Something Extra

Growing up in rural Iowa didn’t stop Todd Finders from developing a love of technology. Now, as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Clayco, he reflects on how being raised in a small town helped him cultivate his sense of integrity and leadership. Listen today to find out why “competitive empathy” is Something Extra he believes every leader needs. Guest Links: Todd's LinkedI...

When Cary Granat left a multibillion-dollar partner of Miramax Films and founded his own media company, he wanted to recapture a sense of imagination. Since then, he has been a partner in producing films such as the Narnia Series, Holes, Bridge to Terebithia, and more. Join us to hear why true leaders hold fast to their ideas while being flexible to improvements along the way. Guest Links: Cary's...

Bryan Citrin was once told, “If you can achieve your dreams on your own, you are not thinking big enough.” This advice has bled into his life as a missionary, entrepreneur, and public speaker. We invite you to listen to this episode as Bryan shares how his sales career started at the age of eight selling rocks and has progressed into financially supporting the needs of those he’s encountered along...

As the Founder and President of Working Solutions, Kim is a technology executive who started the business with her husband. What’s more, Kim and Lisa share the same drive and entrepreneurial mindset that has helped them innovate and scale in the work-from-home era. Tune in as they both share an inside look into the mindset and business strategies that have led to their companies' success. Guest Li...

Arguably, a leader’s best-kept secret is their executive assistant. Join us for this unique and captivating episode as we speak with Jenny Heal about how the Something Extra podcast persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic. We also get a glimpse behind the curtain to learn about her unique journey from the world of professional theatre to the corporate world. You'll see what makes Jenny an indispe...

“When preparation meets opportunity” is how Michael Arrieta would define the word luck. As the Founder & CEO of Garden City, Michael reflects on the serendipitous moments that allowed him to put all of his preparation into action. Join us as Michael shares insights from his prior experience working for companies such as Cutco, Wyse Technology, Dell, and DocuSign, and the importance of creating...

While we all know that successful leaders are busy, get-things-done kinds of people, we also know that not all tasks are created equal. Join us as Zack Clark, Founder of Development & Leadership, discusses how leaders have to ask themselves hard questions to guide their own efforts before managing others. You’ll also hear how he grew up with a schoolhouse in his backyard and was immersed in du...

When Deb Liu went into an interview for employment at Facebook, she took a risk and pitched an idea: To build a marketplace where users can buy and sell from each other. Six years later, her dream is a reality used by more than one billion people per month. Deb has yet again taken another chance on herself and now serves as the CEO of Ancestry. This episode is packed with wisdom on proving yoursel...

Jennifer Labit started out as a young mother who had to choose between diapers or food for her newborn. Now, as the President & CEO of Cotton Babies, she has received numerous distinctions such as “Most Influential Business Woman” and “40 under 40.” When describing her journey as an accidental entrepreneur, Jennifer says it best: “As leaders, we rarely give ourselves permission to disrupt ours...

Have you ever considered what it would mean for your life and leadership to integrate “love the verb” into each day? This week’s guest, Joel Manby, has been a CEO for five companies and combines these experiences into his book, “Love Works.” Listen as he and Lisa discuss why integrating love into the foundation of your organization can foster grateful employees, impress customers, and drive busine...

In the first chapter of his book, “The Homes of Hope Story,” Sean Lambert describes Netflix’s rise to greatness. While the competition focused on retail, Netflix obsessed over serving its viewers by bringing content directly to them. Today, they dominate the media space. Learn more about how a service mindset transformed Sean's work at Youth with a Mission, and how to find more opportunities for s...

We all know that youth sports instill important values such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience. However, our hyper-competitive culture increasingly makes the scoreboard a primary concern. Join us this week as Lisa talks with Pat Combs, former Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. The lessons he learned on the pitching mound continue to shape his financial career and fami...

