We are starting back to work soon and there’s some anxiety around our “New Normal” and exactly what that means, but first a question we must ask and answer for ourselves. A question that holds the answer to how we plan to live the rest of lives, it’s simply this -  How has this crisis changed us?  We explore this topic from a man who has lived his life in 2 distinct parts – BEFORE the plane went down on January 15th, 2009, and AFTER.

In this episode, you’ll meet Dave Sanderson, the last passenger on US Airways flight 1549 that ditched into the Hudson River.  Dave made many interesting personal leadership choices during that experience but perhaps, more importantly, he made a personal choice on HOW to live his LIFE after the incident. Dave is an inspirational survivor, speaker, and author of the book “Moments Matter”. His thoughts on leadership have made him an internationally sought-out speaker. The last passenger off the back of the plane on that fateful day, he was largely responsible for the well-being and safety of others, risking his own life in frigid water to help other passengers off the plane. Despite the hazards to himself, Sanderson thought only of helping others and emerged from the wreckage with a mission: to encourage others to do the right thing. Today, he travels the globe sharing his inspirational and motivational leadership messages to help people make a difference in how they do business and live their lives.

https://davesandersonspeaks.com/

You can reach Dave on LinkedIn at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredavesanderson/

03:00   Dave’s story

11:45   Throw the baby! / when people freeze

14:33   It’s not always the person with the title

17:12   You asked General Norman Schwarzkopf - what?

21:42   Life Before and after January 15

36:19 No one dies today

42:17   Challenging bureaucracy

51:31   The morning routine

1:00:03  I made a choice

During the pandemic, as routines are turned upside down and corporate playbooks tossed aside, John Anderson—entrepreneur and author of Replace Retirement—brings a fresh perspective on leadership, vision, and the concept of Retirement with his rallying call: “Don’t retire, refire.”

John’s story starts at IBM, where he began his career before building a successful office furniture business.  Along the way, he found mentorship in Verne Harnish and worked with thought leaders like Jim Collins and Patrick Lencioni to develop transformative coaching practices for executives.

A key part of his approach is the 10-year vision—a tool he uses to help leaders set clear goals, handle challenges, and align personal and professional priorities. Inspired by Ari Weinzweig’s visioning methods and Stephen Covey’s focus on “what matters,” John explains how leaders can use a long-term vision to guide their teams, even in uncertain times.

Instead of chasing the traditional “work-life balance,” John suggests focusing on energy management. For him, a fulfilling life is about identifying what energizes you and intentionally designing your career and personal life to maximize those pursuits.

Throughout the episode, you’ll hear advice, including tips on developing vision statements, communicating transparently during crises, and building routines that support personal and professional growth.

By the end, John inspires listeners to rethink their legacy and embrace self-transformation, regardless of age. For leaders facing uncertainty or figuring out their next steps, his insights provide a roadmap to navigating change with confidence, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Featured guest: John Anderson

What he does: John Anderson is a business advisor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of The CEO Advantage, a coaching and consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations achieve exceptional results. With extensive experience guiding companies across public and private sectors, John specializes in helping executives and entrepreneurs develop clear visions, build strong management teams, and drive meaningful outcomes. He is also the founder of Replace Retirement, where he inspires leaders of all ages to rethink their future, adopt an exponential mindset, and craft a purposeful, rewarding, and fulfilling life plan.

Mentioned in this episode:

• REPLACE RETIREMENT: Living Your Legacy in the Exponential Age
• CREATE YOUR LEGACY MAP™

Episode Highlights:

[00:04:16] John’s story

[00:09:54] Developing a vision for your business

[00:22:21] Crisis leadership style

[00:26:16] A daily routine to set you up for success

[00:41:45] Time to rethink retirement

[01:03:55] The tapestry of your life

[01:12:05] Your legacy map

[01:14:38] This is the time

How we communicate will set the tone for how we lead through this crisis and set the stage for how we lead AFTER the crisis, in the world of the new normal. Relationships with ALL stakeholders are critical to our success and how we navigate the complex world of communication right now during the crisis will either cement those relationships to build a strong foundation for the future or destroy them. This is an opportunity to galvanize the team, the business and maybe even the industry.

Communication is one of the key traits of authentic leadership and in this episode,  we look to an industry veteran in the field to help us understand and explore this topic.

Meet Jim Bianchi,  President, Bianchi Public Relations, with more than 35 years of experience on both the corporate and agency sides, Jim is a senior, hands-on PR professional directing Bianchi Public Relations, a Detroit area firm recognized nationally for its expertise in working with automotive and technology suppliers.

Jim’s firm has been named among the “Best of Michigan Business” and one of "101 Best & Brightest Companies” in Metro Detroit … and has been ranked by PR industry journals as the largest independent PR firm based in Detroit and one of the top technology PR firms in the U.S.

