About the Guest:
John Venhuizen leads Ace Hardware, a company with a proud 101-year history, built on the trust and hard work of thousands of local owners. With over 6,000 stores worldwide — nearly all independently owned — John believes that this combination of local entrepreneurship and global support is the secret sauce that keeps Ace strong and relevant.

He’s a leader who values character, humility, and grit — the kind of qualities that get tested daily when you’re trying to solve problems and move a big organization forward. John’s perspective is both inspiring and grounded, reminding us that leadership is about service and connection as much as strategy and results.

What You Will Learn:

• Why real leadership is about rolling up your sleeves and tackling problems
• How local ownership creates a powerful bond with communities and customers
• The importance of putting faith, family, and character before work — and why that matters for long-term success
• How AI is a tool to empower people, not replace them
• Why a servant heart and human connection will always be a business’s greatest advantage

Join us for this heartfelt conversation with John Venhuizen and discover what it really takes to lead with purpose in a complex, fast-moving world. If you want to lead better and build something that lasts, this episode will give you plenty to think about — and put into action.

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Episode Notes:

Brieane Olson has spent 18 years shaping Pacsun into a youth-focused lifestyle brand, stepping into the CEO role in 2023 after serving as President. Known for her digital-first mindset and passion for innovation, she’s deeply committed to empowering teams and promoting mental health awareness.  

Key Takeaways:

• How Pacsun builds long-term brand loyalty through purpose and authentic partnerships
• Why vulnerability and intentionality are essential tools for leaders today
• Moving beyond trends to a multi-pillar strategy rooted in California lifestyle

This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about brand evolution and genuine leadership—reminding us all that staying real is the key to staying relevant.

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About the Guest:

Sowmyanarayan Sampath is the CEO of Verizon Consumer, leading a multibillion-dollar division serving over 100 million customers across the U.S. Known for his calm leadership and strategic vision, he’s focused on operational excellence and reskilling teams to stay ahead in a fast-evolving digital landscape.

What You Will Learn:

• Why AI is a deflationary force that every company needs
• How to use AI as a personal growth and communication tool
• The career advantage of thinking in three-year chapters
• What to do when your job evolves—or disappears
• Evergreen skills that matter more than ever: clarity, curiosity, and communication

This episode is packed with insight, strategy, and practical optimism. Whether you're navigating a tech transformation or planning your next leadership chapter, Sampath will inspire you to think longer, lead better, and move with intention.

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About the Guest:

Liz Haberberger is the president of Dale Carnegie Missouri and a leadership powerhouse. With a decade of experience coaching professionals at every level, Liz is known for helping people unlock potential they didn’t know they had. Her training sessions and keynotes are packed with energy, actionable insights, and honest encouragement.

Whether she’s working with a senior leadership team or speaking on stage, Liz's mission is the same: inspire people to lead themselves first—so they can better lead others.

What You Will Learn:

• Why attitude is your greatest leadership asset
• The “gap and the gain” mindset and how to apply it daily
• The role of optimism and energy in creating lasting culture change
• How to lead with more self-awareness and intentionality
• Ways to build stronger, more emotionally intelligent teams

Get ready to rethink how you show up. Liz brings practical wisdom, powerful mindset tools, and a spark that stays with you. Don’t miss this conversation on the Take Command podcast.

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About the Guest:
Meet Guy Fieri—chef, TV host, entrepreneur, and champion for communities in need. With his signature style and relentless energy, Guy rose to fame through shows like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, but his impact reaches far beyond entertainment. Through the Guy Fieri Foundation, he mobilizes disaster relief efforts across the U.S., bringing resources and volunteers to rebuild communities. Guided by the belief that “As soon as you are not learning, you are dying,”Guy continues to inspire others to lead with heart, humility, and hustle.

What You Will Learn:

• How Dale Carnegie’s principles shaped Guy’s approach to leadership and life
• The philosophy behind the Guy Fieri Foundation’s disaster relief efforts
• Why it’s crucial to listen to those who love you—not the noise from strangers

Tune in for a fresh, powerful follow-up where we explore how Guy built a movement beyond food, why focusing on the right people matters, and why the right mindset changes everything. Whether or not you heard Part 1, you’ll walk away inspired.

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Meet Hal Elrod and listen to his story of resilience, mindset, and the relentless pursuit of personal growth. After surviving a car accident at age 20, Hal defied the odds and recovered, despite doctors' grim predictions. Years later, when faced with cancer, he again took full responsibility for his healing. He researched holistic practices, implemented them all, and emerged victorious. Hal now shares his experiences with the world through The Miracle Morning, a routine that has helped millions achieve their goals and transform their lives.

Hal’s approach isn’t just about achieving success—it’s about cultivating a mindset that allows you to show up for life every single day.

What You Will Learn:

• How Hal overcame life-threatening challenges and used his mindset to heal
• The key practices in The Miracle Morning that have helped millions transform their lives
• How to push through mental and emotional roadblocks to achieve your goals

Join us for this inspiring conversation as Hal shares how he turned adversity into a life-changing philosophy, and how you can do the same. Don’t miss this chance to learn how to elevate your own life with the power of mindset and intention.

