The Leadership Foundry Podcast

What makes for an "all-in" culture... those top-performing teams that are the foundation of world-class organizations? It all comes down to showing gratitude. Today on the podcast, Brandon and Randy are joined by bestselling author, Chester Elton, as he shares three rituals you can put into practice today to make your workplace healthier.

With advancements in technology and the growing popularity of the hybrid workforce, our natural workplace boundaries have evaporated. In this episode, Brandon and Randy explain ways to set personal boundaries and how we can honor those boundaries set by coworkers. 

In the final installment of our "Refocus" series on The Leadership Foundry Podcast, we're revisiting Brandon's episode with "The Modern CEO" Rohit Verma as he highlights the preparation path to CEO. Listen in as he delves into his remarkable career journey, his experiences in steering a global enterprise across 70 diverse countries, and his insights on empowering your team. 

As we continue our "Refocus" series on The Leadership Foundry Podcast, we get this great reminder from guest, Ken Keen: Learn how to manage your time and say "no". When we overload ourselves (and our calendars) we're not able to fully show up and give our best selves to that project or initiative, thus rendering us less effective. If this feels like you, listen in. 

We're officially into Q2 of 2024! We received a lot of feedback from our recent newsletter with a highlight of Brandon and Randy sharing their tips for setting priorities. We wanted to take a deeper dive and revisit this episode in its entirety on today's podcast. What are real priorities vs aspirational priorities? Where are you spending your time? It all comes down to action. Listen in! 

Continuing our Women In Leadership highlights in honor of Women's History Month, we're revisiting our episode with Agnes Scott College President, Leocadia Zak. President Zak discusses the importance of relationships and how to make innovation a cultural way of living. Listen to her story and you'll hear why Agnes Scott College has ranked #1 in innovation for six consecutive years. 

In honor of Women's History Month, we're spotlighting some amazing female leaders we've had the pleasure of interviewing on the Leadership Foundry Podcast! Crumbl Cookies COO, Graciela Chadwick, joined Brandon to talk franchising, fostering connection with our team members and balancing relationships with results. Hear her full story in this podcast replay.  

"This is an act of courageous leadership." If you want to deepen any type of relationship, you can't do it without vulnerability. Yet, this can be scary. As leaders, it requires courage to let down our defenses and ask for support. In today's podcast, Brandon and Randy explore strategies for embracing vulnerability in the workplace effectively.

Tobias Hoffmeister has had the unique experience of being a global leader, working in many different countries. Today, he is President and CEO of MHP Americas, a Porsche Company. He and Brandon's conversation centers around the dynamic of running a country unit and maintaining the relationship with the home office, along with the essential competencies of global leaders today.

You've heard us talk a lot about the importance of curiosity. Today, we dive into how. From questions to ask and ways to hone your active listening skills, co-host, Brandon Smith, walks leaders through how to maximize this workplace superpower.

As a leader, are you looking to drive innovation and foster the entrepreneurial culture inside your organization? Today's guest, Louis K. Gump, has literally written the book on how to effectively implement an intrapreneurship program. Drawing from firsthand experience, Louis offers valuable insights on talent acquisition, monitoring metrics to track progress and more.

Today on the podcast, Brandon and Randy take to the mic to discuss a topic that has garnered numerous questions: how to lead young professionals in the workplace. They tackle a range of issues, from quiet quitting to the impact of social media, and explore the contributions of seasoned leaders and parents in shaping the professional journey of the younger generation. Throughout the discussion, the...

Today on the podcast, we're examining an often under-represented practice: setting and leading with company values. To help us along this journey, co-hosts Brandon and Randy, are joined by Doran Oancia, President and CEO of Chemex Global. Listen in as Doran shares how to select, promote and hire with company values.

Today's team members want to feel connected to the work they are doing. If company processes and goals don't feel personal, it could prove difficult to get everyone on board. Wills Moore, CEO of Agilitas Human Resources Consulting, joins Brandon on the podcast to help leaders gear up for success in 2024 by sharing best practices for your performance management process.  

Class is in session! Today on the podcast, Brandon Smith offers a new perspective on setting annual goals. Step back in time with us as we look at 2024 through the lens of a college student, focusing on your overall GPA to grade success.

Co-hosts Brandon Smith and Randy Hain welcome Andreas Widmer on today's show for an insightful conversation about the entrepreneurial mindset. Andreas Widmer is an author, speaker and the founder and director of the Art & Carlyse Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at The Catholic University of America's Busch School of Business. Our overall theme centers around how doing good, from our...

If you've caught recent episodes of the Leadership Foundry Podcast, you've likely picked up on a common theme: complexity vs. simplicity. Frank Blake , former chairman and CEO of The Home Depot noted that the best leaders "pull complexity up and push simplicity down." Graciela Chadwick , COO of Crumbl Cookies, explained the balance between relationships and results, highlighting that any repeatabl...

Among tasks and teams, leaders have an overall essential balance that must be maintained and that balance comes in the form of relationships vs. results. How can leaders achieve this balance? Crumbl Cookies COO, Graciela Chadwick, shares from her extensive experience working with franchisees on this edition of the podcast. Listen in for two key factors crucial for leaders in fostering connections...

We've got another treat for you "from the vault" for this week's episode of the Leadership Foundry Podcast! This one features Brandon's daughter, Abby Smith. Recorded just a few short years ago, their conversation centers around generational communication in the workplace. Bridging the gap between generations isn't just a nicety; it's a necessity. Collaboration among different age groups fosters a...

We're excited to welcome former The Home Depot, Chairman and CEO, Frank Blake, on this episode of the podcast. Frank reminds us: As CEO - you're at the bottom and not at the top. Listen to this insightful conversation as he shares why (and how) the best leaders "pull complexity up and push simplicity down."

There's a lot happening around the world and tensions are high. In this "Leadership Challenges" episode, Brandon addresses the key components of effective communication and highlights what leaders should be mindful of when navigating emotions and driving focus in their roles.