Most leaders can handle the easy 92 percent of their day. It is the remaining 8 percent that defines them. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Dr. JP Pawliw-Fry, one of the world’s leading authorities on pressure, performance, and the neuroscience of leadership.

JP is the New York Times bestselling author of Performing Under Pressure and co-founder of the Institute for Health and Human Potential. For more than 25 years, he has coached and trained elite performers and teams across NASA, the CIA, the US Army and Navy, the Olympics, the NBA, the NFL, and global Fortune 100 companies, including Google, Goldman Sachs, Coca-Cola, BMW, IBM, and Johnson & Johnson. His research on leadership behavior and culture has appeared in Harvard Business Review and media outlets worldwide.

In this conversation, JP explains the Last 8 Percent, the small but critical set of difficult moments that disproportionately shape organizational culture, execution, and long-term success. He shares insights from neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and his upcoming book, The Last 8 Percent, outlining why leaders know what they should do but often avoid doing it. JP describes how his Last 8 Percent Culture System has helped organizations transform performance, including an example where Blue Cross Idaho saved tens of millions of dollars in the first six months of implementation.

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan:

https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator► Learn more about our courses:

⁠ https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution⁠

In this episode, you will learn:

☑️ Why the toughest conversations have the biggest impact on results

☑️ The neuroscience behind pressure and avoidance

☑️ How leaders use the Last 8 Percent to close the gap between intent and action

☑️ Why high-performing cultures require both courage and connection

☑️ Tools to improve accountability and decision-making under stress

☑️ What elite athletes, special forces, and executives all have in common

This episode is for:

▶️ CEOs and executives navigating complex decisions

▶️ Leaders working to build healthier, more courageous cultures

▶️ Teams striving for better performance under pressure

▶️ Anyone looking to strengthen resilience, clarity, and emotional intelligence

About the Guest

Dr. JP Pawliw-Fry is a thought leader, keynote speaker, and New York Times bestselling author known for helping organizations turn pressure into a competitive advantage. He is the co-founder and President of the Institute for Health and Human Potential, one of Profit Magazine’s fastest growing companies, and a highly rated lecturer for Kellogg School of Management’s Executive Education Program. His Last 8 Percent framework is used by elite performers and major organizations worldwide to create measurable performance and financial gains. His upcoming book, The Last 8 Percent, explores how leaders can build cultures of courage, accountability, and connection.

Learn more: jppawliw-fry.com

Connect with JP: linkedin.com/in/jppawliwfry

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With more than 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve measurable results.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com

Growth is exciting until it starts costing you more than it is making you. In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Ben Hansen, five time Inc. 5000 entrepreneur and founder of Profit Doctor, about why scaling too fast without fixing your profit problems is a recipe for burnout.

After building an eight figure company with more than 100 employees, Ben learned firsthand that more revenue does not always mean more success. Through his Profit Doctor programs, he now helps CEOs and business owners cure what he calls “Profititis,” when your top line keeps growing but your bottom line stays flat.

In this conversation, Ben shares practical ways to increase margins, cash, and distributions in just 90 days, often without adding more workload or pressure. He also explains why most companies are following the wrong playbook, chasing growth like tech startups instead of optimizing for profitability like sustainable businesses.

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

► Learn more about our courses: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

In this episode, you will learn:

☑️ Why growing faster is not always growing smarter

☑️ How to diagnose and fix Profititis before it burns you out

☑️ The 50 20 Rule, a simple shortcut to higher profits

☑️ Why cutting the worst 20 percent of your work can unlock growth

☑️ How to think like private equity and make more by doing less

This episode is for:

▶️ Business owners scaling between 2 million and 50 million in revenue

▶️ Leaders who feel stuck despite record sales

▶️ Founders chasing growth but losing energy or focus

▶️ Anyone ready to run a healthier and more profitable business

About the Guest

Ben Hansen is a five time Inc. 5000 entrepreneur and the founder of Profit Doctor, where he helps companies boost profitability without working harder. A former CEO of a fast growing marketing analytics firm, Ben now coaches leaders across North America to fix hidden leaks in their business models and achieve measurable profit gains within 12 weeks.

Learn more: profitdoctor.com

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/benhansen

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve results worldwide.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: Rednyne Productions

How can organizations embrace AI to transform marketing without losing the human connection that drives trust and brand loyalty? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Matt Seitz, Chief Marketing Officer and Partner at Prosperity Capital Advisors, as well as CMO of C2P Enterprises and JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management.