Have you heard the expression, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today, except for the people you meet and the books you read?” As a serial media entrepreneur, Steve Gatena has found this to be true. Join us as this week’s guest, Founder & CEO of Pray.com, shares about a breaking point in his career, the podcast that changed his life, and how this inspired him to create a d...

“What’s your Panera fave?” While we all know and love the menu at this iconic bakery-café, we may not realize the innovation and digital transformation that has gone on behind the scenes. Tune in as Lisa speaks with John Meister, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, to learn how technology plays a key role in enhancing the customer experience. Their conversation is sure to leave...

As we look at leaders, we often ask what they have gone through in life to establish their credibility. This week’s episode features Bruce Sheridan, Author, Certified EOS Implementer, and President of Life Compass, Inc. Listen in as he shares inspirational stories about his healing from childhood struggles and substance abuse, which in turn has helped him coach countless leadership teams and young...

According to Debbie Portell Morris, “Food is life or death. Choose life and eat clean.” She speaks from experience, as Debbie passed out suddenly one night in her driveway and was rushed away in an ambulance. Over the course of the next two years, she worked with 22 doctors to find out why. Now, as the owner of Integrity Training Systems and Sophie’s Bakery, she has seen countless people saved thr...

“Uniquely going beyond excellence” sums up the work taking place at Williams Academy STL, an innovative early childhood learning and technology center training today’s minds for future success. This is also the personal mission statement of the school’s co-founder, Yonnick Jones. Tune in as he and Lisa discuss how the organization gives students a hands-on opportunity to explore the world of scien...

How do you avoid getting bogged down in the quicksand of competing demands? According to Mark Miller, Vice President of High-Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A, it all boils down to your choices. In this episode, Mark shares insights from over 20 years of leadership coaching and team development. With over one million books in print in more than 25 languages, you will see how Mark’s insights in...

We often hear people tell us to follow our passion, but may hit a roadblock once we realize that we have more than one. Scott Richert shares how he overcame the pressure to identify a ‘grand vision’ and instead focused on taking work one step at a time. Now, as the CIO at Mercy, Scott is passionate about helping people find meaningfulness in work by understanding their impact, no matter the role....

Mr. Rogers once said, “Anyone who does anything to help a child in their life is a hero.” As an Adoptive Mom, Author, Podcast Host, and App Designer, this quote takes on special meaning for Marcy Bursac. Join us as she shares her personal journey of pivoting her career, advocating for foster care adoption, and aligning her life to make family her top priority. Guest Links: Marcy's LinkedIn Fo...

Do you provide an environment where employees feel empowered and engaged? Mindi Cox, Chief Marketing & People Officer at O.C. Tanner, calls this workplace fulfillment – and she actually describes it as the future of work. In this episode, Mindi discusses the software that has created more than 222 recognition moments every minute and how every business owner can leave the world a better place....

Did you know that 21.7 million people experience job losses in America every year? Though unemployment is a common life stressor, many people do not know how to handle themselves after being let go. Dale Kreinenkamp, President of Thriving Through Transitions, looks at how to lean into your support system and embrace the change curve to move toward a better life. Guest Links: Dale's LinkedIn D...

Brene Brown has said, “One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” This encapsulates Author, Speaker, and Journalist Melissa Harrison’s journey of experiencing the news cycle in reverse. When her mother’s murder made headlines, Melissa made it her mission to report other people’s stories of tragedy and pain with a deep s...

Jane Stevenson hopes for a world where our daughters will think that being a CEO is normal. As someone who recruited CEOs for massive corporations such as Nike, Coca-Cola, and more, she has observed numerous examples of effective leadership. Tune in as Jane and Lisa discuss research trends regarding a female executive's journey and how the need for good leadership remains a constant in a chan...

When did you last give yourself permission to take a risk? As a best-selling author and keynote speaker, Dr. Margie Warrell shares how to lean into your untapped potential and deal with internal roadblocks. You'll walk away from this inspiring episode thinking about courage and the importance of going beyond your comfort zone.  Guest Links: Margie's LinkedIn MargieWarrell.com You've...