Thirty Minute Mentors

A former Fortune 100 CEO, Ron Williams led the turnaround of the healthcare giant Aetna, which was subsequently acquired by CVS. Ron currently sits on the boards of three Fortune 100 companies: American Express, Boeing, and Johnson & Johnson. Ron joins Adam to share his journey from the South Side of Chicago to the top of corporate America and his best lessons learned along the way. Ron and Adam d...

One of America's leading fitness experts, Jillian Michaels was the star of the hit TV show The Biggest Loser and is an 8-time New York Times bestselling author. Jillian joins Adam to share her journey, lessons learned, and best advice across a wide range of topics. Jillian and Adam discuss personal and professional development; overcoming obstacles and failures; motivation; fitness, nutrition, hea...

A Fortune 500 CEO, Mark Tritton is a longtime leader in the world of retail and has been leading the turnaround of one of America's best-known retailers, Bed Bath & Beyond. Mark joins Adam to share his journey to the top and best advice across a wide range of topics. Mark and Adam discuss personal and career development; leadership and team-building; retailing and branding; and much more.

Ambassador Christopher Hill spent more than three decades serving at the highest levels of international diplomacy and served as the U.S. Ambassador to four different countries: Iraq, South Korea, Poland, and Macedonia. Ambassador Hill joins Adam to share his journey, lessons learned and best advice across a wide range of topics. Ambassador Hill and Adam discuss best practices on negotiations, dea...

A former Fortune 100 CEO, David Cote is recognized as the most successful leader of a major industrial manufacturing company of his era. David led the turnaround of Honeywell, which grew from $20B to $120B during his tenure. David is also the first person in his family to graduate from high school and dropped out of college twice. David joins Adam to share his unorthodox journey to the top and his...

Keith Ferrazzi is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Never Eat Alone and was the youngest Chief Marketing Officer of a Fortune 500 Company. Keith joins Adam to share his journey and best lessons learned along the way. Keith and Adam discuss career development, relationship-building, networking, leadership, marketing, and more.

Barbara Boxer served in the U.S. Senate for 24 years. In 1991, the Senate had only two female members; in 1992, Senator Boxer was elected alongside three other women in "The Year of the Woman." Senator Boxer joins Adam to share her journey and best lessons learned along the way. Senator Boxer and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: breaking into and excelling within the world of politics; leaders...

Tricky Stewart is a five-time Grammy Award winning producer and the guiding force behind more than 50 million records sold. The founder of the record label and studio Rz3 Recordings, Tricky has worked with the biggest names in music, including Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Ciara, and Katy Perry. Tricky joins Adam to share his journey and best advice...

A national leader in the field of healthcare management, Dr. David Shulkin served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs and has held leadership positions at five major hospitals and hospital systems. Secretary Shulkin joins Adam to share his journey and best lessons learned along the way. Secretary Shulkin and Adam discuss how to lead and drive change at large bureaucratic organizations; lessons from w...

A leader in the world of women's fashion, Rebecca Minkoff is the co-founder and creative visionary behind the company that bears her name. Rebecca joins Adam to share her entrepreneurial journey and best lessons learned along the way. Rebecca and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: unlocking creativity; marketing and branding; growing and scaling; leadership; managing failure; fashion; working wi...

A Fortune 500 CEO, Bruce Van Saun has been a C-level executive at major financial institutions for the past three decades and led Citizens Financial Group through the largest IPO in the history of any U.S. commercial bank. Bruce joins Adam to share his journey and best lessons learned along the way. Bruce and Adam discuss a broad range of topics, including leadership in times good and bad; hiring...

Ambassador Ron Kirk served as a Cabinet member in the Obama administration as the United States Trade Representative. Ambassador Kirk was the first African American U.S. Trade Rep and the first African American mayor of Dallas. Ambassador Kirk joins Adam to share his journey and best lessons learned along the way. Ambassador Kirk and Adam discuss a wide range of topics: leadership, career developm...

An expert on social media and branding, Amy Jo Martin is a New York Times bestselling author and the founder of one of the first social media companies of all time, where she managed the social media strategy for major celebrities, athletes and companies. Amy Jo joins Adam to share her journey and best advice across a wide range of topics. Amy Jo and Adam discuss entrepreneurship, relationship bui...

