The Power of Resiliency and Executive Presence for Leaders with Tiffany Willis
Co-host, Brandon Smith, is joined by Starbucks Vice President, Head of Investor Relations, Tiffany Willis. While the main focus is executive presence, Tiffany and Brandon discuss navigating the “emergency room” of leadership, the importance of clear communication and how to [...]
Curated Content: Leading and Motivating a Multigenerational Team
As we head into summer when many companies welcome new hires and interns, our Leadership Foundry team crafted this special edition of the podcast containing insights for leading multigenerational teams. Hear from industry experts Tim Elmore, Founder of Growing Leaders [...]
Let’s Talk More About “Opportunity”
I was speaking with a senior executive friend recently about the challenges of attracting, motivating and retaining talent in her company. She described at great length the generous benefits and perks offered by her organization to future and current employees and [...]
A Look at Leadership Today with Jamie Turner
Author, Professor and Speaker, Jamie Turner joins this week's host, Brandon Smith, to talk “leadership today”. How has leadership changed? What remains at the core of a great leader? The two discuss everything from executive presence to mindset. Listen in. [...]
The Formula for Practical Accountability with Co-Founders, Brandon Smith and Randy Hain
Brandon and Randy return to the podcast together, this time sharing their insights on accountability. As a leader, how do you involve your team? What are some obstacles you may face? Randy reveals his newly developed formula for practical [...]
Moving the Needle on Accountability
A common and pervasive challenge with leaders I encounter each week is their frustration with the lack of consistent accountability from their teams. We acknowledge it is a problem, but we typically struggle to address it in practical and meaningful ways. Maybe there is a [...]
Managing Conflict in Teams with Leslie Nydick
Tensions are high and the days are long. As a leader, navigating change isn’t always easy and for many, it feels like we’ve been navigating great change for three years! Today on a special edition of the podcast, we’re revisiting [...]
5 Ways to Get Back More Time In Your Life with Co-Founders, Brandon Smith and Randy Hain
We received such great feedback on our recent episode, “How to Set Priorities” with co-founders Brandon Smith and Randy Hain. We’ll know you’ll find today’s legacy episode just as insightful. Brandon and Randy discuss “5 Ways to Get More Time [...]
The Best Business Relationship Advice I Ever Received
My first and greatest mentor in life was (and is) my father Steve. He was a master of building business relationships and was well-respected and trusted by all who knew him throughout his long career. I remember well the advice [...]
The Key to Successful Entrepreneurial Leadership with Josh Hartmann
From large teams to a company of one. Josh Hartmann, CEO of growing company NexMetro, joins podcast co-host, Brandon Smith, to share the key to his successful entrepreneurial leadership: humility. Listen in! 1:30 Meet Josh and hear about his leadership [...]
Weaving Your History Into Your Leadership with Navid Ahdieh
Diverse challenges, personalities, hybrid offices and more call for diverse leadership skills. Navid Ahdieh, Managing Director and Global Leader of Strategy and Management Consulting at North Highland, shares how his life path developed his leadership style. He and Brandon talk [...]
How to Set Priorities featuring Co-Founders, Brandon Smith and Randy Hain
“If you lose money, you can make more money. If you lose time, it’s gone forever.” On today’s episode of The Leadership Foundry Podcast, Co-Founders Brandon Smith and Randy Hain discuss insights for setting priorities as a leader. 1:30 We're [...]
Vital Leadership Lessons from a Young Man with Autism
I have been leading people since I was a 16 year old in high school working at a restaurant in the small town where I grew up. Leadership has always been a passion for me and after years of study, reading [...]
The Path to Your Career Purpose with Ashley Freeman
Leadership Foundry Coach and Facilitator, Ashley Freeman, joins Co-Founder, Brandon Smith, to talk career purpose, self-awareness and our emotions at work. 2:45 What's the importance of purpose? Ashley talks quiet-quitting and post-pandemic life in the office. 3:45 So where do [...]
Two Key Ingredients for Making a Successful Leadership Transition with Holly Bellmund
In a long-tenured industry like mining, relationships are important. Holly Bellmund, President of GLC Minerals, joins the podcast to walk us through her transitional journey, moving from technical expert to company leader. Now, Holly translates what she learned to her [...]
Workspace Matters
I was thinking this morning about an email I received Friday from a former coaching client who I worked with in 2019. The email simply read: “I can't thank you enough for the helpful advice. I made a lot of the [...]
Making an Impact, Four Questions & a Different New Year’s Resolution
As I typically do at the end of every year, I spent some time early this morning thinking about 2022, lessons I learned and considering what I plan to focus on in 2023. I reflected on a broad range of experiences, [...]
