The Authority Company

In this episode, Joe is joined by Ally Batenhorst, a star volleyball player who has taken advantage of the new NCAA rules allowing student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Ally discusses her journey from being a talented youth player in Texas to committing to playing volleyball at the University of Nebraska. Ally shares what it was like to arrive on campus during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and deal with restrictions while also preparing for her first collegiate season. The conversation covers how Ally has navigated making sponsorship deals, creating content, gaining a massive following on TikTok, and balancing being an influencer while also being a full-time student-athlete. She provides insights into how female student-athletes have benefited from NIL, making money in unprecedented ways. Ally also talks about her recent decision to transfer to USC for her final season of eligibility, seeing it as a chance to pursue broadcasting opportunities in Los Angeles. Throughout the chat, she conveys her appreciation for young fans who look up to her as a role model in the growing world of professional collegiate athletics.

In this episode, Joe sits down with David Kramer, President of the leading global talent, entertainment, sports, and advisory company, United Talent Agency (UTA). David shares his remarkable journey from starting in the UTA mailroom in 1992 to rising through the ranks to become President, offering inspiring insights on perseverance, hard work, and never losing sight of your ambitions. David provides a fascinating inside look at the dramatic evolution of the entertainment industry over the past 30 years that he has witnessed firsthand, from the rise of streaming to the blurring of lines between different verticals like film, TV, publishing, podcasting, and more. He discusses the key to longevity and continuous growth in any career: being innovative, entrepreneurial, and embracing change rather than being set in your ways. David shares his strategies for representing top talent and advising clients to maximize opportunities in today's rapidly shifting media landscape. He also weighs in on the streaming wars, industry consolidation, the importance of great intellectual property, and his outlook on the future of entertainment. It's an inspiring conversation filled with wisdom for anyone seeking career longevity and success in any field.

This week Joe discusses the Science of Happiness with guest Stephanie Harrison, a well-being expert whose new book, NEW HAPPY debunks society's myths about happiness. Stephanie reveals the counterintuitive secrets to true fulfillment, providing a step-by-step guide with insightful artwork to unwinding "Old Happy" mindsets and using your unique gifts to improve your life and the world. Her practical and inspiring blend of art and science offers a proven path to a happier life.

Joe welcomes Greg Rohl to the podcast. Greg has over 30 years of experience successfully marketing luxury products in a traditionally commodity-driven industry. Greg is now a coach and educator, helping professionals develop compelling storytelling abilities to connect the value of their premium offerings to customers' unmet needs. An expert in fighting commoditization, Greg co-authored the book "The Corporateneur Plan" along with his father Ken and Pamela Danziger. The book provides an actionable roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs, drawing lessons from Ken's journey to building a successful luxury home business. In the conversation, Greg discusses his approach to marketing high-end products by crafting distinctive and persuasive narratives that resonate with customers' desires. He shares insights from "The Corporateneur Plan" on making the transition from a corporate career to entrepreneurship. The episode offers valuable advice for business leaders seeking to differentiate their brands, overcome commoditization, and achieve entrepreneurial success by following the proven "rules of the road" outlined in the book.

Today, Joe Pardavila talks with Sharon Heaton, founder of sbLiftOff, a firm serving commercial and government contracting companies, and author of the book "LIFT OFF: 12 Things to Know Before You Sell Your Company." The discussion centers around the topic of what happens after entrepreneurs have built, scaled, and grown their businesses—the process of successfully selling their company. Sharon, known as a leading advocate for small businesses, shares her expertise gained from years of experience guiding owners through mergers and acquisitions. Her book provides a roadmap to prepare business owners for the pitfalls and trade-offs involved in the sales process. The conversation covers how owners can emotionally and mentally prepare themselves for this major transition, as well as negotiation strategies to get the best deal when selling. As a respected voice on entrepreneurship, investment, and the importance of small businesses to the American economy, Sharon offers invaluable insights for any owner looking to eventually monetize and pass on their successful venture.

This week, Joe welcomes Feyzi Fatehi, a visionary and Silicon Valley luminary whose impact reverberates through the tech landscape. Recipient of the esteemed CODiE Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Feyzi serves as Chairman and CEO of Corent Technology, driving the forefront of tech disruption with automated SaaS enablement, poised to transform industries as we know them. With a wealth of experience in technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and intrapreneurship, Feyzi's influence extends far beyond the boardroom, as evidenced by his groundbreaking book "Democratizing SaaS.” In this episode, Joe and Feyzi delve into the remarkable journey of a young immigrant ascending to prominence in Silicon Valley, the transformative power of software as a service, and the pivotal moment when a message from Steve Jobs ignited Feyzi's entrepreneurial spirit. Tune in for an insightful discussion that promises to inspire and enlighten.