Under Matt’s marketing leadership, JL Smith achieved 40% average annual growth from 2020 to 2024, C2P launched one of the industry’s first in-house marketing agencies for advisors, and Prosperity Capital Advisors now supports over 130 independent financial advisors nationwide. Recognized as a ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES 2025 CMO of the Year finalist, Matt has led standout campaigns like the OBBB initiative and The Rainmaker Multiplier, which earned national attention for creativity and results.

In this conversation, Matt shares how AI is reshaping marketing strategy, why the traditional funnel is being replaced by continuous loops of engagement, and how leaders can use AI as a thought partner to challenge ideas, build culture, and enhance storytelling.

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan:https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

► Learn more about our courses:https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

In this episode, you’ll learn:

☑️ How AI is transforming modern marketing and sales integration

☑️ Ways to humanize digital strategy without losing efficiency

☑️ Why culture and storytelling are the strongest brand differentiators

☑️ How to use AI as a creative and strategic thought partner

☑️ What marketing leaders can do to stay ahead of disruption

This episode is for:

▶️ CMOs and marketing leaders navigating AI-driven transformation

▶️ Executives aligning sales, marketing, and culture under one strategy

▶️ Business owners seeking to build trust in the digital era

▶️ Advisors and professionals using marketing to scale their impact

About the Guest

Matt Seitz is the Chief Marketing Officer and Partner at Prosperity Capital Advisors, and also serves as CMO of C2P Enterprises and JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management. With more than 15 years of experience in financial services marketing, Matt is known for his strategic leadership, data-driven storytelling, and ability to build scalable marketing systems that drive growth. He is a finalist for both the WealthManagement.com CMO of the Year and ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES Executive Leadership awards.

Learn more: https://prosperitycapitaladvisors.comConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattseitz

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve results worldwide.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: Rednyne Productions

How can leaders inspire innovation, engagement, and performance without relying on having all the answers? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Dr. Debra Clary, author of The Curiosity Curve: A Leader’s Guide to Growth and Transformation Through Bold Questions, and former executive at Frito Lay, Coca Cola, Jack Daniel’s, and Humana.

Across more than three decades in Fortune 50 organizations, Dr. Clary has helped leaders shift from transactional to transformational cultures by building curiosity into the core of how teams think and perform. Her research reveals a direct correlation between curiosity and leadership effectiveness and shows how leaders who ask bold questions create more engaged, innovative, and high performing teams.

In this conversation, Dr. Clary shares how leaders can turn curiosity into a strategic advantage, foster cultures of openness, and drive long term growth by asking better questions.

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan:https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

► Learn more about our courses:https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

In this episode, you’ll learn:

☑️ Why curiosity is a leadership advantage and not a luxury

☑️ How asking better questions creates more engaged teams

☑️ Ways to balance direction with curiosity as a leader

☑️ The four factors of the Curiosity Curve framework

☑️ How to build a culture where innovation thrives

This episode is for:

▶️ Executives and managers seeking to unlock team potential

▶️ Leaders driving organizational change or transformation

▶️ HR and L&D professionals focused on engagement and performance

▶️ Anyone ready to lead with questions instead of just answers

About the Guest

Dr. Debra Clary is an author, researcher, and leadership expert who spent over 30 years in Fortune 50 organizations including Frito Lay, Coca Cola, Jack Daniel’s, and Humana. As the founder of Clary Consulting, she helps leaders and organizations build cultures of curiosity that drive growth and transformation. Her book, The Curiosity Curve, was published by Fast Company Press.

Learn more: https://debraclary.com/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdebraclary/

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve results worldwide.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: Rednyne Productions

How can leaders create truly inclusive workplaces without blame, shame, or political polarization? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Mike Lynch, executive coach, author of From Ally to All In, and former HR leader at Capital One.

After more than two decades guiding global teams, Mike has developed the Ally to All In Framework, a practical roadmap that helps leaders move beyond performative allyship toward authentic and sustained inclusion. His five building blocks, Awareness, Acknowledgement, Atonement, Accountability, and Amplification, offer a clear structure for leaders ready to do the real work of inclusion.

For today’s executives, inclusion is not a side initiative, it is a business imperative. When leaders understand how to use their privilege and influence for good, they build stronger cultures, foster innovation, and unlock engagement across their organizations.

In this episode, Mike shares how inclusive leadership starts with awareness and evolves through action, empowering leaders to show up meaningfully without fear, guilt, or division.

