Strategy and Leadership Podcast Anthony Taylor | SME Strategy Consulting

Dr. Andrew Temte, CFA, is the former CEO of Kaplan Professional, author of two books: Balancing Act: Teach, Coach, Mentor, Inspire, and The Balanced Business: Building Organizational Trust and Accountability through Smooth Workflows, and host of The Balancing Act podcast.

A thought leader on issues related to organizational health, continuous improvement, and workforce reskilling, his articles have appeared in a number of media outlets. A blend of higher education and professional education experience gives Dr. Temte a unique perspective over the issues surrounding the future of employment and workplace relevance.

About the Guest(s):Andrew Temte is an accomplished professional with an intriguing background that belies conventional career trajectories. Having left high school in the 11th grade, he serves as a testament to the belief that one's early missteps do not define their future success. Pursuing a passion for music and education, Andrew went on to earn a PhD in finance from the University of Iowa. He's a musician, a former CEO at Kaplan Professional, a frontrunner in alternative educational pathways, and the founder of Skills Owl LLC. Andrew is also the author of "Balancing Act" and "The Balanced Business," and leads a musical life as the frontman of the band The Remainders.
Episode Summary:In this enlightening episode of the Strategy and Leadership podcast, host Anthony Taylor engages in a deep dive with Andrew Temte, exploring the intersections of education, skills development, and leadership. Offering a quick snapshot of Andrew's unique journey from high school dropout to a PhD-educated professional, this episode delves into the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in a rapidly evolving workforce landscape.
Andrew discusses the critical shift in skill demand from technical to more human-centric, emphasizing the imperative for leaders and workers alike to embrace and refine their emotional intelligence. As companies face a global reskilling challenge, bolstering human skills, which Andrew refers to as compassionate leadership, has become more vital than ever. He also sheds light on organizational responsibilities, advocating for a dynamic approach to performance reviews, which should pivot to skill mapping and strategizing learning paths for employees.
Key Takeaways:Lifelong learning and persistent curiosity are essential for thriving in the future of work.Organizations need to transition from traditional performance reviews to continuous skill evaluations tied to strategic goals.Developing human skills, or "human skill" as Andrew prefers to call them, is paramount in an AI-driven workplace.Certification and credentials remain important for career mobility, but learning on the job should be acknowledged and transferable.Balancing professional growth with personal passions, such as music, can lead to a more fulfilled and successful life.Notable Quotes:"Your failures do not define you. As long as we're learning from them and continuing to move forward.""The future of work will require much less technical training… we have to bring to the world of work but our human selves.""Once you start to coast, the world is going to plow you over.""Leaders and managers should be sitting down with their people and saying… 'Here's the gap between your current skill set and what you are going to need…'""If you're a leader…and you gave up music 15 years ago to be a leader, please pick it back up… You'll just be amazed at the doors of your mind that open up."Resources:Andrew Temte's website: andrewtemte.comBooks: "Balancing Act" and "The Balanced Business" available on Amazon and other booksellers.Band: The Remainders (no specific reference link provided)Engage with the full discussion for a treasure trove of insights on how to navigate the changing tides of work, leadership, and learning. Stay tuned for more episodes that promise to enlighten and inspire your leadership journey.

Alan Stein Jr. is an acclaimed keynote speaker, author, performance coach, and consultant with a formidable track record in working with elite NBA superstars such as Kevin Durant and Victor Oladipo. As a former basketball performance coach, Stein Jr. has pivoted his focus to the corporate realm, where he leverages his sports insights to elevate individual and organizational performance. His deep love for basketball and expertise in performance training make him a noteworthy authority in applying sports principles to business leadership and team development. He is also the author of books like "Raise Your Game" and "Sustain Your Game," which explore the parallels between athletic and business excellence.

Key Takeaways:Transformational Leadership: Embrace a leadership that focuses on what you want for people, rather than what you want from them, to enhance personal influence and impact.Core Values in Decision Making: Use your personal values as a guide to make consistent and aligned decisions that reflect your true self and bolster leadership effectiveness.Unseen Hours: Invest in habits and activities during the "unseen hours" — those moments away from the public eye — to become the best version of yourself and set the foundation for success.Youth Sports and Leadership: Alan passionately highlights the need to improve the landscape of youth sports, teaching parents and coaches to prioritize process over outcomes and constructively contribute to a child's growth.Elevate by Caring: One's dedication to genuinely caring for their work and relationships is the differentiator in achieving professional and personal success.
Notable Quotes:"Every single decision you make, you need to ask yourself and run through the filter of, is this in alignment with my personal core values or not?""As a manager, if you show up as less than your best self, mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, you give your team and the people that report to you less of a chance to be successful.""Stop badgering and berating the officials. Let the officials officiate. Just sit there and enjoy watching your child do something that they love...encourage them, support them, but don’t coach from the sideline.""I am a huge advocate of improving parental behavior and decorum on the sideline, teaching coaches how to have a better impact and influence.""The more you invest in caring about others, then the more that will be reciprocated and you'll be rewarded with some phenomenal opportunities and some incredibly fulfilling relationships."


