#46: Susan Packard (Co-Founder of HGTV) — On Living an Examined Life, Emotional Fitness, and Being Present

September 03, 2020 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living, Leadership

Susan Packard is co-founder of Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) and former Chief Operating Officer of HGTV. She was the 2nd employee of SNI and helped to build the company to a market value of over $15 billion.

Susan Packard is co-founder of Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) and former Chief Operating Officer of HGTV. She was the 2nd employee of SNI and helped to build the company to a market value of over $15 billion.

SNI’s media portfolio includes popular lifestyle television brands HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel, country music network Great American Country (GAC) and the Travel Channel. Packard held a variety of senior positions during her tenure at SNI. In addition to being COO of HGTV, she created and served as president of Scripps Networks New Ventures, where she oversaw the development and launch of DIY Network, and online interactive platforms. She was also president of worldwide distribution for the Scripps cable brands.

She began her cable career at HBO, then moved to NBC and was part of the start-up team for CNBC. In 1994 she joined HGTV and became Chief Operating Officer in 1995. Under Packard’s helm, HGTV became one of the fastest growing cable networks in television history. Today HGTV is available in more than 99 million U.S. homes and distributed in 175 countries and territories.

She has been recognized by industry peers, colleagues and employees as an innovator, role model and mentor. She received the Woman of the Year award by Women in Cable & Telecommunications (WICT) and was profiled in Modern Visionaries, a book chronicling the contributions of women to the cable and telecommunications industry. Contemporary Economics, a high school textbook, profiled her as an entrepreneur in the field of media specialization. CableWorld magazine honored her among “The Most Influential Women in Cable” numerous times. In 2008 she was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame.

Packard was the first woman elected to serve on the board of directors of Churchill Downs, Inc. (NASDAC: CHDN), the owner and manager of the Kentucky Derby and other horseracing properties. In that capacity, she served on the Audit, Strategic Planning, and CEO Succession committees.

She is active in national and local business and community affairs. She was named a College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumni at Michigan State University. She is past vice chair of the board of an independent collegiate day school, and has been an advisor on job training programs for the homeless as board member of Lazarus Ventures LLC. In recognition of her outreach work, she received the E.W. Scripps William Burleigh Award for distinguished community service. She was admitted to The Committee of 200, a select group of senior women executives dedicated to inspiring future women leaders and charged with granting scholarships and doing outreach to young, aspiring business women.

She is an active speaker at global business forums and at universities such as UCLA, Fordham, Carnegie Mellon, and the Darden Business School at University of Virginia. She spoke at Stanford Business School as part of SBS Executive Breakfast Briefings.

In 2019 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Michigan State University. In 2020 she was invited to join Harvard Business Review’s Advisory Board, and she was also named one of the Top 40 Women Keynote Speakers by RealLeaders

Susan has been commissioned and is actively teaching a form of meditation called Centering Prayer, which she incorporates into her facilitation of leadership and mindfulness retreats. She is working on certification to also teach the Enneagram, a self-knowledge tool.

Her first book, New Rules of the Game, was written to help women navigate and lead in the workplace. In 2019, Penguin/Random House published Packard’s new book, Fully Human, Three Steps to Grow Your Emotional Fitness for Work, Leadership and Life. The book offers a fresh, new framework for growing one’s emotional intelligence.

She lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her husband and two female felines named Diva and Dart. They have a son, Andrew.

New Rules of the Game: 10 Strategies for Women in the Workplace

By Packard, Susan

Fully Human: 3 Steps to Grow Your Emotional Fitness in Work, Leadership, and Life

By Packard, Susan

Follow all of Susan’s inspiring work at SusanPackard.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn

Download Episode Transcript

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#45: Mike Erwin (Founder of Team RWB) — On Solitude, Taking Action, and Failing Forward

August 24, 2020 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living, Leadership

Mike Erwin is the Founder & Executive Director of Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB).  Team RWB's mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their communities through physical and social activity.  He is also the CEO of the Character & Leadership Center, and the Co-founder & President of The Positivity Project-a non-profit organization with the mission to empower America's youth to build positive relationships. With 425 partner schools, the organization reaches 260,000 children daily.

