You, Me, and Your Top Three Gregg Garrett

Bruce Smith, majority shareholder, Chairman, and CEO of Detroit Manufacturing Systems, joins host Gregg Garrett to discuss how the connected world rewards speed and flexibility. Bruce shares his “Top 3”: Ben Meachem, who blends an understanding of people and clarity of problems to lead; Kristy McDonald, who understands the dynamics between leaders; Scott Cieslak, who can receive feedback and truly become better from it, and his wife, Michelle, who specializes in pulling thorns. And you have to hear about how he draws big circles to include others and how he suggests leaders must balance the 4P Accounts.
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SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
During this episode:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:24) Importance of speed and seamlessness
(07:09) Meet Bruce
The “Top Three”:
(10:51) Ben Meachem: blends an understanding of people and clarity of problems to lead
(18:33) Kristy McDonald: understands the dynamics between leaders
(31:56) Scott Cieslak: can receive feedback and truly become better from it
(40:37) Bruce’s wife, Michelle: specializes in pulling thorns
Other Points of Interest:
(42:54) What does DMS do?
(50:13) An agile approach
You Have to Hear This:
(53:58) Draw big circles to include others, and the 4P Accounts
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LINKS AND RESOURCES
Bruce Smith: LinkedIn | Email
Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS): DMS Website | DMS LinkedIn | DMS Facebook | DMS Instagram
Gregg Garrett: LinkedIn | Twitter | About
CGS Advisors: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter

April Clobes, CEO of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, joins host Gregg Garrett to discuss the need for top leaders of firms to better understand the basics of technology in order to properly define strategies and transform companies. April shares her Top 3: Pat McPharlin, who demonstrated a relentless drive and employee focus; Mark Zook, who exemplifies credit union collaboration; and April’s MSUFCU Team, who bring courage and new understanding. And you have to hear about how she treats every day like a job interview.
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SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
During this episode:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:08) Is every company a technology company?
(05:32) Meet April
The “Top Three”:
(12:05) Patrick McPharlin: demonstrated a relentless drive and employee focus
(19:13) Mark Zook: exemplifies credit union collaboration
(26:59) April’s MSUFCU Team: bring courage and new understanding
Other Points of Interest:
(33:58) Data and AI in the industry
(40:24) MSUFCU fast facts
You Have to Hear This:
(42:32) Treat every day as a job interview
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LINKS AND RESOURCES
Contact April Clobes: LinkedIn | MSUFCU Website | Reseda Group Website
Contact Gregg Garrett: LinkedIn | Twitter | About
Contact CGS Advisors: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter

SMALL WORDS TO MOONSHOTS | Ben Lamm, a multi-time founder who is currently working on bringing back the woolly mammoth, joins host Gregg Garrett to discuss how small words can lead to HUGE ideas. Of course, Ben shares his Top 3 or 4: Thomas Tull, who reminds him to just keep going; John McKinley, who taught him how to live servant leadership; Richard Garriott, who has stoked his passion to explore; and his grandmother, who has taught him that he can do anything. And you have to hear what he has to say about picking a principle and not allowing anything to budge you from it. 
About Ben Lamm
 
 
Ben Lamm is the co-founder and CEO of Colossal. Ben is a serial technology entrepreneur driven to solve the most complex challenges facing our planet. For over a decade, Ben has built disruptive businesses that future-proof our world. In addition to leading and growing his own companies, he is passionate about emerging technology, science, space and climate change. Active in angel investing, incubators and startup communities, Ben invests in software and emerging tech, and is deeply engaged in the technology, defense and climate change communities.
Prior to Colossal, Ben served as the founder and CEO to a number of companies, including Hypergiant, an enterprise AI software company focused on critical infrastructures, space, and defense; Conversable, the leading conversational intelligence platform that helps brands reach customers through automated experiences acquired by LivePerson; and Chaotic Moon, a global creative technology powerhouse acquired by Accenture. Ben was also the co-founder of Team Chaos, a consumer gaming company acquired by Zynga.
Ben is a fellow of the Explorer’s Club, whose mission is to promote the scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and education in the physical, natural and biological sciences. He also serves as a Scientific Advisory Board member on the Planetary Society and sits on the Advisory Board for the Arch Mission. Ben has appeared as a thought leader in many publications, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Wired, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and Newsweek on topics such as innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
During this episode: 
Introduction [0:00]
Small words, big impact [0:52]
Introduction to Ben [3:03]
Colossal, de-extinction,and technology [4:24]
The “Top Three”
Thomas Tull: reminds him to just keep going [06:59]
John McKinley: taught him how to live servant leadership [19:38]
Richard Garriott: stoked his passion to explore [29:29]
Ben’s grandmother: taught him that he can do anything [38:17]
Other Points of Interest:
Encouraging moonshots [44:09]
Transparency in industry [48:35]
You have to hear this…
Pick a principle and don’t budge [49:02]
 
