Growth Igniters® Radio

Pam Harper & Scott Harper
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Growth Igniters® Radio

Join global keynote speaker, author, and business leadership advisor Pamela S. (“Pam”) Harper, Founding Partner and CEO of Business Advancement Inc., and her business partner/husband D. Scott (“Scott”) Harper, a global innovation advisor, for thought-provoking conversations with visionary leaders who are changing the face of business. Established in 2015, Growth Igniters® Radio has been named a top business podcast in 2022, 2023, and 2024 by the PopCon Podcast Awards and Thinkers 360 Thought Leaders. Each week, a new show focuses on sparking fresh insights, inspiration, and immediately useful ideas to take you and your organization to new heights of innovation, transformation, and game-changing growth in this rapidly changing world.

  1. The Power of Wishing to Reimagine Your Company’s Future

    6D AGO

    The Power of Wishing to Reimagine Your Company’s Future

    How often are you giving yourself and others permission to wish— without limits — about what’s possible for you and your company’s future?  It might sound “woo-hooey” at first, but the power of wishing is real. This can be a powerful launching pad for reimagining transformational business growth, especially in a world turned upside-down. In this Quick Take episode, we discuss how wishing can help you ignite the imagination it takes to break free from the pull of conventional thinking. You’ll hear about a major company that was founded based upon wishes and continues to use wishing to reimagine their growth. We’ll also share three immediately actionable ideas and guidelines for embracing the power of wishing to ignite even more valuable opportunities for your company’s growth. “Sometimes a particular wish is ahead of its time, but the intention behind it can expand possibilities for your company to grow” — Pam Harper This week on Growth Igniters Radio: * How bold wishing can help you and your team break free from conventional thinking and ignite even more opportunities for transformational growth * Engaging yourself and others in the power of wishing for reimagining your company’s future * The role that wishing has played in  the founding and game-changing growth of a major company * Three immediately actionable ideas and guidelines for using the power of wishing to ignite even more valuable opportunities for growth Related Resources: * Listen to our conversation about the power of reaching out for broader perspectives: “Burst Decision-Making Bubbles to Accelerate Growth“ * Learn more about Pam’s keynote address at Pam Harper Speaks Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Growth Igniters Radio. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Join us on Facebook and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website

    10 min
  2. Top Leadership’s Role in Unlocking the Promise of Innovation – with Robyn Bolton

    MAR 5

    Top Leadership’s Role in Unlocking the Promise of Innovation – with Robyn Bolton

    Did you know that according to multiple studies, over 80% of top leaders in established companies rank innovation among their top three areas of focus? Yet, around 60% of innovation efforts fall short of expectations or never launch. The good news is that around 40% of innovation efforts do succeed. What makes the biggest difference in unlocking the promise of innovation?  In our experience, it’s top leadership. In this week’s episode, we have a conversation about this challenge with our returning guest, Robyn Bolton. She’s the founder and chief navigator at Mile Zero.  Her consultancy helps leaders of $100 million and larger companies use innovation to confidently and repeatedly grow revenue. Robyn is also the author of the brand-new book, “Unlocking Innovation: A Leader’s Guide for Turning Bold Ideas into Tangible Results,” published in January 2025. Robyn previously worked at Innosight, Boston Consulting Group, and Procter & Gamble, where she helped develop and launch the Swiffer® product. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Marketing from Miami University. Her articles and perspectives have been featured in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review Online,  The New York Times, and NPR’s Marketplace. The leadership style and skills that work when you’re running an existing business are pretty much the opposite of the skill, behaviors and mindset you need to succeed in innovation. | Robyn Bolton This week on Growth Igniters® Radio: * Robyn’s perspectives on why CEOs  and other top leaders need to be strongly engaged in shaping the architecture, behaviors, and culture that nurtures successful innovation * The most important leadership factor that determines whether or not innovation initiatives achieve their full  promise * A brief story of a top leadership team that was able to  unlock the full promise of an innovation by establishing “metrics that matter.” * Immediately useful ideas for top leaders to unlock the promise of innovation Resources for This Episode * Read more about Robyn Bolton and MileZero and connect with her on LinkedIn * Read about and download the first chapter of Robyn’s book, “Unlocking Innovation: A Leader’s Guide for Turning Bold Ideas into Tangible Results” * Take Robyn’s complimentary self-assessment: “How Strong are Your Innovation ABCs?“ * Visit PamHarperSpeaks.com to find out more about her new keynote “Break Orbit: Leading for Long-Term Growth in a Short-Term World” Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success Thanks for listening to Growth Igniters® Radio. If you enjoyed this episode, spread the good word! Just leave a quick review wherever you get your podcasts and share on LinkedIn or Facebook. a href="https://open.

