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C-Suite Hiring Trends for 2016

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What does a global retained search executive see in her “crystal ball”?

Find out by listening on-the-go to our conversation with returning guest Jane S. Howze, Managing Director and Founder of The Alexander Group, a top-level retained executive search firm.

Jane is quoted frequently in major business publications, serves as a columnist for CultureMap and is the author of Best Practices for Executive Search Firms for the Inside the Minds book series. (Scroll down for full bio.)

We discuss:

  • Why 2016 may be presenting some unexpectedly rich opportunities for attracting top executive talent
  • Industry segments that are heating up their top talent, and some which are slowing down for now
  • Three immediately actionable ways you can leverage trends to capture top spots in the coming year

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The Dealmaker’s Ten Commandments

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How can the secrets of a top Hollywood dealmaker apply to you?

Read Growth Igniters Radio Episode 49 TranscriptListen on the go to our conversation with Jeff B. Cohen, Esq. author of the highly acclaimed book The Dealmaker’s Ten Commandments. He is a co-founder of Beverly Hills-based Cohen Gardner LLP, and has been named by Variety to both its Dealmakers Impact List and Legal Impact List.

Jeff also has the distinction of being a former child actor, best known for his role as ‘Chunk’ in the Richard Donner/ Steven Spielberg cult classic film The Goonies. (see bio below).

We discuss:

  • The insight that drove Jeff’s transition from child actor to prominent dealmaker
  • When and how to apply Jeff’s “Ten Commandments,” derived from the principles of Machiavelli, Socrates, Aristotle, Nietzsche and other renowned philosophers
  • Three immediately actionable guidelines for “self mastery” so you can get more of the results you really want – under any circumstances

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Beyond New Year’s Resolutions: How to Make Real Change Happen –with guest Dr. Leslie Austin

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The keys to getting more of the results you really want in all aspects of your life

Listen on the go to our conversation with returning guest Dr. Leslie Austin, an executive coach, organizational consultant, and psychotherapist with the unique expertise of being able to help companies and individual executives live up to their full potential.

Leslie appears frequently in international, national and local radio, television and print media and has an extensive list of media credentials. She is currently a regular guest expert on CNN’s Headline News Network, appearing live most often with Nancy Grace.(see bio below).

We discuss:

  • Why New Years Resolutions work for some people but not for others
  • How to get past the trap of “should” and tap into what’s most important to you – personally and professionally
  • Three immediately actionable guidelines for working with your own style to get more of the results you really  want

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Getting Maximum Value From a CEO Peer Group

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Listen on the go to our conversation with Fred W. Green, Chairman of the CEO Club of Boston, as we discuss what it takes to rebirth and successfully grow a CEO peer group support community.

In the year 2000, Fred, often referred to as a “Leader of Leaders”, re-established what had been known as the Boston Chapter of the  Chief Executive Officers’ Club, an organization of which he was a member as the CEO of insurance companies.  This year, the group celebrated their 15th anniversary with over 60 engaged and enthusiastic members.

Fred is author of the article “Why CEOs Need a Watering Hole: Benefits Abound When Top Executives Get Together“ and the subject of the article “Presidential Advisory Councils’ Offer CEOs Support, Counsel and New Ideas” both published by CEO Refresher.

We discuss:

  • How the experience of belonging to the CEO Club of Boston created a bond in Fred that motivated him years later to rebirth and grow it as their Chairman
  • The specific attributes of Fred’s CEO support group that make it stand out to its members as a valued resource
  • Three immediately actionable ideas for getting more value out of any peer networking group

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The Keys to Effective C-Suite and Board Partnering for Long-Term Value Creation

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Why is it more important than ever for the C-Suite and Board to Increase Collaboration?

As we turn the corner into the New Year, the only thing we know for sure is that C-Suites and their Boards will need to be in synch in order to nimbly and effectively respond to unprecedented events and emerging opportunities in the short-term, while remaining focused on long-term value creation.

Listen on the go to a reprise of our conversation from Episode 20 with Peter R. Gleason, President of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), and a recognized expert on board leadership and corporate governance, as we discuss what it takes for C-Suites and Boards to effectively partner in this dynamic business environment.

