Leadership and Business

The adoption of artificial intelligence and generative AI is moving so quickly. Leaders, companies, and organizations are working to determine how AI can best help them, their employees, their customers, and others. And while the work continues, some organizations have found the sweet spot: developing ways AI and employees work together to provide outstanding customer service by using the best of technology and people. One of those organizations is the financial services firm Edward Jones. Zar Toolan is Principle, Wealth Platforms, Data, and AI for Edward Jones. He recently visited the William & Mary School of Business to talk with students. Then he talked with us about artificial intelligence and leveraging AI to build better connections. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Succeeding. And doing so in the right manner. That’s principled achievement. The William & Mary School of Business defines the principled achievement leader as one who values people, diversity of thought, empathy, humility, and success. This leader listens and inspires, practices ethical compassionate behavior, and embraces the tenants of the William & Mary honor code. This year’s Principled Achievement Award Ceremony was held on March 21st in New York City at Rockefeller Center’s Rainbow Room. The award was presented to Sean McDermott, a William & Mary graduate and head coach of the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills. Before the ceremony, McDermott sat down with us to discuss his thoughts on football, leadership, and principled achievement. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

If you’ve lived for any length of time, you have experienced grief. It’s a universal emotion caused by losing someone or some thing you’ve loved or cared about. Whether it’s the loss of a job, the death of a family member, or loss of a pet, grief and grieving can be intense - strong enough to adversely affect your work and life. Martha Rouleau is an adjunct lecturer and mindfulness/wellness professional at William & Mary. She works at the university’s McLeod Tyler Wellness Center. She recently delivered a presentation on grief and the brain to William & Mary faculty and staff. Afterwards, she joined us to talk about grief and grieving; what they are, and how to approach them as a person, colleague, and leader. If you’ve lived for any length of time, you have experienced grief. It’s a universal emotion caused by losing someone or some thing you’ve loved or cared about. Whether it’s the loss of a job, the death of a family member, or loss of a pet, grief and grieving can be intense - strong enough to adversely affect your work and life. Martha Rouleau is an adjunct lecturer and mindfulness/wellness professional at William & Mary. She works at the university’s McLeod Tyler Wellness Center. She recently delivered a presentation on grief and the brain to William & Mary faculty and staff. Afterwards, she joined us to talk about grief and grieving; what they are, and how to approach them as a person, colleague, and leader.

Success today requires resilience. Whether it’s a company dealing with a major shift in the market, or an individual faced with a significant personal or professional obstacle, resilience is a requirement. Casey White knows all about resilience. A young, fit, working professional at the start of her career, she became unexpectedly and critically ill, and began a lengthy fight for her life that would ultimately take away her ability to walk. Now, five years later, her life and career are back on track. She credits much of her amazing recovery to resilience. She joins us to talk about the lessons she learned about resilience. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

It’s been a little over a year now since most of us were introduced to ChatGPT. Since that time, many professionals, businesses and organizations have worked hard to understand not only ChatGPT, but machine learning and Artificial Intelligence, and what it all can do to assist employees, serve customers, and positively affect the bottom line. There’s no shortage of information in media coverage regarding Artificial Intelligence, but in the race to embrace AI, it can be challenging to determine what’s fact and what’s fiction. Our guest today is here to help. Rachel Chung is an award-winning professor at William & Mary’s School of Business. Among other things, she teaches business analytics, machine learning, and AI. She joins us today to discuss the myths and truths about Artificial Intelligence. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

If you’re an athlete, or someone close to you is an athlete, you’ve most likely spent time in a Dick’s Sporting Goods store. Depending on where you live, the next time you visit your neighborhood Dick’s Sporting Goods, you might be surprised. Dick’s has launched its House of Sport: A new type of sporting goods store. Dick’s House of Sport isn’t just about sporting goods; it’s experiential, and there’s a tie to the community. Navdeep Gupta is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Dick’s. He says the new stores have been embraced by customers, employees, and suppliers. He joins us today to talk about Dick’s House of Sport, how the concept was created, and where it’s headed. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