Leadership Lessons from 2022 with Co-Founders, Brandon Smith and Randy Hain
Listen in as Brandon and Randy reflect on their work with leaders in 2022 and share what they are looking forward to in the new year. 02:00 Brandon and Randy share stories from some of their favorite work this year. [...]
The Attractiveness of Joy
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. - Edith Wharton, Pulitzer Prize-winning author I recently spoke with a senior leader in my business network on the topic of inspiring and encouraging employees [...]
Embracing a Once Treasured Practice Can Make You More Memorable
I was having coffee with three friends not long ago and we had an interesting discussion about the topic of gratitude and specifically, thank you notes. I shared with them that I had recently received a wonderful handwritten thank you note [...]
The Power of Influence with Rob Pepper
What does it take to transform a business? On this edition of the Leadership Foundry Podcast, guest Rob Pepper, Sr. Director of Strategy and Transformation at Papa John's highlights the importance of influence. 02:00 Meet Rob and learn about his [...]
Why Leaders Need Time for Reflection with Randy Hain and Brandon Smith
Today on the podcast, we highlight Leadership Foundry Co-Founder, Randy Hain's newest book, “Upon Reflection.” Listen in to learn how allowing time for reflection builds our ability to have better conversations with candor, give feedback (the right way), become protectors [...]
Showing Up with Retired Lieutenant General, Ken Keen
Today on the Leadership Foundry Podcast, Ken Keen, Associate Dean of Leadership Development, Senior Lecturer at Emory University - Goizueta Business School and Retired Lieutenant General, highlights the importance of showing up. While this is a leadership fundamental, Ken explains what [...]
Fixing Dysfunctional Business Meetings
Meetings are notoriously one of organizational life’s most insufferable realities. U.S. companies spend more than $37 billion dollars a year on them. Employees in American companies spend more than one-third of their time in them. And 71% of senior managers view them as unproductive.” - Ron Carucci, Harvard [...]
From MLB to GPC: The Curve Balls of Leadership with Mike Holtz
If you’re a new leader or recently promoted, you might be feeling like a rookie called up to the big leagues with all eyes on you. Mike Holtz, former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, knows the feeling in [...]
How to Align Your Team’s Passion with Purpose so You Can Lead at Scale featuring Chris Pacer
Managing multiple teams can prove difficult. How can we bring so many viewpoints together in decision? Add in today’s hybrid workplace and the task may seem impossible even. But our podcast guest, Chris Pacer, Vice President Group Executive at Motion [...]
The Power of Anointed Credibility
I was sipping coffee this morning and thinking about a facilitated town hall/Q&A session I did recently for leaders and aspiring leaders of a well-known Atlanta company on the content from my last book, Essential Wisdom for Leaders of Every Generation. I [...]
The Truth about Resilience and How Our Relationships with Others Help Us Build It featuring Robert Sawyer
From his service in the United States Marine Corps to Partner at Sikich, Robert Sawyer is constantly retooling his leadership skills. He credits this with his ability to build resiliency and become a “reader of people.” What employee doesn’t [...]
5 Ways Being Curious Makes You a Better Leader with Randy Hain & Brandon Smith
“You can’t have curiosity without active listening.” Co-Founders Randy Hain and Brandon Smith are back on the mics for a new episode of The Leadership Foundry Podcast! From building your empathy muscle to becoming a better listener, tune in as [...]
3 Core Principles for First-Time CEOs with Chad Costley
“Skills in managing are transferrable if you trust yourself.” We often hear discussions and tips for first-time leaders, but moving into the role of Chief Executive Officer for the first time is rarely talked about. Today on The Leadership Foundry [...]
3 Ways to Regain Self-Awareness (So You Can Lead at a New Level & Better Leverage Your Team) with Cameron Richardson
It's a challenge almost all leaders face at some point in their career: new responsibilities accompanied by a feeling of being cast away on an island with no help in sight. Today on the podcast, Cameron Richardson is here to [...]
The Reason Vacations Aren’t Restful & Why You Need Good Friends to Be a Better Boss
If you’re returning from your Fourth of July vacation feeling a little exhausted and not exactly rested and renewed, I have some encouraging news: you’re doing it right. That’s because according to rest expert and author Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, vacations aren’t [...]
The (Often) Neglected Practice of Praise
I was reminiscing this morning, the day after Father’s Day, about the many gifts and life lessons my 83-year-old father Steve has shared with me over the years. He is quiet and humble in the way he carries himself, preferring to [...]
Authoring Workplace Culture with Dr. Robert Nobles
Between the Great Resignation and new hybrid work policies, many leaders we engage with are currently guiding their teams through culture change. To help us on this journey, Dr. Robert Nobles, Vice President for Research Administration at Emory University, joins [...]
Living Life in Real Time (Advice for Busy Professionals)
Up until about 10 years ago, I would say that I maximized my days as well as anyone and was always comfortable juggling multiple projects and tasks. My business thrived, my books were selling well and I achieved a small [...]