Inducted into the PRSA Detroit Hall of Fame in 2012 for his contributions to the PR industry, Jim was also named the first recipient of Wayne State University Department of Communication’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2003. And around Detroit, Jim is often called “the dean of auto supplier PR.”

Jim received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Wayne State University in Detroit and is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Jim is a member of the Automotive Press Association, the Automotive Public Relations Council, the Detroit Chapter of PRSA, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Troy Chamber of Commerce and the Marketing & Sales Executives of Detroit. He is also an affiliate member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and has served as a judge for the International Automotive Media Competition awards.

https://www.bianchipr.com/    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbianchi/

02:36 Jim’s story

04:25 Emotional turmoil / bring calm

08:57 Global impact

12:51 Audio, video & written

14:50 Authenticity

15:42 The Trump / Cuomo comparison

19:43 Employee engagement / after the crisis

23:02 The supply chain impact /dealing with all stakeholders

36:12 Management by talking around

38:35 People will remember how you make them feel

Last week we explored leadership insights from that elite group of warriors known as the Navy SEALS, well trained for combat in extreme, uncertain and unstable times. This week we take a different perspective, still very much within the scope of leading through a crisis, dealing with an enemy, riding the emotional roller coaster of our entirely changed lives but this time through the lens of a wartime refugee.  What can we learn from her experience? How did she make the shift from victim to inspirational coach? Why this crisis can be a source for creativity to flourish and why authentic leadership is so important right now – TODAY!

In this episode you’ll meet Mira Griffiths, Mira grew up in the time of the civil war in the country previously known as Yugoslavia, she and her family had to flee the city she was born in and leave everything to be destroyed during the war. Mira has since lived and worked in Serbia, UAE & Germany and her work has always been related to helping people overcome the consequences of physical and psychological trauma, loss and pain in their life in general, relationships, work, and the future. Helping them understand who they are and how their experience is created which consequently brings back authenticity, aliveness, courage, creativity, joy, love and compassion back in their lives.

​Mira has a BSc in Physiotherapy, Advanced Diploma in Hypnotherapy, Counselling and Psychology, Diploma in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and Advanced Pain Management, and she has completed her NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Masters, is a Certified NLP and Certified Clarity Coach. She also studied emotions and human behavior through the Paul Eckman International Institute. Mira is a co-founder along with her husband, Peter Griffiths of The Mind Takeaway, a company committed to supporting leaders to grow and become the best that they can be.  Mira and Peter have created a groundbreaking online program people can join from any part of the world, visit   https://www.themindtakeaway.com/authentic-leadership-project for more information or contact Mira directly via email  [email protected] 

Mira and Peter firmly believe the world needs more compassionate and authentic leaders who are able to meet the complex needs of the everchanging environments we live and work in. 

It's Sunday, March 29th, 2020 and we are in the midst of a global crisis, the COVID 19 crisis.  Leaders are challenged with an unprecedented situation where there is no corporate playbook to follow and very little evidence of contingency planning.

Where can we look for guidance? for leadership insight in this time of crisis, this time of uncertainty - who is ever really trained for this?

The answer – the military – and we look to an elite group of warriors known as the NAVY SEALS

In this episode, you’ll meet Nick Norris. Nick was clearly born to serve, he not only served his country as a Navy SEAL but continues to serve the Navy SEAL community with his active involvement with the C4 foundation www.c4foundation.org  . The C4 Foundation honors the legacy of Charles Humphrey Keating IV, a heroic Navy SEAL who gave his life defending our country and the freedoms we enjoy.

Nick also serves in his current role as CEO and co-founder of Protect Products, a wellness company committed to positively impacting customer health with both personal care products and nutritional supplements. www.protektproducts.com

Nick embodies the qualities of his brand and this is EXACTLY the type of leadership we need right now, leading through this crisis can be the most rewarding and, yes, exhilarating experience of our lifetime if we step up and embrace this leadership opportunity right NOW!

06:42 Nick Norris – Nick’s story

09:43 Contingency planning is everything

12:08 Why are SEALS so effective?

14:47 Micromanagement – The handicap

17:51 Trust and Hell Week

19:56 Love and compassion

23:55 Calm breeds calm

27:30 A time for creativity

30:59 Balancing emotions and vulnerability

36:22 The sand table

46:47 Dealing with toxic employees

51:35 Can you trust too much?

54:09 Extreme sports, pushing the limits, inside your head

1:03:05 Starting your day and Nick’s morning routine

1:07:49 Changing habits

How was your week? Adjusting to life with the new norm?

Do you have the new work routine set up and your teams all charging ahead? Working from home all figured out?

My answer is - NO, not even close, I wasn't nearly as productive as I wanted to be, I struggled to get out of bed, keep my energy up and focus on anything for more than 5 minutes. I was angry, scared, emotional and at times a bit crazy.

I craved interaction with other people, and I judged myself for not being productive and not having the willpower to pull through it.  What happened to me?