It’s difficult to succeed in business today without having a solid grasp of public affairs, public policy, and politics. Regardless of the size of your business or sector, decisions that are made in your state capitol, Washington, D.C., and beyond can greatly affect your bottom line. Learning to strategically manage corporate public affairs was the focus of a recent three day workshop for William & Mary’s Executive MBA students. The workshop took place at the Washington Campus; a non-profit, non-partisan education consortium in Washington, D.C. that partners with top business schools and universities around the world. Mike Lord is the President of the Washington Campus. He joins us today to talk about public policy, public affairs, and why business leaders must be well-versed in this arena. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

When you think of a typical hospital chief administrator, who comes to mind? The majority of hospital CEOs are men and many possess a graduate business degree. But Amber Price is different; she’s one of a small number of women who lead hospitals. She holds a doctorate in nursing practice with a focus in change leadership, and she spent years working as a certified nurse midwife. She says those differences and experiences help her succeed. Price is president of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center - a 145-bed acute care hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia, recognized as one of the nations top-100 hospitals. She joins us to discuss the unique challenges and rewards of leading a hospital. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

When it comes to the job market, things certainly have evolved in the past few years. During the pandemic, the unemployment rate reached almost 15%. Today, the labor market is strong and the unemployment rate is under 4%. When comparing today’s employment landscape with that of the pandemic, one word comes to mind: Change. We’re seeing changes in hiring practices, employee expectations, and the ages of available workers among other things. Stephanie Rentschler works at the Graduate Career Management Center at the William & Mary School of Business. She’s the Director of Career Advising and Education. She coaches MBA students and those pursuing Masters Degrees in Accounting and Business Analytics. She joins us to talk about the current job market, what companies are doing to attract talent, and what job seekers can do to find the right opportunity. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Host Phil Wagner fills in for Ken White on this special crossover episode of Leadership & Business and Diversity Goes to Work. Our guest today is Dr. Elias Zerhouni, who has had an incredibly inspiring story of pursuing the American dream while never forgetting his roots. Born in a small village in Algeria, he came to America in his 20s with only a few dollars to his name. Yet through hard work and mentors who saw his potential, he rose to become the director of the world’s largest biomedical research agency, the National Institute of Health. He pioneered breakthroughs in medical imaging including MRI techniques still used today. His scientific innovation combined with leadership skills earned him roles like Department Chair at Johns Hopkins, but few expected a boy from a small Algerian village could someday lead the NIH and its multi-billion dollar budget. We are honored to have Dr. Zerhouni - radiologist, researcher, and the former director of the NIH - on the podcast today. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Imagine leading and revamping your organizations cyber security system. For Lyn McDermid, that organization is the Commonwealth of Virginia, the 11th most populated state in the US. McDermid is Virginia’s Secretary of Administration. She was appointed to the position by Governor Glenn Youngkin in January of 2022. She oversees five state agencies and leads Virginia’s efforts in cyber security, IT, elections, Human Resources, and other important areas. Before making the move to state government, she was a successful IT professional and leader. She was CIO at the Federal Reserve System and held similar roles in private and public companies. She joins us today to discuss leading in state government, how states manage cyber security, and where technology may take us in the future. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

One of the best ways to succeed in the future is to understand the past. A new partnership between Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary will count on the past, along with a special place, to teach leadership, civil discourse, and engagement in a unique way. The newly created Williamsburg Institute will offer learning opportunities like no other for leaders, executives, adults, and young adults. It’ll use Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary as living classrooms while it relies on some of history’s most influential leaders to teach lessons for today and tomorrow. Chris Caracci is Executive Director of the Williamsburg Institute. He’s spent years as a senior leader with Disney University and the Disney Institute. He teaches at the William & Mary School of Business and he joins us today to discuss the Williamsburg Institute and its unique approach to learning. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