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Meet Anne Mahlum—entrepreneur, investor, speaker, and advocate for living life on your own terms. In 2007, she founded Back on My Feet, a nonprofit that uses running to help individuals experiencing homelessness regain confidence, employment, and independence. A few years later, she launched [solidcore], a pilates-inspired fitness brand that she scaled to 100 locations nationwide, attracting clients like Michelle Obama. After raising $210M in private equity and exiting the company in 2023, Anne now invests, writes, and advocates for causes close to her heart, including addiction recovery and wrongful convictions. She believes in taking control of your story—“You are always one decision away from a totally different life.”

What You Will Learn:

• How Anne turned a simple idea into a national movement with Back on My Feet
• The mindset shifts that helped her scale [solidcore] and exit successfully
• Why she believes in sharing wealth and lifting others up
• How to embrace risk, reinvention, and a bold approach to leadership

Join us for this powerful and personal conversation, where Anne shares not just her successes but the mindset that got her there. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to create the life you want—on your terms. 

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About the Guest:

Meet Dr. Bruce Stillman, president and CEO of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, one of the oldest and most distinguished scientific and research facilities on the planet. Growing up, Bruce knew that medicine and science were in his future—he was already volunteering in hospitals at the age of fifteen. But little did he suspect that his first gig out of medical school would prove to be his entire career. 

“I was thirty-eight at the time,” he says. “And I got plucked out of the faculty here to become assistant director and, ultimately, director…I had no experience in running anything. But I knew the culture of the lab, the organization, and I think that was the most important thing that I've carried forward.” This knowledge informed his leadership approach, which ultimately led both the organization and its faculty and staff to flourish under his direction. Learn more about Bruce and his amazing career in this episode of the Take Command podcast.

What You Will Learn:

• Lessons in conflict resolution and negotiations
• Stories of the ups and downs of being a Nobel laureate
• Strategies for bringing workers together under a single mission
• Insights into why having a big question to answer still requires flexibility in how you approach it

Join us for this incredible episode, where you’ll learn everything you want to know about fostering an environment that supports mentorship and risk-taking. Bruce is here to share his knowledge. Don’t hesitate to dive into his wisdom to make your own organization even better. Listen to the Take Command podcast today!

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We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

About the Guest:

Ginni Rometty comes from a long line of hardworking women. First there was her great grandmother, who came from Belarus and cleaned bathrooms in the Wrigley building in Chicago. Next, it was her grandmother, a young widow twice over. Finally, there was her mother, who brought herself and her kids up through education and hard work after her husband abandoned them. Watching these women do what it takes to succeed instilled in Ginni a deep drive to be the best she can be and more.

That’s why Ginni is the former chairman, president, and CEO of IBM. That’s why Ginni was named by Fortune magazine as the number one most powerful woman in the world for three years in a row. And that’s why Ginni’s new book, Good Power, is here to transform your life too. She says, “Hard work is a way to get ahead . . . It doesn't matter how bad it is, there's always a way forward.” Hear more about how Ginni moved her way to the top when you listen to this episode of the Take Command podcast.

What You Will Learn:

• Insights into why your early life informs so much of what you become
• Lessons in how to be more passionate (Hint: do things you like)
• Stories about why you have more agency than you think you do
• The hard truth that no one is beneath homework, not even CEOs

Join us for this deep dive into what it means to lead an intentional life, using our powers for good along the way. Ginni isn’t a pie-in-the-sky thinker. She believes in the power of hard work and the value in gaining perspective from our relationship with others. Ginni doesn’t always have the right answer, but she sure has a lot to offer in this episode. Tune in today to learn from one of the best.

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We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share. 

Remember how people used to ask when you were younger what you wanted to be when you grew up? Well, no one asked Guy Fieri that question because by nine years old, he already was what he wanted to be. After a funny incident with his mother, Guy’s love for cooking took off. From his first childhood business of selling soft pretzels to his more than ninety award-winning restaurants now open around the world, Guy has built himself a cooking empire.

But he wouldn’t have gotten half as far if it weren’t for Dale Carnegie. “At twenty-two years old, I was very smart about what I knew. I was very expectant of people. And I just couldn't understand why people wouldn't work their ass off and be great,” Guy says. “So now I'm working with a hundred and fifty team members that don't all give a hundred and fifty percent, and I don't know how to really manage it. So I just did it with aggression . . . So anyhow, it doesn't really go well . . .”

Listen in to the podcast to hear more of Guy’s origin story as a chef and as a true leader who maintains his authentic self by recognizing and celebrating the authentic self in everyone.

What You Will Learn:

• Strategies in practicing what you preach
• Insights into being your true self over becoming sensational for attention
• Why you should come into any business wanting to “protect their castle”
• Lessons in why you can’t base your success off someone else’s failures

Guy has some pretty fantastic advice packed into this episode, and he couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. He genuinely wants you to succeed as your authentic self. “I'd always been the guy that was always telling everybody to go for it. Ask her out. Start the business. Get the loan. Buy the truck . . . I'm always the guy that's pushing everybody to go live their best self.”

You can learn how to maintain your true self in business and in life when you listen to this episode of the Take Command Podcast. Join Joe and Guy for an episode filled with stories, advice, and passion.

Please rate and review this Episode!

We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.