Lauryn Evarts Bosstick is the founder of The Skinny Confidential, a community consisting of millions of people. Lauryn joins Adam to share her journey and best advice on a wide range of subjects. Lauryn and Adam discuss entrepreneurial lessons learned from building The Skinny Confidential; marketing, branding, and community-building; inspiration, failure, and developing comfort in your own skin; a...

Brian Baumgartner played Kevin on the hit TV show The Office and won an Emmy along the way. Brian joins Adam to share his journey leading up to The Office , favorite memories and lessons learned from his time on the show, and best advice on a wide range of topics. Brian and Adam discuss how The Office came together and why it was so successful; lessons on leadership, teamwork, hiring and organizat...

Jeff Immelt spent 17 years as the CEO of General Electric (GE), then one of the five largest companies in the country, with annual revenues that exceeded $180 billion. Jeff joins Adam to share his best lessons from the highs and lows of his career. Jeff and Adam discuss a broad range of topics: career development, leadership, culture, learning from failure, decision-making, relationship-building,...

Dara Torres is one of the most decorated Olympic athletes in history: winner of four Olympic gold medals and twelve medals in total, a record among women. Dara competed in five Olympic games, winning a gold medal as a high school student and three silver medals at age 41. Dara joins Adam to share her journey and best lessons learned along the way. Dara and Adam discuss reaching peak performance, o...

A pioneer in the world of private equity and member of the Forbes 400, Steve Klinsky co-founded Goldman Sachs' buyout group, was an early partner at Forstmann Little, and is the founder and CEO of New Mountain Capital, which has deployed more than $30 billion. Steve joins Adam to share his journey and best advice. Steve and Adam discuss the evolution of the industry and how to succeed in it; leade...

Joe Lockhart served as White House Press Secretary during President Bill Clinton's impeachment and went on to lead communications efforts for Facebook and the NFL. Joe joins Adam to share his best lessons across a wide range of topics: crisis management, performing under pressure, leadership, communications, relationship building, and more.

General Barry McCaffrey is one of the most decorated military leaders over the past half-century: the recipient of two Silver Stars and two Distinguished Service Crosses, a member of the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame, the youngest four star general at the time of his retirement, and the leader of the decisive battle in the Persian Gulf War. General McCaffrey also served as a Cabinet member and U.S...

Tony Hunter is the CEO of McClatchy, one of America's oldest and most prominent publishing companies, with newspapers across 30 U.S. markets catering to 65 million monthly readers. Tony previously served as publisher of the Chicago Tribune and CEO of the parent Tribune Publishing, where he led the company through a record four-year bankruptcy and reinvented its business model. Tony joins Adam to s...

The co-founder of E!, Alan Mruvka led the fastest growing cable network start-up in television history. Alan joins Adam to share his entrepreneurial journey and best lessons learned along the way. Alan and Adam discuss the inspiration behind E! and the keys to actualizing the vision; leadership, culture, negotiations and dealmaking; how to assess entrepreneurial opportunities in the entertainment...

Founder of The Chriselle Factor and the Bumo Enterprise, Chriselle Lim is a leading fashion and beauty influencer and entrepreneur, with more than 5 million followers across social platforms. Chriselle joins Adam to share her journey and best advice on a wide range of topics. Chriselle and Adam discuss how to pursue a non-traditional career; how to build and grow an audience; branding and personal...

Tom Ripley is the CEO of Lids, the largest licensed sports retailer in the country, and the co-founder of the private equity firm that owns it. Tom joins Adam to share his best lessons from his journey from Special Operations officer in the Marine Corps to leader of a company doing over a billion dollars in annual sales. Tom and Adam discuss how to turn around a business and a culture; managing re...

Tony Horton is the creator of P90X, the disruptive workout program that has grossed hundreds of millions of dollars. Before becoming one of America's leading fitness experts, Tony spent more than two decades working through a long list of less glamorous jobs. Tony joins Adam to share his best lessons learned from his journey and his best advice on a wide range of topics. Tony and Adam discuss pers...