Take The Hill - A Leadership Podcast

Purposeful Leadership

Illuminating the Human Experience of Leadership.

  1. 1d ago

    The World Cup, Systems Thinking, and Why Success Is Never an Accident

    In this episode of This Might Be on the Test, we explore how nations function as complex systems and why success on the world stage is rarely the result of individual talent alone. Using the World Cup as our backdrop, we'll examine how culture, leadership, education, economics, infrastructure, and national priorities work together to shape outcomes over time. Whether you're leading a business, nonprofit, government agency, or global team, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how interconnected systems influence success and what leaders can learn from countries competing on the world's biggest stage.

    14 min

  2. Jun 1

    Communication & Sensemaking in Organizations

    In this episode of This Might Be On The Test, we explore communication and information systems through the lens of organizational systems thinking. We'll explore how information flows through formal and informal networks, why communication breakdowns are often failures of meaning rather than language, and how leaders can create environments that foster transparency, learning, and adaptability.

    17 min

  3. May 25

    Organizational Systems: Culture, Values, and the Invisible System

    What really drives behavior inside organizations? In this episode of Will This Be on the Test, we'll explores organizational culture as the invisible operating system that shapes decision-making, communication, leadership, and change. Through stories from aviation and contemporary business examples such as Southwest Airlines, Netflix, and Pixar, you'll discover why culture often determines whether strategy succeeds or fails, and how leaders shape culture through what they model, reward, and tolerate.

    20 min

  4. May 19

    Organizational Systems: Structure & Design

    Why do some organizations thrive while others struggle to adapt? In this episode, we explore how organizational structure shapes communication, decision-making, innovation, and performance. From traditional hierarchies to agile networks, we examine why there is no perfect organizational design, only structures that fit (or misfit) their environment, strategy, and culture.

    17 min

  5. 06/30/2025

    Educating with Purpose featuring Gregg Behr

    What happens when a leader believes that curiosity is not just a trait, but a responsibility? Gregg Behr, CEO of The Grable Foundation, has spent his life channeling the quiet wisdom of Fred Rogers into bold action for the children of Pittsburgh. In a city built on steel and reinvention, Gregg reminds us that the strongest foundations are those rooted in kindness, imagination, and the courage to ask, 'What if?'

    31 min

  6. 05/22/2025

    EP37: Leading Through Uncertainty with Dr. Mitchel Nickols

    I sit down with Dr. Mitchel Nickols for a powerful conversation on leadership in divided times. In a world wrestling with division and fading trust, Dr. Nickols illuminates leadership traits we need now more than ever to build confidence within our teams and organizations and shares practical advice on how to amplify these characteristics within the next generation of emerging leaders. 00:00  Welcome to Episode 37 01:00  Leaders Need to Be Risk Takers 05:00  Integrity and the impact of Rationalizing Decisions 06:30  What is your Northern Star? 08:30  The importance of Vision and Mission Statements 10:40  Perception Checking and Unconscious Bias 12:25 Patience, Young Grasshopper! 13:40 Dr. Nickols – Reflects upon developing his foundation of Leadership 15:50   The role of Human Centered Leadership 18:50   Dr. Nickols – Pivotal Moment 21:00   Closing Credits

    21 min

  7. 06/01/2023

    036: Life among Entertainment Legends featuring Ed Traversari

    With more than 46 years of live entertainment expertise, Ed Traversari has been a part of the entertainment scene in Western PA and beyond. He has worked for Pittsburgh concert promoters company DiCesare Engler Productions as a production manager, talent booker, director of marketing and general manager of the Chevrolet Amphitheatre at Station Square. DiCesare Engler produced concerts at the Stanley Theatre (which they later sold to the Cultural District to become The Benedum Center), the Syria Mosque, AJ Palumbo Center, Mellon Arena, Heinz Field, PNC Park and Chevrolet Amphitheatre at Station Square, among others.  In addition to teaching, Traversari consults for a number of clients including Heinz Hall, Seven Springs Resort, The Pittsburgh Irish Festival, PBS Television Concert Series and Carnegie Science Center. He also helped produce The Joe Grushecky/Bruce Springsteen shows at Soldiers and Sailors Hall and The Bob Marley Celebration at The Benedum Center. 00:00  Welcome to Episode 36 00:25  Updates with Dennis, Angelo and Patrick 03:00  Introducing Ed Traversari 04:40  From Drummer to exploring the business of entertainment 07:00  The Guess Who and the Student Activities Committee 11:00   Bookings, Agents, and first concerts 14:00   Wanted:  Runner @ DiCesare Engler 18:50   Air America, Jeff Beck, Jefferson Airplane and a Rolls Royce 22:00  Stanley Theater, Syria Mosque, IC Light Amphitheater, Star Lake Amphitheater 27:50  What should students be doing today to gain entry into the industry? 28:45  Marketing, Accounting, Booking, General Manager to College Professor 39:55  The synergy between passion, perseverance and pursuit of a Career 44:00  The Irony of SlipKnot 46:00  Agents, Settlers, Managers, and Promoters 49:20  Settling a Show 52:30  Show Plaques and a unique Trophy for Bon Jovi 58:00  In terms of your career, is following your passion and taking calculated risks still applicable today? 01:01:00  Nazareth, Stanley Theater and feet dangling from a Chandelier 01:04:30  Rapid Fire Questions for Ed                  #1  Favorite Artists to Work With?                  #2  One Artist you could bring back for a Day                  #3  Favorite Vocalist 01:21:00  Frankie Valli still singing at 89 years of age! 01:22:30  Reflection and Final Thoughts from Ed Traversari 01:25:30  Check out Good Karma on Facebook to see Ed and his band Perform !! 01:27:25  Final Thoughts from Angelo, Dennis and Patrick 01:31:30  Photos with Artists over the years! 01:31:40  Closing Credits

    1h 32m

  8. 05/19/2023

    035: Emerging Influencers within a MultiPolar World featuring Steve Adelkoff

    Steve Adelkoff joins us to explore global events shaping our economies, regional conflict, currency valuation, Anti-Fragile systems, and so much more. This episode will begin to provide some insight as well as pose questions worth pondering given the amount of historic change happening around us daily. 00:00 Welcome to Episode #35 00:15 Point Park University Graduation 00:30 Check out Steve in Episodes #9 and #25 04:30 Update with Angelo and Patrick 06:45 Welcome back Steve Adelkoff 09:40 The Big Players and a Confluence of Events 16:35 The Impact of Global Influence 24:00 Shortening Supply Chains impact upon global Relationships 37:00 AntiFragile Systems and Free Markets 48:00 Do these global events really impact everyday lives? 55:00 Are Nations simply imposing their will as opposed to supporting expression of cultural norms and values? 58:00. How does the conflict in Ukraine get resolved? 1:05:00 Has trust finally been destroyed between nation states? 1:08:40 Will the U.S. Dollar ever be replaced as the Reserve Currency? 1:13:05 Is the U.S. shifting away from an extended period of stability? 1:15:00. Steve’s Final Thoughts: The Promise of Sanctions! 1:16:15 Final Thoughts with Angelo and Patrick 1:18:40 Closing Theme

    1h 19m
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Illuminating the Human Experience of Leadership.

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