 
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Episode Summary:In this insightful episode of the Strategy and Leadership podcast, host Anthony Taylor is joined by Shawn Mohr, the dynamic CEO of Aventus, to explore the intricate relationship between leadership, technology adoption, and organizational growth. Sean delves into the emerging space of blockchain and tokenization, offering a glimpse into how these technologies are shaping the future of business transactions and customer engagement.
The discussion pivots around the significance of cultivating a robust company culture and the importance of hiring the right talent to steer an organization towards its desired milestones. Sean underscores the necessity of looking beyond immediate operations, emphasizing a "spatial thinking" approach that balances high-level strategic planning with ground-level execution.
Key takeaways and notable quotes are woven through the conversation, revealing Sean's philosophy on revenue generation, change management, and the potential of blockchain to disrupt traditional business processes. For those curious about integrating cutting-edge technology into their strategy and staying ahead of the curve, this episode offers compelling insights and practical advice on making that leap effectively.

Key Takeaways:Embrace "spatial thinking" by balancing a 30,000-foot strategic view with detailed, 3-foot execution in business processes.Change management and talent acquisition are critical components of leading an organization through growth and transformation.Tokenization and blockchain will play significant roles in future business operations—enhancing security, efficiency, and interoperability.Companies need to adapt to evolving technologies to ensure brand loyalty, customer acquisition, and the retention of Gen Z and Gen Alpha demographics.Leaders should consider their long-term technology impacts today and plan strategically for where their industry and customer expectations are heading in the next 10 to 15 years.Notable Quotes:"The questions you typically want to ask these organizations [are]... how do you use technology to create tenx efficiency within your team itself?" - Shawn Mohr"The only constant is change... whenever every company is going through these type of changes and approaches, I'd look spatially and ask yourself the simple question..." - Shawn Mohr"Oftentimes you start with talent. Talent management is a key component to your ability to be successful." - Shawn Mohr"This [blockchain and tokenization] is significantly about brand loyalty and customer acquisition for their standpoint." - Shawn MohrResources:Aventus website: Aventus Homepage
About the Guest:Shawn Mohr is an experienced leader with over two decades of expertise in guiding businesses through strategic transformation and growth. Currently leading the helm as CEO at Aventus, Shawn has a proven track record of propelling companies from early-stage startups to scalable enterprises. His background includes work with both publicly traded companies and private organizations post-funding, where he leverages change management processes and leadership development to drive 

We invite you to listen to the full episode to gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between leadership, technological advancements, and business growth. Join us for more episodes of Strategy and Leadership, where we bring thought-provoking content to the forefront, helping today's leaders shape tomorrow's success stories. Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions.
 
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SME Strategy is a Strategy Consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. ► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

Do you run a family business? Have you ever pondered on whether you’re running a family-first business or a business-first family? It’s time we explore this question, and today’s guest is just the person to talk about it. Rob Ferguson has been a trusted advisor to family businesses since 2010. He takes his decade-plus experience and wisdom to the show to discuss how family business owners can ensure that they’re running a growing and profitable business without losing sight of the things that truly matter. Want more? Tune in!

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// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
 
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
 
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

Nothing is immutable. Every line in the P&L is adaptable, and every challenge is surmountable.
 
In this episode, we have CEO of Aimably, Claire Miligan to discuss the strengths of neurodiversity and transparency in business. She shares her perspective on a culture of openness and the power of transparency in decision-making and empowering teams. She touches on the challenges of product management, shedding light on the process of balancing short-term goals with long-term innovation. Later on, Claire starts to reveal her secrets to quantifying the ROI of product improvements and the build versus buy dilemma. Tune in now!

 Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community. https://strategy-and-leadership.mn.co/
 
channel for weeklyyoutube videos on strategy, leadership, business and management.: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog/?sub_confirmation=1
 
➡ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
 
// Connect with us:
 
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
 
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
 
// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
 
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
 
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

Customer inspired innovation is the belief that when you listen to your customers, they will guide you where you need to go. This is what our Brian Lillie, the President of Private Cloud at Rackspace, explains to us today along with his profound insights on leadership and the evolving landscape of technology. With a background spanning the US Air Force and various leadership roles, Brian emphasizes the crucial balance between customer-inspired innovation and tech push. He discusses the transformative potential of AI across industries, addressing macro trends and sustainability concerns. Brian advocates for setting high standards, fostering creativity, and creating a safe, caring environment. This episode is a compelling exploration of leadership, innovation, and the future of technology. Don’t miss out!

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WzH8e01VDx0Z5jL0X8nDV?si=YYggkMz5QBa4HoxqJETAKw

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/president-private-cloud-of-rackspace-brian-lillie-on/id1202449526?i=1000650474044
 
Want to continue the conversation with other leaders around the world? Join our Strategy and Leadership community.
 
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➡️ Looking for a sample agenda for your strategic planning offsite? https://www.smestrategy.net/blog/sample-strategic-planning-agenda
 
// Connect with us:
 
► Contact us: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact
 
► Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604
 
// About SME STRATEGY CONSULTING:
 
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations develop and implement their strategic plans. We work with teams to facilitate conversations about strategic direction and business strategy so that our clients can focus their energy on what will move them forward faster.
 
► Work with us: Are you looking for someone to facilitate your strategic planning process? https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator
 
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