Aon at The Top: Interviewing Executives on their Paths to the C-Suite and Boardroom

Nicole Elizabeth Ward
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Welcome to Aon at The Top, where I have the honor of interviewing some of the most distinguished executives, c-suite and board members about their journeys and paths to success. I’m your host, Nicole Ward, the Senior Vice President of Sales at Aon. In this series, we draw out meaningful insights and candid perspectives on navigating to the top. At Aon we help you make better business decisions by turning risk into resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. From Tragedy to Triumph: Scaling Companies and Leading Boards with Yvonne Wassenaar

    4일 전

    From Tragedy to Triumph: Scaling Companies and Leading Boards with Yvonne Wassenaar

    In this episode of Aon at the Top, I sit down with Yvonne Wassenaar, accomplished board director and former CEO, to explore her remarkable journey from Accenture partner to leading technology companies through transformation. We dive into the three distinct phases of her career, the personal tragedy that reshaped her life at 36, and the critical leadership lessons she learned about vulnerability, honesty, and making calculated risks. Yvonne shares candidly about how executive coaching evolved into therapy, helping her become a more grounded leader who now guides some of tech's most prominent companies. Timestamps: 3:22 - The three phases of career growth: being pulled up, pushed out, and embracing risk 4:36 - You get promoted because you make people above you successful 8:03 - Being pushed to get startup experience before 50 9:51 - The ski jump analogy 12:33 - Resilience is fighting through hard times for something that matters 19:23 - None of us really know what we're capable of until the time calls upon us 25:02 - During uncertainty, we make the hardest decisions 27:43 - Leading through chaos 30:05 - The rise of independent directors in private companies 32:02 - The difference between being an operator vs. a strategic advisor on boards 40:41 - Separate your emotion from someone's intentionality to get further in life 43:00 - Making hard CEO decisions: when to break teams out to innovate faster 58:22 - The power of many small decisions Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnewassenaar/ About Yvonne Wassenaar: Yvonne Wassenaar is an accomplished CEO-level executive and board director known for her extensive experience in scaling and transforming technology companies. Her career spans diverse environments from startups to Fortune 500 corporations, with a focus on helping leaders navigate digital transformation and global expansion. Yvonne currently serves on the boards of Arista Networks, Forrester Research, JFrog, Rubrik, Braze, Infoblox, and Alation, as well as the Easton Technology Management Center at UCLA. She also serves as a senior advisor to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Connect with Nicole: Stay connected with Nicole Ward for more insights on leadership, sales excellence, and executive success strategies. Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleward111/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1시간 3분
  2. Inside the Moonshot Factory: Leadership Lessons from Google X COO Helen Riley

    10월 24일

    Inside the Moonshot Factory: Leadership Lessons from Google X COO Helen Riley

    In this episode of Aon at the Top, I sit down with Helen Riley, COO and CFO at Google X (the moonshot factory), to explore her unconventional journey from studying philosophy at Oxford to leading one of the world's most ambitious innovation engines. We dive into how disciplined financial rigor enables radical experimentation, why most moonshots fail (and why that's the point), and the leadership lessons she learned from terrible feedback early in her Google career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54분
  3. Elias Nader: Leading with Intention at the Top

    10월 17일

    Elias Nader: Leading with Intention at the Top

    In this episode of Aon at the Top, host Nicole Ward sits down with Elias Nader to dig into what it truly means to lead from a place of purpose, resilience, and vision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48분
  4. A Woman's Path to Institutional Leadership with Dana Hollinger

    9월 10일

    A Woman's Path to Institutional Leadership with Dana Hollinger

    In this episode of Aon at the Top, I sit down with Dana Hollinger, board member at Apollo Private Markets and former CalPERS trustee, to explore her remarkable journey from working in her father's optometry practice to overseeing $500+ billion in pension assets. We dive into the early experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy, the mentorship that transformed her thinking about value creation, and how she navigated the complex world of institutional governance and risk management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44분

  5. 8월 27일

    Leading with Empathy, Data and Purpose: A Conversation with Carolyn Herzog

    Carolyn Herzog joins us on AON at the Top to explore her inspiring journey—from leading nonprofit initiatives to redefining business impact through data-driven strategies and inclusive leadership. In this episode, Carolyn shares how she harnessed analytics to transform organizational culture, scale social impact, and unify diverse teams around bold missions. Along the way, we dive into her “three pillars” of sustainable leadership, practical tips for emerging leaders, and the role empathy plays in driving innovation. Whether you’re a corporate executive, founder, or changemaker, Carolyn’s insights will leave you motivated to lead with integrity and purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50분
  6. Dave Chun: From Immigrant to CEO

    8월 13일

    Dave Chun: From Immigrant to CEO

    In this episode of Aon at the Top, I sit down with Dave Chun, co-founder and CEO of Equilar, to explore his remarkable journey from Korean immigrant to pioneering entrepreneur in executive intelligence. We dive into how early experiences with discrimination built his resilience, the story behind founding Equilar during the dot-com crash, and his company's evolution from SEC data mining to becoming the trusted source for Fortune 500 executive compensation and governance insights. Dave shares candid lessons about entrepreneurial grit, the importance of CEO peer networks, and how Equilar's latest AI innovations are revolutionizing corporate governance research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49분

  7. 8월 1일

    From Counsel to C-Suite: Arthi Chakravarthy on Leading with Integrity and Impact

    In this episode of Aon at the Top, I sit down with Arthi Chakravarthy, EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary at Enovix, to explore her unique journey from private practice to the executive suite. Arthi shares the pivotal moments that shaped her career, what it means to lead with authenticity and courage in high-stakes environments, and how her background in law informs her approach to business and governance today. We also dive into the evolving role of corporate legal teams, boardroom dynamics, and her commitment to mentorship and inclusion in the tech space. Whether you’re navigating leadership in a regulated industry or forging your own path to the C-suite, Arthi’s insights are a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34분

  8. 7월 22일

    Doing Good & Doing Well | Laurel Mintz

    In this episode of Aon at the Top, Nicole Ward sits down with powerhouse CEO and venture capitalist Laurel Mintz, founder of Elevate My Brand and General Partner at Fabric VC. Together, they explore her unconventional journey from aspiring lawyer to agency founder, the pivotal moment when she had to completely rebuild her team culture, and her transition into venture capital. From navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship to her mission of reallocating capital to diverse founders, Laurel shares candid insights on leadership evolution, the importance of transparent money conversations, and why she believes this is the venture vintage to end all vintages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46분
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Welcome to Aon at The Top, where I have the honor of interviewing some of the most distinguished executives, c-suite and board members about their journeys and paths to success. I’m your host, Nicole Ward, the Senior Vice President of Sales at Aon. In this series, we draw out meaningful insights and candid perspectives on navigating to the top. At Aon we help you make better business decisions by turning risk into resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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