Curated Content: Time Management and Mastering Priorities
While it’s our most precious resource, many leaders treat time as if it’s unlimited. On this curated episode of The Leadership Foundry Podcast, we go straight to the source for tips on reclaiming calendars and mastering priorities: Leadership Foundry’s [...]
The 5 P’s of Resilience with Vivian Blade
Vivian Blade highlights the importance of partnership in resilience. That partnership begins with self, but then reaches out in the form of connection with others. During our conversation, Vivian walks leaders though each of the 5 P’s of Resilience, including [...]
Are You Working in a Dysfunctional Meeting Culture?
Before you read the rest of this post, I would like you to engage in a brief reflection exercise. Close your eyes and think about where you spent your time over the last two weeks at work. How much of your time [...]
Curated Content: The Courage to Get Curious
We're concluding our April focus on "Leading with Courage" this week with a curated episode on maximizing emotional intelligence. So far we’ve talked about the courage to lead, the courage to have difficult conversations–and this week we’re diving into the [...]
The Courage to Live Courageously
This month on The Leadership Foundry Podcast we have been talking a lot about courage. We’ve explored having the “courage to lead,” the “courage to have difficult conversations” and soon the “courage to get curious.” Courage is a frequent topic of conversation [...]
The Courage to Lead with Dave McKeown
“Do you have the courage to lead?” Sounds like a simple question, but in a leader’s lifetime, there are many points of uncertainty. As a direct report, there are times when you must step up to fill the leadership [...]
The “Messy Middle” and How to Have Difficult Conversations at Work with Betsy Kauffman
Are you looking to drive change within your organization? The "messy middle" can derail your plans. TED Speaker and Cross Impact Coaching Founder and CEO, Betsy Kauffman, joins The Leadership Foundry Podcast to explain and shares tips for finding the [...]
The Great Resignation and 3 Things All Leaders Should Do
What motivated people to leave their jobs in droves this past year? Co-Founders Randy Hain and Brandon Smith sit down on The Leadership Foundry Podcast to discuss competing benefits, employee burnout and what leaders need to do to keep rockstar team members. 01:00 Brandon [...]
How to Identify and Thwart Time Thieves (and Not Become One)
Picture in your mind a likely familiar crime scene: the calendar. Every hour of every day during a typical business week, others (with likely good intentions) are trying to steal our time. “Time thieves” often hide right under our nose, comfortably situated between us [...]
When Leaders Embrace the Abundance Mindset
I was thinking about my mother Sandi this morning, who passed away almost 13 years ago. One of the many things I loved and admired about my mother was her generous nature and desire to help everyone she met. What you may [...]
Into the Weld House: The Founding of Leadership Foundry with Randy Hain and Brandon Smith
On this edition of the podcast, Leadership Foundry co-founders, Randy Hain and Brandon Smith share their story behind the foundation of The Leadership Foundry. Plus, they explain some of the common challenges they see leaders face in this time of [...]
Paying Attention to the Normalization of Defects
We all likely remember (or have read about) the tragic explosions of the space shuttles Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2003) and the deaths of all crew members in both accidents. As you may recall, NASA’s investigation into both explosions uncovered [...]
Cultivating Curiosity as a Skill
The greatest compliment was ever paid me was when someone asked me what I thought and attended to my answer. – Henry David Thoreau Curiosity is one of my favorite skills and one I have worked hard to develop ever since [...]
How to Talk to the Decision-Maker (Who Doesn’t Want to Talk to You) featuring Sam Horn
As leaders, we're constantly making pitches. Whether we're talking with investors, asking for more resources or convincing a new customer to sign the dotted line. On this episode of the podcast, Sam Horn, Founder and CEO of The Intrigue Agency [...]
What I’ve Learned from a Lifetime of Listening
I have a huge confession to make: I don't read nearly as many books as I should. Lucky for me, I still learn a lot every day because the work I do allows me to talk (and listen!) to people [...]
Why Good Leaders Fail with Author, Jim Wetrich
Whether we've been in a leadership role for 10 years or 10 minutes, we can still fall short and place our team at a disadvantage. On this week's podcast, Jim Wetrich, CEO of the Wetrich Group of Companies and author [...]
Three Things All Leaders Should Be Doing Right Now
I was reflecting this morning about the countless conversations I have had with leaders in my network over the last few months and the consistent themes that have been present in most of them. Many leaders are feeling challenged to varying [...]
Four Focus Areas for New Leaders with Author, Mark Noon
As a new leader, is your "holding on" holding back your direct reports? Speaker, executive coach and author, Mark Noon joins Brandon Smith on The Leadership Foundry Podcast to share four areas you need to develop as a leader. Hint: [...]
