Executive Edge Podcast

In this episode of Tenzing's Executive Edge, Greg once again sits down with Dave Stowe, founder and managing partner of Adventus to explore the unique role procurement plays in the life sciences industry. Dave explains why procurement in biotech and pharma operates under a different set of pressures than most industries, where supplier decisions, contract structures, and cost management can direct...

Supply chain disruptions don't announce themselves. From pandemics and port shutdowns to tariff swings and supplier bankruptcies, the risk is always present — the only question is whether your organization is prepared when it hits. In this episode, Greg sits down with Subash Chandar, Founder and CEO of The Simple, to unpack how leading organizations are rethinking supply risk monitoring from a rea...

In this episode of Tenzing's Executive Edge, host Greg Anderson sits down with Dave Stowe — founder and managing partner of Adventus and a veteran of PwC, Oliver Wyman, Horizon Therapeutics, and Purdue Pharma — to explore one of the most complex and consequential procurement environments in the world: life sciences. Dave argues that procurement in biotech and pharma isn't just operationally differ...

What if the reason your team isn't performing has nothing to do with strategy, structure, or process, and everything to do with the human brain? In this episode, Simon sits down with Mike Mears, former Chief of Human Capital at the CIA, bestselling author, and founder of the CIA Leadership Academy. Drawing on decades of experience from operating behind the Iron Curtain to working alongside Jack We...

In this episode of Tenzing's Executive Edge, host Greg Anderson sits down with Omer Abdullah — global business leader, co-founder of the SmartCube, and founder of procurement advisory venture Procuria — to tackle a pressing question: how do procurement practitioners future-proof themselves in an AI-driven world? Drawing on over 35 years of experience, Omer argues that procurement has reached an ex...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg interviews Yale Peebles — a West Point graduate, former Army captain, Wharton MBA and CEO of YSP Advisory Services — about turning complex strategy into real-world execution. Yale explains how disciplined leadership, clear communication, and practical planning (including built-in flexibility and a regular ‘‘drumbeat’’ of updates) help teams move from vision...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Simon welcomes Aaron Miller, Partner at Apollo Global Management and Chairman of Apollo Portfolio Performance Solutions, for a candid conversation on leadership, accountability, and the evolving role of the operating partner in private equity. Drawing on his experience across consulting, global operations, and portfolio leadership, Aaron explains why operating pa...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg Anderson is joined by Roy Langley, President and Founder of Pelagic Search, for a candid conversation on what really drives successful talent decisions—on both the hiring side and the candidate side. Drawing on years of experience working with private equity–backed and founder-led businesses, Roy shares why trust, energy, and discipline matter more than ever...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg Anderson speaks with Don Kieffer—former Harley-Davidson executive, MIT Sloan senior lecturer, and co-creator of Dynamic Work Design about why so much work slows down inside organizations. Don shares lessons from the factory floor, the executive suite, and decades of advisory work to explain why traditional org charts and process models fail to reflect how wo...

Simon Rycraft talks with José Juan López Portillo, a former diplomat and international relations expert, about why history and context are essential to leadership, decision-making, and geopolitics. They discuss how studying history builds analytical tools for understanding the present and anticipating the future, Mexico's deep historical influence—from agriculture to silver trade—and practical adv...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg Anderson sits down with David Hargraves—CEO of Pharma Logistics, Navy veteran, and seasoned healthcare supply chain leader—for a compelling conversation centered on the power of customer delight. David reveals the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership philosophy and explains why “satisfied” customers are never the goal. He breaks down how a relentless f...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Simon Rycraft sits down with James Root, Senior Partner at Bain & Company and author of The Archetype Effect, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of leadership, talent, and human motivation in an AI-accelerated world. Drawing on decades of global consulting experience, James breaks down the legacy assumptions leaders must shed, why organizations rou...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg sits down with legendary operator and former CEO who helped shape the modern McDonald’s organization, Ed Rensi. From humble beginnings to overseeing tens of thousands of employees, he shares the foundational principles that drove McDonald’s growth: unwavering standards, disciplined leadership, and a relentless focus on serving both customers and employees. T...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Simon sits down with Dr. Carole Robin, a renowned leadership educator, author, and co-founder of Leaders in Tech. Drawing on decades of teaching the legendary “Touchy-Feely” course at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Carole unpacks what truly drives effective leadership—authentic connection. She explores how leaders can build “referent power,” foster trust,...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Simon welcomes Sally Guyer, CEO of World Commerce & Contracting, to explore how contracts, once seen as static legal safeguards, are transforming into powerful tools for collaboration and trust in modern business. Sally shares insights from her global experience leading a community of over 80,000 professionals, offering a candid look at how commercial and con...