About 1 in every 10 American households is food insecure. That’s according to the US Department of Agriculture. That means 10% of American households are uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all members of the family. In addition, households with children have a higher rate of food insecurity than those without kids. A big problem like food insecurity requires a big solution. Michael Flood is part of that solution. He’s the President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. A former All-American soccer player at William & Mary, he visited campus for a soccer reunion. And he visited us to talk about food insecurity, food banks, and leading in the non-profit space. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Professionals, companies, and organizations everywhere are working to determine and refine the role automation and Artificial Intelligence play in their strategies and day-to-day activities. At BDO, one of the world’s top accounting and advisory firms, embracing technology, AI, and automation is a way of life. Brian Miller is BDO’s national audit, data analytics, and emerging methods partner. He works with the firm’s leaders to set assurance innovation strategies, assurance data analytics, automation, and AI strategies. He visited William & Mary recently where he was the keynote speaker at the business school’s Accounting Edge Program. The next day he sat down with us to discuss thriving in an era of automation and AI. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Whether large or small, most companies and organizations engage with their target audiences on social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and others. But what about podcasts? Many companies and organizations have stayed away from hosting their own podcast despite the numbers. For example, the number of podcast listeners in the US has doubled in the last 10 years. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, 62% of American consumers listen to podcasts. Cody Watson is the Director of Marketing at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William & Mary. Before joining the Mason school, he worked in the ad agency space. He says companies should consider hosting their own podcasts, because doing so can create solid relationships with customers and prospective customers. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Some of college football’s biggest and most influential teams and universities have decided to leave their longtime athletic conferences. For example, UCLA and USC - members of the PAC-12 Conference for decades are now a part of the BIG 10 Conference. To the non-sports fan, that doesn’t sound like much. However, the ripple effects of such moves are gigantic. While some universities have already joined new conferences, others continue to seek new affiliations. Why? Television and money. Brian Mann is the Director of Athletics at William & Mary; he previously served as Senior Associate Athletics Director at the University of California Berkeley, a university at the time we recorded the podcast in search of a new conference. He joins us to talk about the business of college athletics, conference realignment, and where it all may end up. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

You have control regarding the way you show up. And as a leader - or aspiring leader - you also have control over the way others perceive you, so developing your leadership style is important. It can work for you or against you. Erin Berube is a Managing Director and Executive Coach at Admired Leadership; a development program focused on the leadership behaviors that create loyal followership and exceptional results. She says the right leadership style will help you inspire others. She joins us today to discuss leadership style and some of its elements; including presence, influence, and advocacy. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Remember when working meant going to the office everyday? Now, countless offices all over the US and the world are empty, or partially empty, thanks to remote work. It’s been over three years since the start of the pandemic, and there’s no doubt its lasting impact on commercial real estate has been significant. And no one’s quite certain what the future holds for the office market. Mike Seiler is a professor at William & Mary’s School of Business. In addition to teaching, he’s one of the country’s leading real estate researchers. He joins us today to talk about the future of commercial real estate, as well as other real estate markets, and what we might expect to see moving forward. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

When companies and organizations discuss digital transformation, they often focus on effective ways to drive technology adoption and transformation. Our guest today says there’s much more to consider. After earning his MBA at William & Mary, J. Singh has spent 20 years working at some of the world’s most recognizable companies; including Target, McDonald’s, and now SportClips Haircuts, where he’s the Chief Digital Officer. His experience is in analytics, merchandizing, digital innovation, and digital transformation. He says there are a number of elements to consider in terms of digital transformation, such as agility and speed, the competition, the customer, the employee and more. He joins us today to talk about digital transformation and how companies and leaders should think about people, process, and tools as they move forward. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

Since we first heard about it back in December, the buzz has continued to grow surrounding ChatGPT and other LLMs, or Large Language Models. Companies and organizations are working to determine what role these LLMs will play. Our guest today calls ChatGPT “fast moving” and “fast growing.” And more importantly, he says LLMs are a breakthrough technology with great potential - much like the internet when it was first introduced. Rajiv Kohli is a professor at the William & Mary School of Business. He’s among the top 20 Management Information Systems researchers in the world, and an expert in digital transformation. He joins us today to talk about LLMs; what they are, and where they might take us in the future. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.