It’s Time to Redefine “Networking” with Author, Kelly Hoey
If your idea of "networking" involves cold LinkedIn messages or attending events where the key takeaway is a business card, today's episode with Kelly Hoey is for you. Kelly is author of Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Connections [...]
Curated Content: Leading Self Through Crisis, Your Style and Your Genius
We're continuing our focus on self-leadership and purpose this month with a curated episode from leaders Ken Keen, Associate Dean of Leadership Development at Emory University's Goizueta Business School, Ashley Freemen, Facilitator with Leadership Foundry and Darren Virassammy, Co-Founder of [...]
Want to Be a Better Leader in 2022? Practice the Three C’s
Who doesn’t want to become a better leader and improve their leadership skills in the year ahead? But, if you’re wondering just how to do it in the uncertain, unpredictable atmosphere of January 2022, you’re not alone. Nearly twenty-four months [...]
To Become a Better Leader, Start with Self featuring Author, Ed Frauenheim
In our inaugural episode of The Leadership Foundry Podcast, Brandon Smith is joined by Ed Frauenheim, Co-author of Reinventing Masculinity and Co-founder of The Teal Team, for a conversation on leading self. Brandon and Ed discuss the future of leadership, [...]
The Power of Self-Discipline, Intentionality & Routine for Leaders in 2022
Many of us may be wrestling this week over which priorities to concentrate our attention on in 2022. I wonder if our priority lists actually vary much from year to year or will they once again include a vague focus on [...]
Clarity Matters
As I sat down to write this latest blog post in the Simplify series, I once again pondered the conversations I have been having with clients and other business leaders over the last few months and was struck by a central theme [...]
4 Ways to Keep Your Team Motivated During Times of Uncertainty
If you lead a team, my guess is that one of your biggest challenges today is finding ways to keep your team motivated. Below is a list of easy-to-apply surefire ways to step up your motivation game today. Set Short-Term [...]
Doubling Down on Business Relationships
I was reflecting this morning on the numerous conversations I have had with senior business leaders over the last several months. When I ask questions about challenges they (and their teams) are experiencing at work, I often hear comments like [...]
4 Things You Can Do to Help Your Team if You Are a Boss with ADD Tendencies
Last year I was getting peppered with inquiries from readers and listeners on this particular topic: “My boss has ADD. How can I better manage and support her or him?” After doing a bit of crowd sourcing and gathering some [...]
The Ripple Effect of Our Actions
Post #2 in the “Simplify” blog post series. If you are like most of the busy professionals I know, you will be facing a large pile of work in the coming week with limited time to get it all done [...]
3 Signs That Your Virtual Team Isn’t Psychologically Safe
Over the last five years, the concept of promoting “psychological safety” in teams has become more and more commonplace. And for good reason. Psychological safety has been seen to directly correlate to high-performing teams. In Googles’ groundbreaking study of their [...]
Creating Space
Post #1 in the “Simplify” blog post series. Do you create space for yourself during a typical workday? When do you strategize, reflect, exercise, think, re-fuel or just catch your breath? Many of the leaders I work with find themselves [...]
Getting Others to Change: Cheer Them On
If you’ve been following the posts this month, we’re on a mission to get others to change. No easy task. We’ve already laid out the ways to get the urgency rate high and we’ve followed that up with a step-by-step action plan. So [...]
Living Life in Real Time (Advice for Busy Professionals)
Up until about eight years ago, I would say that I maximized my days as well as anyone and was always comfortable juggling multiple projects and tasks. My business thrived, my books were selling well and I achieved a small [...]
Getting Others to Change: Give Them a Plan
Our challenge this month is how do we to get others to change. In my previous post we focused on the first critical step in any change effort – establishing a compelling “why.” If you’ve successfully completed this first task, you probably [...]
Best Practices for Fixing Dysfunctional Business Meetings
“Meetings are notoriously one of organizational life’s most insufferable realities. U.S. companies spend more than $37 billion dollars a year on them. Employees in American companies spend more than one-third of their time in them. And 71% of senior managers view them as unproductive.” -Ron Carucci, Harvard [...]
Getting Others to Change: Start With a Compelling “Why”
Getting others to change is no easy task. Whether we are talking about one person or a whole organization, if we want to increase the probability of successful change we have to start the right way. John Kotter, a Harvard Business [...]
A Road Map to Candid Work Conversations
You are in a staff meeting listening to a work colleague drone on about his success on a recent project, but you know he is actually behind and over budget. What do you do? One of your direct reports has a few [...]
What Great Leaders Can Teach Parents About Culture
I’m a culture geek. I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m a pocket-protector-wearing culture nerd. While others think about stuff like who’s going to win the Super Bowl or the latest round of celebrity gossip, I think about culture. Disney [...]