    34 min
  3. Lead From Consensus to Commitment for Transformational Growth

    FEB 26

    Lead From Consensus to Commitment for Transformational Growth

    Like many of you, we’re seeing that leadership teams across industries are increasingly focused on transformational growth. Maybe you’ve decided to enter an emerging market. Maybe you’re using AI to offer new services to customers, and so on. It’s common to believe that the consensus of employees and other stakeholders is enough to achieve a successful transformation.  However, consensus can fall off during unexpected challenges, and this can have a major impact on outcomes. That’s why in this week’s Quick Take episode,  Scott and I discuss what you can do to lead from consensus to commitment for transformational growth. During our conversation, we address the question, “If so many leaders know that commitment is important, why is settling for consensus the norm?”  We share quick stories where leading from consensus to commitment had significant top and bottom-line impacts. We also discuss three immediately useful ideas for fostering an environment that can help people discover their own reasons to wholeheartedly commit to a bold transformational vision and do what it takes to bring it to life. “The greater the level of commitment, the greater the ability of everyone to overcome the inevitable challenges and unexpected opportunities that can emerge during transformation” — Pam Harper This week on Growth Igniters Radio: * How the level of employee and other stakeholders’ commitment can impact bringing transformational visions to life * The distinction between consensus and commitment – and why it matters * Quick stories of how leading from consensus to commitment had significant top and bottom-line impacts * Three actionable ideas for fostering an environment that enables people to discover their own reasons for committing to a bold transformational vision Resources Mentioned: * How many of your “Conventional” & “Unconventional” Stakeholders do you know? Download Pam Harper & Scott Harper’s Expanding Your Company’s Stakeholder Perspectives Checklist * Listen to our conversation with Dina Denham Smith, “Mastering Leadership in the “Emotionally Charged” Workplace“ * Request a copy of Dina’s “emotions wheel” emotional inventory * Learn more about Pam’s keynote address at Pam Harper Speaks Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Growth Igniters Radio. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Growth-Igniters-Radio-Podcast/B08K5756MQ" target="_blank" re...

    13 min
  4. Mastering Leadership in the “Emotionally Charged” Workplace

    FEB 19

    Mastering Leadership in the “Emotionally Charged” Workplace

    In the face of an unrelenting torrent of unexpected and unprecedented changes in the business environment, it’s natural for people to have emotions that impact their work. While it can be tempting to push down emotions as mere “distractions” and just focus on  “the real work,” research shows there can be a real top and bottom line value to mastering leadership in today’s “emotionally charged” workplace. This week, we discuss this challenge with Dina Denham Smith, an executive coach and Owner of Cognitas Coaching & Consulting. She is the lead author of the brand new book Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work (Oxford Press, February 2025). Dina is a seasoned leader and executive coach with a 25-year proven track record in helping people and teams excel. Dina’s clients include senior leaders and teams at premier brands such as Adobe, PwC, Gilead, Gap, Sephora, Goldman Sachs, Google, and Netflix; high-growth companies like Dropbox, DocuSign, and Stripe; and PE-backed start-ups, that are shaping the world. Dina has written over 60 articles on leadership and career success for The Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and other major media outlets. She has also frequently been featured in various global outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and others. Emotions are data. When you ignore them, you can miss out on information that can improve your performance. — Dina Denham Smith This week on Growth Igniters Radio: * Dina’s insights on the critical importance to leadership of recognizing and embracing what she calls “emotional labor” * The negative impacts of ignoring and avoiding emotional labor in today’s workplace, versus the strategic value of mindfully working with your and others’ emotions in the workplace * Examples of leaders’ emotional labor in everyday and high-crisis settings * Three immediately useful ideas for fostering more effective leadership in the emotionally charged workplace Resources for This Episode: * Find out more about Dina Denham Smith and connect with her on “LinkedIn“ * Read about Dina’s new book, “Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work“ * Request a copy of Dina’s “emotions wheel” emotional inventory * Find out more about Pam’s keynote “Break Orbit: Achieving Long-Term Growth in a Short-Term World” Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success Thanks for listening to Growth Igniters® Radio. If you enjoyed this episode, spread the good word! Just leave a quick review wherever you get your podcasts and share on LinkedIn or Facebook. a href="https:...

