The Strategy and Leadership Podcast with Anthony C. Taylor

Anthony Taylor is joined by Lance Graulich , who shares about the amazing franchising success of TGI Fridays. In this episode, learn about Lance’s creative hiring process and why it is important to listen to your employees to create a highly productive team. He explains why it is helpful to have checklists for everything and how to properly implement brand standards in a non-limiting manner. Lance...

Your greatest asset is your people; investing in them is also investing in your growth. In this episode, Anthony Taylor interviews Kristina Fusella about the value of working with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to drive innovation, employee engagement, and business success. Kristina is the Senior Director of Capabilities and Employee Experience at Novo Nordisk , and she takes us through her non-t...

Nobody wants to fail, but failing can just be the thing you need to really grow in your career and in your life. As the cliché goes, experience is the best teacher, and failure is arguably the best experience you can have. Lisa Lutoff-Perlo learned this powerful lesson in her trailblazing journey as a female leader in a male-dominated industry. In this episode, she shares how she went from sales p...

The great resignation woke the eyes of many business leaders to shift their culture in their organizations. That culture shift will keep them afloat in their business because everyone aboard is driven to keep the ship sailing. In this episode, Brad Zimmerman , the Co-Founder and Partner of Phoenix Performance Partner, dives into The Great Engagement to guide leaders into creating high-performing c...

Would you embrace the flames that would ignite within you or let the cold wind snuff it out? How would you be proud of yourself if you wouldn’t let those flames burn bright? In this episode, John R. Miles , the former Dell CIO, delves into what it means to be Passion Struck in leading into your organization. He explains the meaning of the Gardener Leadership Style and the importance of being a Ser...

India’s first unicorn gallops its way into this episode of Strategy and Leadership Podcast. Today, the Founder and CEO of Mu Sigma , Dhiraj Rajaram, takes us into the journey of Mu Sigma in becoming India’s first unicorn and how he leads the company to its success. He also mentions how data and information shape the decisions of leaders and why that is important. Dhiraj explains that organizations...

Strategic planning goes beyond storing binders on shelves; it involves transforming intricate visions into concise one-pagers, harmonizing perspectives, and mastering effective communication strategies. Anthony Taylor , the founder of SME Strategy , is not a typical strategist. He is tough but caring, and he pushes your team to do their best. Today, he sits with us to discuss all about strategic p...

1906 is making microdosing more accessible and legal, opening the door to a new era of wellness. In this episode, we hear how CEO Peter Barsoom leads the charge, reshaping industries, one drop at a time. Explore the evolution of 1906 from its roots in the cannabis industry to becoming a leader in microdosing. Peter discusses 1906, how it is about more than just cannabis. He discusses redefining mi...

Certain situations will call us forth into leadership. Whether that's in sports, business, or life, we need to be ready for when that time comes. In this episode, Anthony Taylor engages in an insightful conversation with Maria Samson , a distinguished leader in women's rugby. Maria shares her remarkable journey ad her experiences in advocating for women in sports, breaking down barriers, and foste...

Mark Steffe, the CEO of First Command Financial Services, leads with love and believes that success comes from putting your mission first. He also talks about his leadership principles and the company's commitment to military families. They guide military families to financial security and measure their success by what they give back. In 2022, they provided 30,000 financial plans and donated 7% of...

In today’s uncertain times, we need to take matters into our own hands. This episode’s guest is all about doing that, winning by being on offense. Former NFL and NBA executive Paul Epstein joins us to share a playbook for winning both on and off the field. He shares his 15-year career in professional sports to becoming a sought-after consultant and author. He also shares how to seize 52 opportunit...

Success isn't just about products on shelves; it's about aligning purpose with every purchase, empowering communities, and shaping a healthier world. Align your mission with your product as Lisa Curtis , the CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods , joins Anthony Taylor in this illuminating episode. Lisa shares the remarkable story behind her mission-driven approach to revolutionizing the superfood industry. From...

