The Chief Executive Podcast

Some brands do not just build hotels, they build a philosophy of service. In my latest CEO Series conversation, I sat down with Saurabh Tiwari of Taj Hotels in the Middle East to explore “Tajness” the idea that every guest is treated as God. From iconic palaces in India to Taj Exotica on Palm Jumeirah, their wow factor is not only architecture, it is a culture of anticipation, generosity, and prid...

The strongest CEOs I know are not solo heroes, they are master builders of high trust teams. In my recent Chief Executive Summit conversation with London Business School’s Dean, Sergei Guriev, we explored why complexity, speed, and radical transparency make shared leadership more important than ever: clarity of purpose, visible decision making, and the courage to be transparent about trade offs an...

Most leaders get one big act. Enrique Lores is now on his second. With Enrique stepping in as CEO of PayPal, I am reminded of the first time I watched him reinvent a giant, legacy business at HP. Thirty years in, he was still acting like a curious young engineer in that famous garage, willing to obsolete his own “successful” product with a better one. When I asked him what he wished he had known e...

When people feel short on time, resources, clarity, or support, the instinct is often to pull inward, protect territory, and stop investing in teamwork. But what if scarcity could strengthen collaboration? That’s exactly what I explore in my latest podcast conversation with Dr. Kelly Goldsmith, a Professor of Marketing at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management who studies how s...

When your life depends on getting things your way, collaboration can seem impossible. In times of crisis, gathering evidence, considering others’ needs or listening often give way to fear and urgency. Yet, in the middle of life and death droughts in Chad, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim - President of the Indigenous Peoples Association, found ways to improve the communication and collaboration of these com...

Ryan McGarva | Mercedes F1 team by Mark C. Thompson

Join Mark and co-host Jacquelyn Lane, President and Co-founder of 100 Coaches Agency, for a powerful episode of the Chief Executive Summit featuring Klaus Kleinfeld, former Chairman and CEO of Alcoa and former CEO of Siemens AG. Klaus shares insights from his global leadership journey and his new book, Leading to Thrive, offering a fresh framework for sustainable success. Key takeaways: • Boardroo...

This week on the Chief Executive Summit, we’re joined by Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens USA, and co-host Scott Osman, Founder and CEO of 100 Coaches Agency. Barbara reflects on the setbacks that shaped her path to CEO and how optimism, humility, and mission-driven leadership have guided her journey. Key takeaways: * Her “worst day” opened the door to her best opportunity * The importance of raisi...

Join Mark for a fascinating look back at one of the most visionary conversations from our archives, featuring Steve Jobs, then Chairman and CEO of Pixar Animation Studios and interim CEO of Apple. In this rare dialogue, Steve shares his reflections on building Pixar into what he described as "the second great animation studio in the world." He dives into the power of blending creative genius with...

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit, featuring Asheesh Advani, CEO of Junior Achievement Worldwide and co-author of Modern Achievement. Order Modern Achievement: https://a.co/d/eGHXedC Watch now: https://www.chiefexecutivealliance.com/post/cea-summit-asheesh-advani-ja-worldwide Asheesh leads an organization that impacts over 15 million young people annually across 118 co...

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit, featuring Mike Clem, CEO of Sweetwater, the nation’s largest online retailer of musical instruments and audio/video equipment for creators. Mike shares his inspiring journey from tech and e-commerce professional to leading Sweetwater—a $1.5 billion company with over 10 million customers and a culture centered on building lifelong rela...

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit, featuring Geoff Smart, Chairman and Founder of ghSMART and a leading expert in CEO and C-suite readiness. Geoff shares his transformative approach to leadership assessment and development, offering invaluable insights for aspiring and current executives. Key Highlights: Beyond Psychology Tests: Geoff explains why traditional tools lik...

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit featuring Tom Gruber, co-creator of Siri and a pioneer in humanistic AI. This conversation dives deep into Tom's remarkable journey and the future of artificial intelligence, offering unique insights for leaders navigating this transformative era. Key Highlights: The Origins of Siri: Tom reflects on building Siri with a small team of 2...