Mike Erwin is a man that wears many important hats. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB)—a non-profit with a mission to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. Team RWB is a growing organization with over 220,000 members.

In addition to leading Team RWB, Mike is the CEO of the Character & Leadership Center and the Co-Founder & President of The Positivity Project—a non-profit organization with the mission to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships. With 425 partner schools, the organization reaches 260,000 children daily.

He is the also the co-author with Judge Raymond Kethledge of Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership through Solitude by Bloomsbury Press (2017). The book focuses on how solitude strengthens people’s character—and their ability to lead with clarity, balance, and conviction. Mike is also a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in Leadership & Psychology. He also serves as the founding Chairman of the Board for Father Vincent Capodanno High School, outside Fort Bragg, NC.

Mike graduated from West Point in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He was commissioned as an Intelligence Officer, serving in three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). His service includes deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004–2005 that involved the Battles of Fallujah and Najaf. Mike also deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006–2007 and 2009. On those tours, he worked with NATO forces, to include serving as a lead intelligence planner for one of the largest NATO-led combat operation in history. Mike earned two Bronze Star Medals from these tours.

Following his third deployment, Mike attended the University of Michigan from 2009–2011, where he studied positive psychology and leadership under the tutelage of the co-founder of Positive Psychology, Dr. Chris Peterson. He went on to serve as an Assistant Professor in Psychology & Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy from 2011–2014. While assigned to West Point as a Major, Mike served as a lead planner for the Bob McDonald Global Leadership Conference and was the aide-de-camp to the Class of 1951 Chair for the Study of Leadership, held by Jim Collins and then Tom Tierney.

Connect with Mike and follow his awesome work at MikeErwin.net or on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.

On this episode, we discuss:

His “WHY” for serving
Resilience
The birth of Team Red, White, and Blue
Growing and scaling a large organization
Having a bias for action
Dealing with self-doubt and failure
Gaining clarity and confidence through solitude
Creating time and space for solitude in a busy, distracted world
How Mike manages his time and energy
His work with the Positivity Project and Team RWB

We discuss the following books during our conversation:

Herd: How to Change Mass Behaviour by Harnessing Our True Nature

By Earls, Mark

The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion & Purpose

By Matthew Kelly

Good to Great and the Social Sectors: Why Business Thinking is Not the Answer

By Collins, Jim

The Alchemist, 25th Anniversary: A Fable About Following Your Dream

By Coelho, Paulo

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#44: Stephen Shedletzky (Simon Sinek, Inc.) — How to Find Your "WHY"

August 11, 2020 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living, Leadership

Stephen Shedletzky engages with people in meaningful ways so that we connect with depth and live in a more fulfilled world. With a knack for sharing the right words at the right moment, he delivers evidence-based content in a provocative, captivating and light-hearted way.

Stephen was struck by Simon Sinek’s vision of a more inspired, safe and fulfilled world. He joined Sinek’s team in 2012. What started as a position answering fan email, Stephen now leads Brand Experience and the team of Igniters to ensure every product, partnership and communication reflects the organization’s most deeply held beliefs.

As an Igniter himself, he guides leaders and organizations to adopt the mindset and actions needed to lead in the Infinite Game. A dedicated aide to the Simon Sinek team and those they serve, Stephen is first in line to support those who seek to discover, articulate and bring their WHY to life. With the right mix of passion and professionalism, Stephen was an obvious choice to narrate the audiobook for the 2017 best-seller Find Your Why. He co-hosted the Start With Why Podcast, with more than 715,000 downloads in over 180 countries.

Stephen graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business with a focus in leadership, communication and strategy. He brings the message to inspire to people and organizations around the world and serves clients in nearly every industry. Stephen lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife and two children.

On this episode, we dive into the process for finding your “WHY.” Stephen shares with us his journey for finding his “WHY” and the steps you can take to find yours!