 

DRIVING UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS | Andrew Stuart, President and CEO of TD Auto Finance, joins host Gregg Garrett to discuss the need to get uncomfortable in order to have breakthrough moments. Of course, Andrew shares his Top 3 (well, 4): Sandra Moncrief, his wife, who helps him learn to interpret emotions; Marc Womack, who taught him the power of uncomfortable conversations; Peter Cummings, a worldly leader who has shown him the power of outside perspectives; and Allan Ferguson, a collegiate friend who helps him celebrate practicality. And you have to hear what he has to say about creating an environment to drive intellectual curiosity. 
About Andrew Stuart
 
Andrew Stuart is the President & CEO of TD Auto Finance. In this role, he is responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the indirect retail and commercial auto finance business in the U.S. 
 
Andrew joined TD in 2014 and spent six years serving as President and CEO of TD Auto Finance before accepting a role in Corporate Transformation and Operations with TD Bank Group, where he served as Head of Corporate Operations. He was responsible for operational excellence and transformational change across Corporate Operations and focused on driving efficiencies across the Corporate functions.
 
During his previous tenure with TD Auto Finance, Stuart led the development and execution of the indirect auto financing strategy. He grew the portfolio from $16 billion to $24 billion while reimagining the way the business operated and navigating numerous transformation and strategic initiatives.
 
Prior to joining TD, Andrew spent 22 years with the Volkswagen Group in the U.S. and Canada. Most recently as President and CEO of VW Credit Inc., responsible for a US$25B portfolio of retail, lease and commercial loan assets in the US and Canada. He has a broad automotive sales and lending background, having held a variety of senior roles, including EVP and CFO VW Credit, Inc., and President, Bentley MotorsUS.
 
Andrew is currently serving as a member of the Management Committee, TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank® and U.S. Diversity Leadership Chair for TD Bank. Andrew has been an active member of the American Financial Services Association (AFSA), serving as past Chair of the Vehicle Finance Board and the AFSA Board.
 
A Canadian citizen born in Moncton, New Brunswick and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Andrew graduated from Saint Mary's University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1992. He moved to the U.S. in 1994 and held a number of roles of increasing responsibility while also completing an MBA at the University of Oregon in 1998. He graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2021. Andrew became a U.S. citizen in 2013 and currently resides in Vienna, Virginia with his wife and three children.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
During this episode: 
Introduction [0:00]
Be Brave [1:03]
Introduction to Andrew [2:56]
The “Top Three”
Sandra Moncrief: helped Andrew learn to interpret emotions [6:20]
Marc Womack: taught Andrew the power of uncomfortable conversations [11:58]
Peter Cummings: showed Andrew the power of outside perspective [22:23]
Allan Ferguson: taught Andrew to celebrate practicality [35:23]
Other Points of Interest:
Headlines coming from TD [39:12]
Transformation(s) happening in the financial industry [46:50]
You have to hear this…
Create an environment to drive intellectual curiosity [51:00]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Contact Andrew Stuart:
Andrew’s LinkedIn
Andrew’s Email
 
Contact Gregg Garrett:
Gregg’s LinkedIn
Gregg’s Twitter
Gregg’s Bio
 
Contact CGS Advisors:
Website
LinkedIn
Twitter
 

PEOPLE MAKE INNOVATION MATTER | Roopesh Das, Senior VP of Digital Acceleration and Innovation at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, joins host Gregg Garrett to discuss the importance of putting the human in the center of your innovation strategy. Of course, Roopesh shares his Top 3: Ritesh Patel, who helped him to learn to connect; Akiko Marusawa, who helped him recognize the importance of people; and Shireen Das, who is his rock and helps him set a montessori approach to his digital innovation program. And you have to hear what he has to say about being passionate but not emotional.
About Roopesh Das

 
Experienced Digital executive with a track record of organizational transformation by applying cutting
edge technology to launch innovative products which address new business models and create value,
while leading and inspiring technology teams globally across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. 
Through his career spanning more than 20 years, Roopesh has launched technology products and
solutions globally across logistics, manufacturing, finance, and telecom
 
A visionary leader, specializing in strategizing tech and business models, by looking at trends and market a few years out, setting goals for that future and framing strategy to execute in the present.
 
