speaking to you. 

In her conversation with Derrin, Andrea references the Enneagram. To learn more about this, you can check out Andrea’s podcast, Being [at Work], and look for the Daily Dose Takeovers by Rachel Pritz.

In This Episode: 

• [02:08] – This/That played with Andrea
• [03:30] – Andrea’s guardian angel
• [06:00] – Andrea’s leadership philosophy
• [09:58] – Overcoming failure
• [11:15] – Advice for self-discovery
• [14:00] – Having an accountability partner
• [15:14] – Andrea’s divorce and what it taught her
• [18:05] – Andrea’s guiding principles

Quotes From This Episode: 

• “The greatest gift that you have to give others is you.”
• “Stop looking around and trying to emulate everyone else's leadership style. You’ve got to figure out your own leadership philosophy.”
• “Tell the truth about what's really going on with you.”

“Whether you think you can do something or not, you're right.”

In this episode, Marianne Glick, Board Chair of Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation joins Derrin Slack for a conversation about confidence. 

Marianne experienced depression from an early age and has learned the power thoughts can have over you.

As she shares her story, you’ll learn how everybody faces a challenge, even if we can’t see it. Listen in as Marianne opens up about her personal relationships and how they affected her leadership journey.

In This Episode: 

• [02:24] – This/That played with Marianne
• [04:03] – A day Marianne felt she couldn’t survive
• [06:03] – A moment that defined Marianne’s outlook on life
• [07:23] – The words that changed Marianne’s life
• [09:13] – What keeps Marianne passionate and grounded
• [11:31] – How she navigated sexism in the workplace
• [13:45] – The biggest challenge we face
• [14:50] – Marianne’s advice for overcoming obstacles

Quotes From This Episode: 

• “Whatever we put our minds to and believe we can do, we can do it.” 
• “Everybody deserves respect and deserves to be treated equally, fairly, and have opportunity.”
• “Everybody has some challenge that they're facing. We just may not know what that challenge is.”

“Whatever you do, do it with excellence.”

In this episode, Pam Ross of Central Indiana Community Foundation joins Derrin Slack for a conversation about excellence.

As a young wife and mother, Pam struggled not only with the challenges of raising a family, but also with the expectations she felt had been placed on her.

As she shares her story, you’ll hear how her grandmother influenced her approach to leadership, and the key to learning from every experience.

In This Episode: 

• [01:41] – This/That played with Pam
• [04:54] – What moment made all the difference
• [09:13] – Pam’s greatest lesson
• [13:37] – What “love in the process” means to Pam
• [18:29] – Where Pam gets her philosophy 
• [20:14] – The words that changed everything
• [24:50] – How Pam defines excellence
• [26:15] – Pam’s advice to aspiring leaders

Quotes From This Episode: 

• “The essence of who you are has to be centered and grounded in love.” 
• “What you see for yourself, you have to believe that you can actually have regardless of where you come from or what your circumstances have been.”
• “Mediocrity is unacceptable.”

“If it’s not a ‘Hell, yes!’, it’s a ‘Hell, no!’”

In this episode, Nikki Lewallen, CEO of Rainmakers, joins Derrin Slack for a conversation about knowing when to say “yes” and how to level up in every area of your life.

After two career shifts, multiple college degrees and lots of uncertainty, it took one engaged leader to set Nikki on the path towards becoming the entrepreneur and leader she is today.

As she shares her story, you’ll hear how saying “yes” to the right thing and finding the right mentors led to the foundational statement that guides her every day.

In This Episode: 

• [03:00] – This/That played with Nikki
• [07:14] – Searching for the right fit
• [11:22] – The foundational statement that changed everything
• [16:33] – Nikki’s advice to aspiring leaders

Quotes From This Episode: 

• “You have to take care of yourself first.”
• “Find mentors that are who you aspire to be.”
• “Work on something that scares you a little.”

“Remember those three minutes for the rest of your life.”

In this episode, Al White, Advisor for Corporate Responsibility and VP of The Lilly Foundation at Eli Lilly and Company, joins Derrin Slack for a conversation about breaking the cycle of crime and making the most of every opportunity.

Al’s father was a well-known drug dealer in Delaware, and his grandfather was murdered as a result of his involvement with organized crime. When Al was arrested before his senior year of highschool, it seemed he would follow the pattern. 

As he shares his story, you’ll hear how he was given a second chance, and what he did next to take full advantage of it.

“Your dad just shot your mom; you’ve got to go back [to college].”

In this episode, Jimmie McMillian, Senior Corporate Counsel at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,  joins Derrin Slack for a conversation about overcoming obstacles and leaving a legacy. 

After failing out of college, Jimmie’s life changed forever when he found out his father shot his mother three times. As he sat in the hospital wondering if she would survive, he made a decision that would affect the rest of his life. 

As he shares his story, you’ll hear what he did next, and why he continues to live every day with a desire to be great.

“We have no idea what you’re going through, but we will get you through this.”

As a sought-after author, speaker, and advisor, CJ McCLanahan has spent countless hours helping high-performing entrepreneurs and executives grow their businesses. Yet, despite tremendous success, he found his clients’ happiness and quality of life wasn’t increasing with their financial or professional growth. 

Now, CJ is on a mission to inspire leaders to re-imagine success and focus on the things that really matter; living gratefully, and giving generously.

As CJ shares his story, you’ll hear the three fundamental concepts he lives by, and why he’s obsessed with inspiring greatness in others.