In this episode, we explore the rollercoaster of emotions many of us went through last week through the eyes of an Emotional Intelligence expert and coach, Cathy Mott

We explore the grief cycle, the 4 quadrants of emotional intelligence, active listening, vulnerability, fear, why we need to lead ourselves first before leading others and much more.

There are valuable insights to share as we step up and lead through this crisis.

00:53 What happened to me last week

08:03 The grief cycle

10:20 Take the space you need

11:16 Judging yourself

14:34 Active listening

20:24 Vulnerability/strength and balance

22:51 Time to be tough?

23:58 Coaching questions

26:10 The 4 stages of Emotional Intelligence

29:20 Resilience

31:16 Taking action and accountability

37:27 Advice from Cathy as we face Monday

These are troubling times indeed yet they open up an opportunity to connect with people on a deep and meaningful level like never before.

It's time to step up and embrace one of the most rewarding leadership experiences of our lifetime. Are you ready?

In this episode, we cover exactly what it takes to lead through this crisis.

Staying positive

Providing meaning

Galvanizing the team

Fears of leading a remote team

Trust issues?

How to manage the demands of the family when you work from home

Technical tips

Designing your workspace

and much more.

Download the 21 traits of authentic leadership e book

(Recorded when Heather was Global Vice President Logistics & Lean Manufacturing – Delphi)

Meet Heather Klish, Heather is the daughter of a GM tool & die maker on a mission to positively impact American manufacturing and she’s rocking it.

Tune in to hear how she prioritizes family, faith, career, and fitness and how her leadership compass and moral compass guide her leadership philosophy.

In this episode, you can expect to hear how Heather transformed herself from an introverted engineer to a global leader who clearly recognizes “It’s a people business”

We explore how the power of visualization and positive affirmation early on in her career impacted her life. How she galvanizes people around a vision and drives accountability into the details yet staying true to her firm belief in empowerment and fully supporting her team.  We go deep into Trust, the speed of trust and the hard-line impact on a business. All of this and more…..

There are valuable insights to share as we pursue our quest to find GRAVITAS.

03:27 Heather’s story

07:27 Why did you pick manufacturing?  

08:57 Leadership style

12:11 The power of negative knowledge

13:11 Evolving from that introverted engineer

15:06 Mentors and the power of visualization

17:05 Galvanizing a team around a vision

21:17 Detail-oriented or micromanager?

23:46 Gravitas

27:16 Lead by example, leadership compass

29:06 Hot buttons

30:06 Advice to your 25year old self

32:00 Working through fear – coaching

34:25 Leading yourself

36:41 Saying NO

39:42 Positive energy

42:40 Advice to an emerging leader

(Recorded when Kristy was President of mortgage at Flagstar bank)

Meet Kristy Fercho, the daughter of a track coach from Compton CA on a mission to help people achieve the American dream of homeownership and she’s rocking it! a leader with GRAVITAS exuding warmth, competency, and connection. Three words describe Kristy – Energy, Light, and Grace, you’ll know exactly what that means after you tune in to this podcast.

In this episode, you can expect to hear how her father’s coaching philosophy influenced her leadership style and drives her to focus on “personal best” for herself and others.

We explore what happened that day she displayed enormous courage and vulnerability on stage that resulted in an overwhelming outpour of social media attention and support.

We dive deep into an open and honest discussion about race, gender, industry stereotypes and fitting a corporate mold.

There are valuable insights to share as we pursue our quest to find GRAVITAS.

03:00 Kristy’s story

04:57 Being your best self

09:22 Staying true to yourself

12:09 Breaking the mold

16:41 Attracting Millennials

18:34 Embracing social media

22:48 Courage, leadership and vulnerability

33:01 Advice to your 25-year-old self

35:42 What’s your legacy?

36:49 Leadership influence – see people

41:21 Gravitas - Energy, Grace & Light

Meet Nick Skislak, Nick comes from the small town of Sparta, Michigan and learned very quickly how to rock Google ad words like Gary Vaynerchuck. Nick made the bold decision to launch his business in 2008 in the metro Detroit area and he’s never looked back. Nick is a Millennial leading a company of multi-generational employees and he embodies all the traits of leadership we need for the future.

In this episode, you can expect to hear how Nick made the shift from being “in the weeds” on everything to trusting, delegating and letting go. He talks openly about having “the tough conversations” with his team and his thoughts around “radical transparency” and what that really means.

We go deep into trust, safety, complacency, vulnerability and the creative process. Nick sees his role as a guide and mentor.  “We’re here to make each other better” and “We’re arm in arm” are quotes driving his leadership philosophy. 

Nick is passionate about breaking down silos and you’ll hear why and how he does that.

One of his favorite quotes comes from The Andy Griffith Show, “I’d rather be nice than right”

There are valuable insights to share as we pursue our quest to find GRAVITAS.