Most recently he has been, founder of an open Innovation platform in Wallenius Wilhelmsen, partnering
with a global ecosystem of 100+ startups, tech & ventures to solve challenges in supply chain & logistics, leading to benefits such as:
• 60% increase in productivity with Computer Vision, Robotics and Mixed Reality
• 30% improvement in asset utilization with IoT & AI
• De-carbonizing supply chain with Data, AI and electric fleets
 He oversees strategic vision, product development, partnership creation and venture advisory.
 
Roopesh holds an engineering degree in Computer Science from Mumbai University, India. He is based
in New Jersey, USA
 
He has lived internationally, likes to travel, meet people, and experience local cuisines and culture. He is
always game for sharing, learning, and exchanging thoughts, around tech, society and impactful digital
transformation.
 
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

During this episode:
Introduction [0:00]
Looking to innovate? Here are two questions to start with answering [0:50]
Introduction to Roopesh [4:50]
The “Top Three”
Ritesh Patel: Helped him learn to connect [8:31]
Akiko Marusawa: Helped him recognize the importance of people [13:51]
Shireen Das: His rock who helps him set a Montessori approach to his digital innovation program [19:33]
One more to mention: Rune Gisvold [27:30]
Other Points of Interest:
Leading innovation for a 150-year-old company [30:06]
Lessons learned from empowering humans [32:54]
You have to hear this…
Be passionate but not emotional [40:42]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Contact Roopesh Das:
●        Roopesh’s LinkedIn
 
Contact Gregg Garrett:
●        Gregg’s LinkedIn
●        Gregg’s Twitter
●        Gregg’s Bio
 
Contact CGS Advisors:
●        Website
●        LinkedIn
●        Twitter
 

MAKING ALUMNI| Join Gregg Garrett, host and CGS Advisors CEO, during this solocast as he discusses how to establish an alumni network from your organization; not always an easy thing to do considering some of your best and brightest employees you never want to leave your firm. But, on the flip side, in order to get the best, brightest, and most driven you often need to get talent who want to spread their wings and sometimes it is at a different speed than the pace of your organization. Make an alumnus and you’re probably going to make some incredible employees and friends for life.
ABOUT GREGG GARRETT

Greggory R. Garrett is the CEO and Managing Director of CGS Advisors, a boutique strategy and innovation advisory firm that works with senior leaders at public companies and select private organizations. He is a dynamic and experienced international keynote speaker, an adjunct professor of business and engineering, the host of the “You, Me, and Your Top Three” podcast, and author of the best-selling business leadership book, Competing in the Connecting World. Having addressed audiences from 20 to upwards of 1500 people in public and private/corporate events, Gregg is at his best when he can focus on industry shaping & transformational topics.
Prior to launching CGS Advisors, Gregg was the Chief Strategy Officer for IT & Innovation at Volkswagen Group of America. Before his time with VW, Gregg led corporate strategy & marketing for a division of Deutsche Telekom and was part of Ernst & Young’s Management Consulting practice. He is a visionary leader who prides himself in recognizing common sense solutions for complex problems and supports “Corporate Bravery” by motivating teams to reach well beyond the typical boundaries to achieve greatness.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

During this episode:
Introduction [0:00]
Losing the future of your organization [0:59]
Bravery and the stages of spreading your wings [2:05]
Do you drive a culture of alumni? [4:39]
The secret to building great alum [6:52]
Advice for letting your best and brightest leave [8:20]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Contact Gregg Garrett:
●        Gregg’s LinkedIn
●        Gregg’s Twitter
●        Gregg’s Bio
 
Contact CGS Advisors:
●        Website
●        LinkedIn
●        Twitter