In this episode of Executive Edge, host Simon Rycraft sits down with Dr. Jill Goldenziel—CEO of Goldenziel Strategy, international law scholar, and advisor on leadership and geopolitical risk—to unpack what AI means for leaders today. From the dazzling potential of artificial intelligence to the growing complexity of disinformation, Jill explores why the future of leadership depends on doubling do...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg sits down with Jacob Gorm Larsen, a globally recognized leader in digital procurement and founder of Moneyball CPH. Jacob’s career began at Maersk, where he spent nearly two decades pioneering e-auctions and building one of the most advanced digital procurement programs in the world, executing more than 10,000 auctions across industries and regions. Jacob sh...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Simon Rycraft sits down with Angus Fletcher, professor of story science at Ohio State’s Project Narrative and author of Wonderworks, Story Thinking, and Primal Intelligence. With a background spanning neuroscience, literature, and creativity research, Angus unpacks the difference between human and artificial intelligence and why our true edge lies not in data or...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Simon sits down with Professor Americus Reed II, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, to explore the deep connections between psychology, branding, and leadership. Americus shares his journey from early questions of identity to becoming a leading voice on brand equity and identity loyalty. Together, th...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg welcomes Camille Batiste, a trailblazing leader in global supply chain and procurement. Camille’s journey began in Jamaica and took her through Stanford, engineering, and two decades at Honeywell before stepping into senior leadership roles at Archer Daniels Midland. Today, as president of the Blackman Grant Group, she invests in leaders and small businesses...

On this episode of Executive Edge, Greg sits down with John McCown, non-resident senior fellow at the Center for Maritime Strategy and a leading authority on container shipping and maritime commerce. With more than four decades of operating and investment experience, John shares how his early career in banking led to a 20-year mentorship under Malcolm McLean, the inventor of container shipping, an...

On this episode of Executive Edge, we’re joined by Chris Droney, Chief Operating Officer at Milo’s Tea Company. Chris shares how Milo’s has grown from a regional favorite into one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the U.S., expanding from one to four facilities in just five years and setting sights on $1 billion in retail sales by 2027. With nearly 20 years of CPG and supply chain leadersh...

On this episode of Executive Edge, Simon Rycraft sits down with Simon Hall, former BBC correspondent turned Cambridge lecturer, communication coach, and author of more than 20 books. Hall shares how a rebellious teenager inspired by a hippie English teacher grew into a master of storytelling, and why clarity, brevity, and authenticity are the secret weapons of every great leader. From coaching exe...

On this episode of Executive Edge, Greg Anderson interviews John Hellriegel, a supply chain veteran and Rutgers professor, about decades of hands-on experience in demand planning, inventory optimization, and distribution. John shares stories from Pepperidge Farm, Diageo (including solving Red Stripe’s bottling and logistics issues), Honeywell and Estée Lauder, explains multi-echelon inventory thin...

In this enlightening episode of Executive Edge, host Simon engages in a captivating conversation with Beth Fisher-Yoshida, a renowned Columbia University professor and UN advisor. Together, they delve into the complexities of communication, conflict, and power dynamics in the modern workplace. Beth shares her valuable insights on the evolving appreciation of communication skills in corporate and g...