In this episode, Joe sits down with one of the most powerful and influential women in entertainment, Bonnie Hammer, the Vice Chair of NBCUniversal. Bonnie has been hailed as the "Queen of Cable" and has forged a legendary career, transforming every facet of the television business in the male-dominated industry. Known for her candor, mentorship of women, and reputation for predicting television's future, Bonnie shares her hard-won wisdom for professional success in her new book, "15 Lies Women Are Told At Work...and the Truth We Need to Succeed." After rising from humble beginnings to leading NBCUniversal's cable group to record profits and 167 Emmy nominations while launching hit shows, Bonnie joins Joe to discuss rejecting common myths about how women are "supposed" to behave in the workplace. She offers uncommon sense insights to help women succeed drawn from her trailblazing career path.

Kerry Song joins Joe to discuss her entrepreneurial journey in founding Abbot's, a plant-based meat company. Kerry outlines how various experiences, from working on Wall Street to becoming an executive for Tony Robbins, led her to eventually start her own mission-driven business. The catalyst for Abbot's came when Kerry was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that severely impacted her health. She went on a strict whole-food, plant-based diet, which greatly improved her condition. Craving her favorite meat dishes but wanting healthy plant-based alternatives, Kerry saw a need in the market and began developing Abbot's meat-free products using real, trustworthy ingredients. Kerry explains the multi-year process of iterating Abbot's recipes, getting customer feedback, going through an accelerator program, and eventually officially launching the company. She discusses the plant-based industry and shares what's next for the fast-growing Abbot's brand, including an upcoming major product release. Kerry emphasizes that Abbot's is about serving its health- and environmentally-conscious customers, whether vegan or simply trying to make better choices.

Get ready for an inspiring episode on The Forbes Books Podcast as Joe welcomes Mary Cianni, author of "The Consultant’s Compass: Navigating Success with Courage, Curiosity, and Compassion." With a rich background as a clinical Assistant Professor at New York University and senior leadership roles at Korn Ferry and Willis Towers Watson, Mary brings unparalleled expertise in organizational consulting and change management. Her new book promises a transformative framework for success, blending courage, curiosity, and compassion. In this engaging conversation, Mary shares her insights on navigating the complexities of modern business, drawing from her extensive experience in mergers & acquisitions, change implementation, and thought leadership. Join us for a journey into Mary Cianni's world, where her wisdom and passion illuminate the path to growth and excellence.

About Mary Cianni: Mary is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the MS Executive Coaching & Organization Consulting (ECOC) program at New York University, accountable for the design and delivery of the consulting elements of the program. She joined the NYU faculty from Korn Ferry where she was a Senior Client Partner and Global Leader of the Integrated Transformation Solutions. Previously, Mary spent 18 years at Willis Towers Watson serving in a variety of leadership roles including Global Leader, Mergers & Acquisitions and Northeast Leader, Change Implementation. In her consulting roles, Mary worked with clients across industries on transforming their cultures and workplaces. She spent time in the corporate world as a senior consultant at a financial services company and as Global Head, HR for a specialty pharmaceutical company. Prior to beginning her consulting career, Mary was a tenured Associate Professor of Management at the Sigmund Weis School of Business, Susquehanna University. She launched the Mentor Program for women students and was a founding member of the Women Studies Program.

She now serves as a Trustee on Susquehanna’s Board of Directors. Mary publishes articles on a range of HR topics including diversity & inclusion in professional and peer-reviewed journals. She is the lead author of two chapters in Making Mergers Work. In March 2024, her book The Consultant’s compass: Navigating success with courage, curiosity and compassion will be published by Forbes Books. Mary has been featured in a variety of media outlets and is a frequent guest speaker and panelist at professional conferences. She holds a PhD in Psychology from Penn State University.

This week, we plunge into the dynamic intersection of technology and relationships with none other than Richard Walker, CEO of York Solutions. Richard's wealth of experience unfolds as he shares the transformative power of meaningful connections in both professional and personal realms. From his humble beginnings in a quaint English town to steering one of the globe's premier IT consulting firms, Richard's journey underscores the profound impact of relationships on careers, companies, and communities. Tune in to explore the core of "Relationship Equity," Richard's fervently advocated principle, revealing how investing in significant connections can yield exponential rewards. In this episode, we unravel the layers of Richard's story, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and the inspiration behind his new book, "Relationship Equity.”