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

► Learn more about our courses: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

In this episode, you’ll learn:

☑️ Why allyship is just the beginning of inclusive leadership☑️ The five stages leaders must progress through to go all in☑️ How inclusion drives performance, retention, and innovation☑️ Ways to build awareness and accountability in your team☑️ How leaders can foster inclusion without blame or politics

This episode is for:

▶️ Executives and HR leaders driving culture and DEI initiatives▶️ Managers looking to build belonging and engagement in teams▶️ Leaders navigating organizational change or transformation▶️ Anyone ready to move from intention to impact in inclusion

About the Guest

Mike Lynch is a seasoned executive coach, facilitator, and author of From Ally to All In: The Guide to Moving Beyond Privilege and Becoming a More Inclusive Leader. With over 30 years of leadership experience including 24 years at Capital One, Mike helps organizations create workplaces that thrive on authenticity, collaboration, and equity. Through his firm, MJL Consulting Group, he guides leaders to use their privilege as a force for good.

Learn more: mjlconsultinggroup.comConnect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljlynchms/

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve results worldwide.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: Rednyne Productions

How can leaders turn tension into teamwork, and disagreement into innovation? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Bob Bordone, USA Today Bestselling Author, Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School, and nationally recognized expert in negotiation and conflict resolution.

Bob has spent his career helping people navigate the most challenging conversations—in politics, education, corporate life, and everyday relationships. His new book, Conflict Resilience, explores a research-backed approach to talking across divides without losing our values, our relationships, or the integrity of our organizations.

For executives and organizational leaders, conflict resilience is fast becoming a 21st-century leadership imperative. Unresolved tension can stall decision-making, erode trust, and weaken culture. Building conflict resilience means learning to reframe disagreement, manage emotion, and transform friction into creativity and connection.

In this episode, Bob shares how leaders can develop conflict resilience as a leadership superpower—and how it’s reshaping the way organizations communicate, collaborate, and grow.

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

► Learn more about our courses: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

In this episode, you’ll learn:

☑️ Why C-suite leaders need conflict resilience as a core leadership skill

☑️ How to reframe conflict as opportunity instead of threat

☑️ Real-world strategies for handling tough conversations at work

☑️ The five neurological “F’s” that shape how we respond to conflict

☑️ How to build a culture of psychological safety and productive disagreement

This episode is for:

▶️ CEOs and executives navigating organizational change▶️ Managers seeking to improve team communication and trust▶️ Leaders building diverse, high-performing teams▶️ Anyone looking to turn conflict into a catalyst for growth

About the Guest

Bob Bordone is a USA Today Bestselling Author, Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School, and a nationally recognized conflict resolution expert. He founded Harvard’s Negotiation and Mediation Clinic and has taught negotiation and conflict management for over two decades. His book, Conflict Resilience, co-authored with a neuroscientist, offers a groundbreaking framework for strengthening relationships and leading through difference.

Learn more: www.conflictresiliencebook.com Connect with Bob on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robert-bordone-3a3256

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve results worldwide.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: Rednyne Productions

How do the world’s biggest companies navigate transformation, stay innovative, and lead through uncertainty? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Louisa Loran, transformation architect, global executive advisor, and author of Leadership Anatomy in Motion.

Louisa has shaped industries across tech, logistics, and luxury—leading transformation at Google, Maersk, and Diageo. At Google, she launched a billion-dollar supply chain solutions business and led strategic business transformation for the company’s largest clients in EMEA. At Maersk, she co-authored the strategy that redefined the brand globally, helping pivot the company from traditional shipping to integrated logistics. Earlier in her career at Moët Hennessy and Diageo, she helped iconic brands innovate at the intersection of heritage and digital transformation.

With over two decades of experience across continents and industries, Louisa brings a rare blend of commercial clarity and human-centered leadership. In this episode, she shares how leaders can stay relevant in fast-changing environments, how to balance strategy and execution, and why transformation always starts with people.

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

► Learn more about our courses: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

☑️ Why strategy fails without clarity, conviction, and contribution☑️ How to build alignment across 100,000+ employees during transformation☑️ What traditional companies can learn from tech—and vice versa☑️ How curiosity, courage, and unlearning fuel leadership growth☑️ Why the true enemy of change isn’t disruption—it’s disconnection

▶️ CEOs and executives leading large-scale transformation▶️ Managers aligning cross-functional teams around strategy▶️ Leaders navigating AI, global complexity, and organizational change▶️ Anyone interested in building adaptive, people-first organizations

Louisa Loran is a Transformation Architect, Global Executive Advisor, and Author of Leadership Anatomy in Motion (Fast Company Press / Greenleaf, 2025). She has led transformative growth at Google, Maersk, and Diageo, served on multiple international boards—including Copenhagen Business School and CataCap Private Equity—and is recognized for bringing clarity, courage, and alignment to the world’s most complex organizations.