Join Mark on this week’s episode of the Chief Executive Podcast for an insightful discussion with Niren Chaudhary, former Chairman of the Board and CEO at Panera Brands, and David Reimer, CEO and Managing Partner of The ExCo Group. Niren and David share strategies for leading in an era of profound change and the evolving demands on today’s CEOs. Key takeaways include: The Evolving CEO Role David e...

Join Mark for an in-depth episode of the Chief Executive Summit featuring Melissa D. Smith, CEO of WEX. Over her decade of leadership, Melissa has transformed WEX into a powerhouse in the fintech space, driving innovation and growth while navigating major milestones like the company’s IPO and the challenges of the global pandemic. In this compelling conversation, Melissa delves into: Creating a Cu...

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit featuring John Dickerson, renowned journalist, CBS News Prime Time anchor, and author. Together, they delve into the complexities of leadership in times of change and volatility. Through John's unique perspective, drawn from his experiences and his book 'The Hardest Job in the World', they explore various aspects of presidential leader...

This week on the Chief Executive Summit, we are thrilled to share a conversation with Mark’s dear friend and inspiration, Curtis Martin, NFL Hall of Fame running back. Curtis overcame incredible challenges throughout his life, including poverty, violence, and the loss of loved ones. He'll share how these experiences shaped his approach to leadership and building trust. Key Takeaways: Vulnerability...

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Podcast featuring his early interview with Jensen Huang, Co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA. Listen as he recounts his extraordinary journey from reform school in Kentucky to becoming a tech titan and visionary leader in the semiconductor industry. Reflecting on early experiences, Huang shares how they shaped his character and approach to adversity...

Join us for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit Show hosted by Mark Thompson! In this exclusive interview, Adrian Mitchell, COO & CFO of Macy's, reveals the keys to transparent leadership, strategic trade-offs, and building a customer-centric approach. Discover valuable insights that can transform your business strategies and drive retail success. Don't miss out on this opportunity to...

Don't miss the latest episode of the Chief Executive Podcast! In this insightful conversation, Mark is joined by the legendary Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, the father of the executive coaching profession. They discuss the critical topic of "Adding Too Much Value" and why it's essential for leaders to resist the urge to constantly provide solutions. Marshall shares his wisdom and experiences, highlighti...

Join us for an insightful discussion at the Chief Executive Summit hosted by Mark Thompson, featuring Aicha Evans, the CEO of Zoox. In this interview, Aicha shares her inspiring journey as a lifelong innovator. Discover the future of transportation with Zoox's self-driving electric robo-taxis, designed for safety, sustainability, and urban efficiency. Aicha also highlights her experiences as a fir...

Tune in to the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit podcast to hear Mark's conversation with Gordon E. Moore, co-founder and former chairman of Intel Corporation, who passed away recently at the age of 94. Moore was the mastermind behind Moore's Law, which predicted the doubling of the number of transistors on a silicon chip at regular intervals, paving the way for the exponential growth o...

Happy International Day of Happiness! What better way to celebrate than by wishing a very happy birthday to the legendary Dr. Marshall Goldsmith? On this episode of the Chief Executive Podcast, Mark and Marshall dive into the topic of “No,” “But,” and “However.” Key insight in this episode: Coaching highly successful, hard-working, smart, dedicated, driven to achieve, stubborn, opinionated, know-i...

Mark invites you to join him on the latest "Chief Executive Summit" Podcast with none other than the legendary Maya Angelou. In this episode, Maya shares her seven sacred promises that have guided her through life, inspiring millions of people along the way. As a prolific writer, award-winning activist, and one of the most influential poets of our time, Maya Angelou has reinvented herself over and...

In honor of International Women's Day, we're thrilled to present the fourth and final installment of our Women in Leadership series. Hosted by Mark and Dr. Bonita Thompson, a leader in Collaborative Leadership, this episode features four inspiring guests: Dr. Penny Patterson, Ann Wrixon, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, and Candice Carpenter. These incredible women are all visionaries in their respective f...