It is already challenging to sell a tangible item to your target market. How hard would it be if you are selling an invisible product? Keith Farley , SVP at Aflac, joins Anthony Taylor to share his strategies for selling something that does not technically exist: insurance claims. He explains how they focus instead on providing quality customer experience and building a healthy workplace culture b...

We hear a lot of dystopian narratives around the rapid advancement of technology in this day and age, but we seldom take a pause to reflect on the good things that come with this evolution. Can today’s technology be leveraged as a force for good? In this episode, we dive into the world of purpose-driven leadership and sustainable innovation as Anthony Taylor engages in a thought-provoking conversa...

Leadership is not only about guiding teams but also about creating a culture that promotes creativity, empathy, and respect for each individual's story. In this episode, we have Rico Nasol , former executive at Zappos and Netflix, talk about leadership and management. From Zappos’ familial culture to Netflix’s “All-Star team” approach, Rico sheds light on the distinct cultures and their impact on...

What makes a leader thrive in the business? In this episode, we will uncover some leadership lessons from the CEO of Foot Solutions to help us traverse into the space of entrepreneurship. John Prothro is a global foot wellness retailer bringing much value to this conversation. He shares his leadership approach, the core values of leaders, and how pride is the downfall of a leader. Mark also talks...

Fast-growing companies tend to develop Big Company Disease, where growth dramatically slows down. Business owners find their ultimate challenge in scaling up their business. But fear not, because in this episode, Fabrice Bernard, CTO and co-founder of Theodo Group , and Catherine Chabiron, the author of Learning to Scale at Theodo Group: Growing a Fast and Resilient Company , talk about how succes...

Success begins with clarity, authenticity, and continuous improvement. Keep it simple, stay engaged, and make a lasting impact. In this episode, Jay Sidhu, the Chief Executive Officer of Customers Bancorp, Inc. shares his rags-to-riches story. He generously reveals the key principles that have led him to become a Fortune 500 CEO and a prominent figure in the banking industry. Jay emphasizes the im...

Some of the best athletes out there understand that physical performance can only take you so far without having the right mindset to go with it. This same is true for our professional lives, especially in today’s competitive environment. In this episode, who better to help you cultivate a world-class mindset than a former pro baseball player himself? Derin McMains joins Anthony Taylor to talk abo...

You can't lead people further than how you lead yourself. It’s just one of those poignant leadership lessons that all entrepreneurs and business leaders will eventually come full circle to somewhere down their careers. Scott McGohan has been on the journey for 35 years, and he believes it to be one of the biggest wake-up calls he has ever had. In this conversation, he talks more about it and other...

Success is found not in avoiding failure, but in embracing it and learning to rise stronger. Transitioning from Wall Street trader to CEO of an Inc 500 fastest-growing company, Jeremy Delk shares his entrepreneurial journey built on resilience and leadership in this episode. Join us as we explore the twists and turns of Jeremy's life, where he learned valuable lessons from early successes and the...

In a world driven by intense competition, it can be so easy to lose ourselves in that pursuit of perfection. And when it becomes a dangerous obsession, it will cost you more than you know and even notice. In this episode, Thomas Curran , the world’s foremost expert on perfectionism, takes us deep into his book, The Perfection Trap , which looks at the dangers of obsessively going after perfection...

When you keep doing the same thing every time, you are only going to be able to perform at that level. There is no growth. This is The Performance Paradox. In this episode, Eduardo Briceño helps us understand what this phenomenon is and how we can overcome it. He shares key insights from his book, The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action , to inform us of the value of deve...

Business success is unachievable without the right people at your side and a healthy workplace culture where they can thrive. Therefore, leaders must know how to surround themselves with talented individuals and put into action the values they hold dear. Anthony Taylor chats with Andy Lansing , CEO of Levy , who shares the extraordinary journey of growing his company from just a single delicatesse...

Trust is the glue that keeps society together, and without it, it motivates non-cooperation to people. Trust is as fragile as glass. If it shatters, it will always be harder to build it back. Today, Darryl Stickel , the Founder of Trust Unlimited , brings us into the framework of Building Trust effectively with other people through the ten levers. Darryl suggests showing vulnerability creates a sp...