Learn more: www.louisaloran.com

Connect with Louisa on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/louisa-loran

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve results worldwide.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: Rednyne Productions

Subscribe for More Get weekly episodes on leadership, strategy, and transformation from today’s top executives.

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#leadership #strategy #transformation #businessgrowth #executiveinsights #smePodcast

In this episode, you’ll learn:This episode is for:About the GuestAbout the HostAbout SME Strategy

How do you build teams that truly work, empower people’s strengths, and adapt leadership for the future of work? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with David Kolbe, CEO of Kolbe Corp, a company celebrating 50 years of helping leaders and organizations unleash innovation through the Kolbe Concept®.

David has lived and breathed Kolbe his entire life. An author, speaker, and visionary behind many of Kolbe’s products and innovations, he is known for helping business leaders harness conation—the instinctive way people take action—to drive performance and results. With expertise spanning law, finance, organizational design, and team building, David has assisted thousands of professionals worldwide through seminars, workshops, and speaking engagements. His career began in Washington D.C. as Legislative Director for a U.S. Congressman, before practicing law at Gammage & Burnham, one of Arizona’s top firms, and later joining the family-founded Kolbe Corp.

In this podcast, you will learn:

☑️ Why self-awareness is the starting point for great leadership

☑️ How to build teams that leverage differences instead of cloning the leader

☑️ Why “tolerating” people isn’t enough—and how to truly empower them

☑️ What it takes to adapt teams and strategies when challenges change

☑️ How AI is reshaping leadership and the next evolution of Kolbe Corp

This video is for:

▶️ CEOs and executives leading teams through change

▶️ Managers seeking tools to better understand and empower people

▶️ Leaders who want practical frameworks to build diverse, high-performing teams

▶️ Anyone interested in conation, leadership psychology, and the future of work

David Kolbe, CEO of Kolbe Corp, has spent over 28 years leading one of the most recognized names in conation and performance assessment. He helped design the original algorithm for the flagship Kolbe A™ Index, now used by Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurs around the globe. A licensed attorney, David holds a Law Degree from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn more: https://www.kolbe.com

Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjkolbe/

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams around the world create alignment, implement successful strategies, and drive results.

Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in helping organizations develop and implement strategic plans. We facilitate conversations around strategic direction so leaders can focus their energy on what drives results.

Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

📘 More from our online courses: https://courses.smestrategy.net

📩 Contact our team: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

🎙️ Podcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com

Subscribe for More

Get weekly videos on strategy, leadership, and implementation. Subscribe so you never miss an update on how to grow your organization.

📌 Subscribe Now 👉 @smestrategyinc

#strategy #leadership #futureofwork #teamdynamics #smePodcast

About the GuestAbout the HostAbout SME StrategyHelpful Resources and Contact

How do you build resilience, lead under pressure, and thrive in the mental game of business? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Sébastien Page, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Global Multi-Asset at T. Rowe Price, where he oversees more than $500 billion in assets. Sébastien is also the author of The Psychology of Leadership (Harriman House), named a must-read by The Next Big Idea Club and a Top Ten Leadership Book by Brian Dodd. Recognized as one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Finance, Sébastien shares how lessons from sports psychology, stress management, and resilience can help leaders perform at their best.

► Register for our upcoming webinars:

👉 Leading in 2025: How to Lead Into 2025 and Beyond⁠ https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1717583224666/WN_Zlfjonh9QZ2YmO7ibmG4Ww⁠

👉 Strategic Planning and Implementation: How to Make It Work for You (with HRCI)⁠ https://events.zoom.us/ev/AlAGpmzpFEAc1iXZ-IPHUJp8pa7tyDLcA6pTwVbW9P4E-dkjyEPp~Aqs4fM9w3bOA1mkNMpQaO3zvt7GW1GTy4K9pOD2N1pSdkNZZJfpWjvCYBQ?lmt=1758138565000⁠

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan:⁠ https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution⁠

► Learn more about our courses:⁠ https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator⁠

In this podcast, you will learn:

☑️ Why stress can be fuel for performance (and when it hurts)☑️ What Roger Federer’s 54% win rate teaches us about resilience☑️ How athletes, astronauts, and business leaders optimize pressure☑️ Why leadership is about empathy and helping others perform☑️ How to apply psychology to thrive in business and life