We discuss:

  • The forces driving new trends in board-C-Suite relationships, and the advantages of a different kind of Board / C-Suite engagement
  • Examples of the new ways in which the Board can add valuable perspective to build more powerful strategies and increase stakeholder value
  • Three ideas you can immediately use for strengthening the strategic engagement of the Board and C-Suite in your own company

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Getting the Most Out Of Life and Business – Lessons from Mt. Kilimanjaro

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How could living into your lifelong dream benefit you as a business leader?

Listen on the go to our conversation with Tim Hebert, CEO of award-winning Atrion, on lessons he learned about life and business from climbing – and reaching the summit – of Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) in the Fall of 2015.

Over the past 20 years, Tim has driven himself and Atrion to remain on the cutting edge of the IT services industry, and Atrion has earned numerous awards including Best Place to Work, Business Excellence Award Winner, and Inc. 5000 Company.

Tim is also a published thought leader who regularly blogs for IDG Enterprise, the leading enterprise technology media company composed of CIO, Computerworld, CSO, DEMO, InfoWorld, ITworld and Network World.

We discuss:

  • What it takes to achieve a successful outcome once you decide to pursue your big dream
  • The life and business leadership lessons Tim learned from encountering and overcoming challenges and difficulties along the way to the summit of Kilimanjaro
  • Three immediately actionable ideas for bringing your own dreams to life

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“Yes, And”… Lessons from The Second City

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How can the principles of comedy and improvisation benefit you and your business?

Find out by listening on the go to our conversation with Kelly Leonard, President & CEO of Kelly Leonard Productions, and Creative Advisor with The Second City.

Kelly has worked with The Second City since 1988, overseeing productions that have launched the careers of celebrated comic performers such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, and a host of others.

Kelley is also co-author, along with Tom Yorton, of the best-selling book, “Yes, And” (see more in Kelly’s bio below).

Find out:

  • How building an “ensemble”can foster talent, increase collaboration, and promote a more creative culture
  • Examples of what “Yes, And” thinking is and stories of how it has been used to overcome obstacles
  • Three immediately useful ideas – including an exercise –  for applying the power of improvisation to your most important goals

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Four Ways to Keep Work-Life Balance During the Holidays

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During the holidays, it’s especially easy to lose work-life balance. What can you do?

Listen on-the-go to our conversation with speaker and educator Jen Slaw, as we discuss four ways that she has helped people accomplish their goals and balance all the parts of their lives in the process.

Jen is renowned for combining her speaking with her expertise as a professional juggler. She holds three world records in juggling physical objects as well as various aspects of life, and has appeared in various venues ranging from TEDx to David Letterman (full bio below)

In this encore episode, we discuss:

  • Recognizing some of the signs that tell us we need to improve the balance in our lives
  • Using the “B.A.L.L.” formula for increasing work/life balance  in any season
  • Three practical tips to create more balance and success

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Disrupt Yourself: A Powerful Idea For Succeeding in Unexpected Ways

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How do the principles of disruptive innovation apply to personal change and growth?

Find out by listening on-the-go to our conversation with Whitney Johnson, widely acknowledged as the leading thinker on driving corporate innovation through personal disruption. She is the author of the critically-acclaimed book Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work, just published in October, 2015.

Whitney co-founded Rose Park Advisors, a boutique investment firm, with Clayton Christensen, and was an Institutional Investor-ranked analyst for eight consecutive years, including at Merrill Lynch. She and her work have been been covered in The Atlantic, BBC, CNN, Fast Company, the Guardian, Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, and more. (see more in Whitney’s bio below).

Find out:

  • How self-disruption can be a powerful tool for professional and personal growth
  • How using the “S-curve” model of growth can guide you to unexpected heights of success
  • Three immediately useful ideas for activating your own personal disruption and realizing your dreams

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Pam & Scott’s Holiday Book Pairings for Accelerating Success in 2016

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What will it take to successfully address uncertainties in the coming year?

In time for holiday reading and gift-giving, we reprise our popular “book pairing” format!

Just as fine wines taste better when paired with complimentary foods that bring out their nuances, a great way to gain even more perspectives on any issue is to read complementary books – either sequentially or at the same time in alternating sips.

We discuss pairs of books in three themes: 

  • Embracing the power of uncertainty
  • Finding opportunities to succeed in unexpected ways
  • Developing new habits for balancing collaboration and competition

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