The Human Side of Selling. Erika Andersen talks with Laird McLean, Proteus Partner, Head of Organizational Transformation and Sales Leader, about the human side of selling - what it means and why it's important, especially in today's increasingly complex and technologically sophisticated business environment.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Podcast episode introduction

[01:00] Importance of focusing on the human side of selling

[03:25] Looking at businesses in a three dimension way

[04:26] What happens when you don't focus on the human side of selling?

[07:31] How can salespeople be more human centric?

[10:51] Podcast episode wrap-up

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Marie Holive speaks with Rosie Bichard, Non-Executive Director at UBS Asset Management, Audit Committee Chair, seasoned investor, and EMEA Co-Chair of WomenExecs on Boards — a global network of over 400 senior women prepared for board service at Harvard Business School.

Marie and Rosie revisit their shared experience in the 2017 “Succeeding as a Corporate Director” program at Harvard Business School and trace how that classroom cohort evolved into a formal network in 2019 that now spans multiple countries. They discuss what women really need to access and thrive inboard roles, how WEoB is changing the pipeline for board-ready women, and how Rosie’s background in investment, ESG, and risk governance shapes her view of modern corporate boards.

Timestamps:

• [00:00] Podcast introduction
• [02:26] How WomenExecs on Boards was born
• [04:50] How has it grown to 400 plus members?
• [15:24]  What are the barriers to bringing in first time directors?
• [22:24] Company asset analogy for leaders
• [26:18] Podcast wrap up

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Erika Andersen talks with Alison Moore, CEO of Chief, about why supporting women's success in business is more important today than ever before - and how women are changing the definition of leadership in critical ways.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction to podcast

[01:45] Why do we need to support women

[06:36]  How can organizations support women's success?[11:22] How can leaders support women be successful?

[13:52] Podcast wrap-up

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Marie Holive talks with Jason Beesley, CFO of Pattern (Nasdaq: PTRN) and former CFO of NBCUniversal International, about what it takes to be a transformational CFO in today’s fast-moving business world. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, from GE’s Corporate Audit Staff to global media, and now leading Pattern through its IPO, Jason shares lessons on scaling finance functions, building public-company discipline, crafting a compelling investor narrative, and sustaining momentum after going public.
Marie and Jason reflect on their shared journey and dig into the real differences between leading finance in private versus public companies, the cultural shifts required to support growth, and how CFOs can partner with CEOs to build great companies, not just great numbers. Whether you're preparing to go public or simply looking to elevate your financial leadership, this episode is packed with insights for navigating complexity with clarity, credibility, and confidence.

Timestamps:

• [00:00] - Introduction to podcast
• [01:47] - Differences between private and public companies in a CFO role
• [06:44] - How to build financial discipline and scalability
• [11:16] - Definition of a finance business partner
• [12:59] - Journey taking Pattern public
• [17:11] - Effective communication best practices
• [20:32] - Scaling finance and preparing for growth tips
• [23:54] - Podcast wrap up

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Erika Andersen talks with Noel Massie, retired VP of US Delivery Operations for UPS, about his new book, 'Congrats! You've Been Promoted!' They discuss the most critical elements of success for new managers in any business.

Timestamps

• [00:00] Introduction to the podcast
• [01:28] Why new leaders need support
• [02:29] The coach-leader relationship
• [03:59] Intentional leadership and integrity
• [07:10] The Four-to-One Feedback Model
• [09:20] Terms and conditions of leadership
• [13:25] The BEST Principle
• [16:03] Podcast wrap up

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Marie Holive talks with Todd McLees (HumanSkills.AI Co-Founder), creator of “AI Agility” and HBR contributor, about turning AI from a set of tools into a collaborative partner. We cover the human-skills stack for GenAI, team norms and ethical guardrails, and practical ways to move from one-off experiments to strategic impact, plus simple prompts you can use this week.

Timestamps:

• [00:00] Podcast Introduction
• [00:40] Exploring AI and Human Skills with Todd Cleese
• [01:41] From AI Anxiety to AI Agility
• [03:31] Understanding and Developing Human Agency
• [06:40] Critical Human Skills for Thriving with AI
• [08:47] Effective Prompt Design and Context Engineering
• [14:22] Ethical Boundaries and Collaboration Patterns with AI
• [20:02] Transforming Tactical Value to Strategic Value
• [25:23] Practical Tips for Leaders

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Marie Holive talks with Kelsey Achenbach, Vice President of Pharmaceuticals at dsm-firmenich, about leading with strategy, science, and heart to drive innovation in healthcare. With a background spanning engineering, operations, and commercial leadership, Kelsey is at the forefront of transforming how the pharma industry operates — from optimizing product development pipelines to embedding purpose into every step of the value chain.

Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction to the podcast
• [01:58]  Why diverse experiences is important in leading pharmaceutical transformation
• [04:13] Importance of self awareness for leaders
• [04:51] Most important shifts during Kelsey's time at dsm-firmenich
• [06:23] Mistakes to avoid when going through change
• [10:46] Impact of AI in the healthcare industry
• [17:17] How to connect teams with a deeper sense of purpose
• [19:50] Practical tips for driving innovation and change in highly regulated industries

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Marie talks with Ian O’Connor, Professor at École Centrale de Lyon, about the true energy cost of AI and the breakthroughs that could change everything. As AI’s electricity use surges, Ian explains where the power really goes, why moving data is more expensive than doing the math, and how new hardware is helping bend the energy curve. They also explore what business and tech leaders can do today to make AI smarter, faster, and greener.

Timestamps:

• [00:00] Introduction to the podcast
• [01:45] Why is AI energy hungry?
• [06:00] History of AI
• [11:18] Where does the energy really go?
• [15:10] How do we make AI more energy efficient?
• [26:55] Will Quantum replace AI?
• [28:44] Three simple steps to lower AI consumption

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Marie Holive talks with Jean-Hugues Monier, retired Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, about weaving purpose and service into a life of leadership.

From mentoring students and supporting transatlantic education through the Lafayette Fellowship, to helping restore cultural icons like Notre-Dame de Paris, Jean-Hugues has made giving back a core part of his journey, not a later chapter, but a constant thread.

In this thoughtful conversation, Marie and Jean-Hugues reflect on how leaders at every stage can blend impact, legacy, and service in powerful and lasting ways.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Welcome to the podcast

[01:58] Importance of giving back

[04:46] What is the Lafayette Fellowship?

[10:05] How does Jean-Hugues give back?

[15:45] Practical tips on giving back

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Marie talks with Therese Miclot, Director of Facilitation Excellence at Proteus International about her book: "The Facilitation Advantage", which breaks down the mindsets and skills leaders need to run high-impact meetings and shape meaningful conversations that actually move the business forward.

Therese has spent more than 25 years helping leaders level up, not just by teaching them what to do, but by showing them how to show up.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction to the podcast

[01:40] Why is facilitation an important topic?

[05:44] Using emotional intelligence to pick up cues in the room

[09:32] Common mistakes when facilitating

[12:36] Importance of storytelling

[18:14] Elevating people in the meeting

[22:11] Overview of facilitation practical tips

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