This video is for:

▶️ CEOs and executives leading through uncertainty▶️ Managers looking to build resilience and high-performing teams▶️ Leaders who want practical tools from sports and positive psychology▶️ Anyone interested in the intersection of finance, leadership, and performance psychology

About the Guest

Sébastien Page is Chief Investment Officer and Head of Global Multi-Asset at T. Rowe Price, leading a team managing over $500 billion. He is the author of The Psychology of Leadership (Harriman House, 2025), Beyond Diversification (McGraw-Hill, 2020), and co-author of Factor Investing and Asset Allocation (CFA Institute, 2016). His work has earned six research awards from The Journal of Portfolio Management and the Financial Analysts Journal. Named a LinkedIn Top Voice in Finance, Sébastien appears regularly on Bloomberg and CNBC, and serves on editorial boards and finance research groups.

🌐 Learn more:⁠ https://www.psychologyofleadership.net⁠💼 Connect with Sébastien on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastienpage⁠

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams around the world create alignment, implement successful strategies, and drive results.

💼 Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604⁠

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in helping organizations develop and implement strategic plans. We facilitate conversations around strategic direction so leaders can focus their energy on what drives results.

🌐 Learn more:⁠ https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator⁠

Helpful Resources and Contact

📘 More from our online courses:⁠ https://courses.smestrategy.net⁠

📩 Contact our team:⁠ https://www.smestrategy.net/contact⁠

🎙️ Podcast produced by:⁠ https://www.rednyne.com⁠

Subscribe for More Get weekly videos on strategy, leadership, and implementation. Subscribe so you never miss an update on how to grow your organization.

📌 Subscribe Now

How do you build a career and a leadership style rooted in people, culture, and curiosity? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Jim Fielding, former CEO of Claire’s, President of Disney Stores Worldwide, and President of 20th Century Fox Consumer Products. Jim is also the author of All Pride, No Ego and host of the Jim Fielding & Friends podcast.

With over 40 years of experience across retail, media, and entertainment, Jim shares lessons on adapting to revolutions in retail, leading teams through change, and why the future of business is all about human connection.

Why the “future of retail” is really about people

How to lead change when everyone adapts differently

Why long-term planning beats “90 day transformations”

How leaders can balance confidence and humility (All Pride, No Ego)

Why culture, not money, is the key to attracting top talent

Jim reflects on his career journey from department stores and catalogs to e-commerce, omnichannel, and experiential retail. He explains how consumer behavior has changed over decades and how leaders must constantly adapt to new shopping patterns.

“The word now is omnichannel… you have to be omnipresent in people’s lives, both physical and digital.” – Jim Fielding

For today’s brands, that means meeting customers everywhere: in stores, online, and increasingly, through social commerce on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

One of Jim’s most impactful insights is his train analogy for change management. Some people jump aboard immediately, others wait for the first-class car, and some hesitate on the platform. As a leader, your role is to communicate, respect different adoption speeds, and bring people along without judgment.

He stresses the importance of long-term planning and over-communication, noting that adult learners often need to hear something 10–14 times before it fully lands.

In his book All Pride, No Ego, Jim emphasizes that ego is not inherently bad — it must be controlled and used wisely. He argues that today’s leaders need humility, vulnerability, and the courage to admit when they don’t have all the answers.

“Leadership today is harder than ever. To succeed, you need to be self-aware, surround yourself with strong people, and create safe environments where teams thrive.” – Jim Fielding

Jim shares that attracting and retaining top talent is less about money and more about culture, environment, and feeling respected. During his time at Disney, Fox, and Claire’s, he saw firsthand how competitive the market was for talent. The leaders who created supportive environments always had an advantage.

“If I create a great work environment where people feel respected and trusted, they’ll bring their best. That’s how you attract and keep the brightest talent.” – Jim Fielding

Want to learn how to align your leadership team and create a culture that supports long-term strategy?

Explore our strategy execution course

Jim Fielding is a visionary leader with decades of experience leading global brands including Disney, Claire’s, 20th Century Fox, and DreamWorks. He is the author of All Pride, No Ego, host of the Jim Fielding & Friends podcast, and a keynote speaker and consultant helping organizations build human-centered strategies.

Learn more about Jim

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams around the world create alignment, implement successful strategies, and drive results.

Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn

More from our online courses: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

Contact our team: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

Podcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com/