THE JUNGLE WMU Leadership Center

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Jim Eckert - the Robert S. Kaiser Professor of Sales at WMU Haworth College of Business - and Cooper Frost - a Strategic Account Manager at Western Digital. Dr. Eckert joined Western’s business college over 22 years ago and transformed the undergraduate Sales and Marketing program into a nationally recognized and awarded program. Frost was a trail-blazing WMU student majoring in Leadership and Business Strategy & Sales and Business Marketing. He is also former president of SBMA - the Sales and Business Marketing Association. Frost now is a Top-50 seller at Western Digital, a recipient of Young Professional of the Year, and community volunteer in addition to his myriad other pursuits. The conversation touches on the extraordinary undergraduate programs at WMU Haworth, what differentiates the LBS and Sales programs, and how students can transform into top-performing industry professionals.


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Recorded on October 11, 2022

This episode features a conversation with Doug DeVos – Current Co-Chair and Former President of Amway. A globally recognized business and civic leader, Doug currently serves as co-chair of Amway, the world’s largest direct selling company with more than $8 billion in revenue. Doug is well known for his entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and civic engagement nationally and in West Michigan. Doug recently launched his podcast Believe! to inspire, educate, and share beliefs to help America’s future for the better. We talk with Doug about his motivating purpose and principles, entrepreneurship, and the future of West Michigan.

This episode features a conversation with Tom Garrett and Justin Murray – Executives in Residence at Sleeping Giant Capital. Tom and Justin recently joined Sleeping Giant Capital to search for, acquire, and grow a business in Michigan. Tom Garrett joins Sleeping Giant Capital with 25 years of corporate management experience. Previously he was President of Total Plastics, Inc. Justin Murray joins Sleeping Giant Capital with 14 years of management experience for Fortune 500 companies. Previously, he worked at Stryker where he most managed M&A activities for Stryker’s largest business unit. Tom and Justin share their motivations, learnings, and advice for professionals interested in becoming an owner-operator.



Recorded on March 24, 2022

This episode features a conversation with Bill Manns, CEO of Bronson Healthcare and Paula Termuhlen, Dean of WMU Homer Stryker School of Medicine. In this episode, Bill and Paula share how they are navigating the pandemic, the future of healthcare, and lessons for healthcare leaders.

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Doug Lepisto and Dr. Derrick McIver – Co-Directors of the Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy at the WMU Haworth College of Business. In this episode, Doug and Derrick discuss the opportunity to acquire a business, the myths surrounding small businesses and acquisition, and how executives can learn to buy businesses through a training course they offer called Acquire.

This episode features a conversation with Jeb Burns, the Chief Investment Officer for the Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan. Jeb is a valued WMU Alum who graduated with a degree in history and political science. Jeb’s manages one of the largest funds in the state of Michigan. He speaks on his path from history major to CIO, the ever changing landscape of financial investments, and the value of teamwork within a successful investment firm.