    39 min
  5. The Surprising Truth About Transformational Leaders – with Dr. Gloria Burgess

    FEB 12

    The Surprising Truth About Transformational Leaders – with Dr. Gloria Burgess

    What does it mean to you to be a “transformational leader”?  This is not just a philosophical question.  In the face of unprecedented complexity and uncertainty, it’s time to consider a surprising truth about transformational leaders that can profoundly impact both your top and bottom line decisions, actions and outcomes. That’s why we’re revisiting our Fan-Favorite conversation on this issue with Dr. Gloria Burgess, CEO of Jazz Inc. Executive Director of Maxwell Leadership, and Founder and the Executive Director of the Lift Every Voice Foundation. Gloria is also a compelling keynote and TEDx speaker who inspires and equips leaders to integrate the arts with leadership. She enjoys being a trusted advisor of Fortune 50 companies, small businesses, NGOs, and nations. Her clients include Microsoft, Boeing, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the South African Embassy, and Panama’s office of the President. Gloria’s books include Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside and Pass It On. Every single person has the ability to be transformative and to be a leader. — Dr. Gloria Burgess This week on Growth Igniters Radio: * How Gloria’s philosophy of “wearing your soul on the outside“ has evolved over time * Gloria’s perspective on the surprising truth about being a transformational leader in a changing world * A story from Gloria’s experience illustrating the artistry of transformational leadership in a major corporation * Three immediately useful ideas for fostering transformational  leadership Resources for This Episode: * Find out more about Dr. Gloria Burgess and connect with her on “LinkedIn“ * Read about Gloria’s award-winning book, Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside: Live Your Legacy Now” * Learn about Gloria’s “Pass It On! Book Project“ * Download PDF: “Gloria Burgess’ Thoughts on Transformational Leadership“ * Find out more about Pam’s keynote “Break Orbit: Achieving Long-Term Growth in a Short-Term World” Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success Thanks for listening to Growth Igniters® Radio. If you enjoyed this episode, spread the good word! Just leave a quick review wherever you get your podcasts and share on LinkedIn or Facebook. /a...

    39 min
  6. Turn Crisis Into a Springboard For Growth – With Luis Velasquez, MBA / PhD

    FEB 5

    Turn Crisis Into a Springboard For Growth – With Luis Velasquez, MBA / PhD

    One of the toughest tests of leadership—both for yourself and others—is rising above an unprecedented crisis. How can you go beyond mere survival and turn crisis into a springboard for extraordinary growth? This week, we revisit our fan-favorite conversation about this question with Luis Velasquez, MBA /PhD, Founder and Managing Partner of Velas Coaching LLC. He shares his deeply personal story of how he was able to draw upon what he calls “ordinary resilience” to literally reinvent his life and career as the result of a brain tumor. Today, Luis is an executive coach to leaders worldwide to turn challenges into opportunities. He’s also a speaker and author of the award-winning book, “Ordinary Resilience: Rethinking How Effective Leaders Adapt and Thrive,” published in June 2024. Luis’s strategic thinking is regularly featured in Harvard Business Review and Fast Company. He’s also spotlighted in Dorie Clark’s bestseller book “The Long Game.”  In addition to his professional accomplishments, Luis is  an ultra-marathon runner and an Ironman Triathlete. How are you going to use what is happening now so you can come back on the other side in a much better way? — Luis Velasquez This week on Growth Igniters Radio: * Why Luis says a major crisis can become “the best thing that ever happens to you” * A story about how Luis’ brain tumor led him into a whole new life he’d never have imagined otherwise * The mindset it takes to tap into the power of what Luis calls “ordinary resilience” * Three immediately useful ideas for building ordinary resilience to survive & thrive in the face of a crisis Resources for This Episode: * Learn more about Luis Velasquez and connect with him on LinkedIn * Read Luis’ award-winning book, Ordinary Resilience: Rethinking How Effective Leaders Adapt and Thrive * Download the first chapter of “Ordinary Resilience” * Find out more about Pam’s keynote “Break Orbit: Achieving Long-Term Growth in a Short-Term World” Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success Thanks for listening to Growth Igniters® Radio. If you enjoyed this episode, spread the good word! Just leave a quick review wherever you get your podcasts and share on LinkedIn or Facebook. Join us on Facebook and a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-advancement-inc.

    30 min
  7. Leadership and AI – Maximizing Potential and Minimizing Risks

    JAN 29

    Leadership and AI – Maximizing Potential and Minimizing Risks

    These days, AI technology is ubiquitous. Since 2023, we’ve seen that conversations about leadership and AI have evolved from “Should we use AI?” to “What is the best way to leverage AI to maximize potential while minimizing risks? While it’s natural to consider this as a technology question, in reality, it’s a leadership question. In this week’s Quick Take episode, Scott and I discuss how top leadership can successfully leverage AI’s full potential while minimizing the risks.  This includes considering not only the strategic potential of AI but also the potential cultural impacts of  what we call “AI Transformation.” Gaining employee and other stakeholder perspectives about these often emotional issues, especially before making technology decisions, can make a critical difference in your decision about the most strategic way to apply AI to create new value.  When people are enthusiastically committed to the AI transformation for their own reasons (rather than merely consenting to change), the more likely it is that they’ll work to overcome any challenges that come up along the way so your company can realize the full value of AI. The more aware you are of the leadership issues of business transformation, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to reach the full value of AI for your company. – Pam Harper This week on Growth Igniters Radio: * Why successfully leveraging AI is as much a leadership challenge as a technological one * The key challenges top leaders face when considering how to best use AI in their companies * Three actionable ideas for increasing the success of maximizing the potential of AI while minimizing the risks Resources Mentioned: * How many of your “Conventional” & “Unconventional” Stakeholders do you know? Download Pam Harper & Scott Harper’s Expanding Your Company’s Stakeholder Perspectives Checklist * Learn more about Pam’s keynote address at Pam Harper Speaks Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Growth Igniters Radio. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Join us on Facebook and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website

    11 min
  8. A CEO’s View: Leveraging Capitalism to Change Our World – With Ben Erwin

    JAN 22

    A CEO’s View: Leveraging Capitalism to Change Our World – With Ben Erwin

    Find out how one CEO has led his organization to break the status quo and create transformational value in their industry. Join us for our eye-opening conversation with Ben Erwin, CEO of CharityBuzz. He shares his passion and bold vision of leveraging capitalism to change our world and create a positive social impact. We also discuss the innovative leadership it takes to engage employees, partners, and other stakeholders to bring this game-changing vision to life and continue to grow the company. CharityBuzz is an organization that helps non-profits improve their digital fundraising strategies to reach more donors and generate more unrestricted funds for their missions of positive social impact.  Since joining the company in 2008, Ben has spearheaded efforts to develop a unique business model for charitable fundraising that has generated over $500 million in incremental funds for over 5,000 charities. As CEO, he’s led the company to achieve a 2.5x increase in revenue while successfully transforming it into a profitable enterprise. Drawing on his proven track record of building and scaling profitable businesses, Ben shares the story of what led him to apply his talents to leading CharityBuzz and becoming their CEO. We discuss the difference between the CharityBuzz model and Cause Marketing. Ben also shares what is most important for the business community to know about CharityBuzz and leveraging capitalism as a vehicle for good. Let’s stop thinking of “capitalism” as a bad word, especially when it comes to philanthropy, and start leveraging it to ensure positive outcomes happen sooner. | Ben Erwin This week on Growth Igniters® Radio, we discuss: * What led Ben to apply his proven track record of building and scaling profitable businesses to leading CharityBuzz * A story describing the difference between the CharityBuzz model of leveraging capitalism for social good and Cause Marketing * What is most important for the business community to know about CharityBuzz and leveraging capitalism as a vehicle for good * Immediately useful ideas for leading to leverage capitalism to change our world and create positive social impact Resources for This Episode * Read more about Ben Erwin and connect with him on LinkedIn * Explore unique auctions to benefit a host of world-changing causes at CharityBuzz * Visit PamHarperSpeaks.com to find out more about her new keynote “Break Orbit: Leading for Long-Term Growth in a Short-Term World” Accelerate to YOUR Next Level of Success Thanks for listening to Growth Igniters® Radio. If you enjoyed this episode, spread the good word! Just leave a quick review wherever you get your podcasts and share on LinkedIn or Facebook. a href="https://www.audible.

    38 min
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5
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About

Join global keynote speaker, author, and business leadership advisor Pamela S. (“Pam”) Harper, Founding Partner and CEO of Business Advancement Inc., and her business partner/husband D. Scott (“Scott”) Harper, a global innovation advisor, for thought-provoking conversations with visionary leaders who are changing the face of business. Established in 2015, Growth Igniters® Radio has been named a top business podcast in 2022, 2023, and 2024 by the PopCon Podcast Awards and Thinkers 360 Thought Leaders. Each week, a new show focuses on sparking fresh insights, inspiration, and immediately useful ideas to take you and your organization to new heights of innovation, transformation, and game-changing growth in this rapidly changing world.

Information

  • Creator
    Pam Harper & Scott Harper
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2025
  • Episodes
    351
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 All Rights Reserved Business Advancement Inc. and Growth Igniters® Radio
  • Show Website
    Growth Igniters® Radio

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