Learn more about the great work Simon, Stephen, and their entire team are doing at simonsinek.com

I highly recommend the following books to help you on your journey of self-discovery and more effective self-leadership:

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

By Sinek, Simon

Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team

By Sinek, Simon, Mead, David, Docker, Peter

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#43: Lisa Fain (CEO of Center for Mentoring Excellence) — What Leaders Need to Know about Diversity + Inclusion

July 23, 2020 by Cal Walters in Leadership, Intentional Living

Lisa Fain is the CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence and an expert in the intersection of cultural competency and mentoring. Her passion for diversity and inclusion work fuels her strong conviction that leveraging differences creates a better workplace and drives better business results.

Lisa Fain is the CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence and an expert in the intersection of cultural competency and mentoring. Her passion for diversity and inclusion work fuels her strong conviction that leveraging differences creates a better workplace and drives better business results.

Lisa brings her energy, enthusiasm, and engagement to any group, facilitating lively workshops and training, and delivering interactive speeches with practical steps that can be implemented right away.

As Senior Director of the Diversity and Inclusion function at Outerwall, Inc., Lisa spearheaded the development, establishment, and implementation of its diversity initiative. Prior to assuming that position, she worked as Outerwall’s in-house counsel, coaching leaders and partnering with Human Resources to establish fair and effective policies and practices that would sustain the organization as it grew in size, revenue, and renown.

For almost a decade, Lisa practiced law in the Chicago office of a major multinational firm, where she counseled employers on creating inclusive policies and practices. While in that role, she served as Master Trainer, training thousands of employees at a variety of companies, large and small, on how to create a better workplace.

Lisa is also an executive coach, specializing in individual and group coaching for professional women looking to design and live their best personal and professional lives. She is a certified mediator. She graduated with a B.S. in Social Policy from Northwestern University and holds a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law.

Lisa lives in Seattle, WA. She loves to hike and explore the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters.

On today’s episode, we discuss what Lisa means by diversity and inclusion; we get real practical on steps leaders can take to improve the inclusiveness of their teams and organizations; and we explore what Lisa thinks mentorship is all about and how to find a good mentor and be a good mentee.

One note: we recorded this interview before the tragic death of George Floyd, so that is not discussed. But I think the principles of diversity and inclusion that we talk about are timeless.

Check out Lisa’s new book, Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring, co-authored with her mom, Lois J. Zachary.

Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring

By Fain, Lisa, Lois Zachary

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#42: The Legacy of a True Hero — 1LT Chris Goeke (KIA 13 July 2010)

July 12, 2020 by Cal Walters in Intentional Living, Leadership

Today, on July 13, 2020, we pay tribute to Chris Goeke. Chris was a husband, brother, son, dear friend, and leader among leaders. On this episode, we remember a man that made us laugh, feel special, believe in ourselves, grow in our faith, be okay with not knowing, and live more intentionally.

Even from a young age, Chris was adventurous and born to be a leader. He grew up in Apple Valley, Minnesota where he loved building forts in the woods behind his house and often gathered and encouraged his friends. He excelled in school through all his years and was active in music, mock trial, and various sports.

As he grew older, his faith in God grew and he participated in many church activities and mission trips. He was accepted into West Point with the class of 2008, where he graduated 6th in his class. After college, Chris was commissioned as an infantry officer and completed Army Airborne School and Ranger School.

Chris married the love of his life, Kelsey, and they settled into life together at Fort Bragg, NC, where Chris joined C Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment on May 18, 2009.

Chris and Kelsey - professional photo.jpg

In September 2009, Chris deployed with his unit to Afghanistan and would lead a platoon in combat. On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, Chris was killed in action while repelling an insurgent attack on an Afghan police compound in Kandahar City. 10 years after his death, we come together to remember Chris and honor his lasting impact on our lives.

Chris, we love you and miss you. You truly were the best among us, and we carry you with us wherever we go.

“Chris Goeke was one of the finest officers I have had the honor of leading in 20 years of service. His bravery in combat, commitment to his paratroopers, out-of-the-box problem solving and love for his wife and his profession were unparalleled. Chris was respected by his men as a leader and a person. Chris left a legacy with the battalion and on the lives of the men he led. Chris died a hero.”

— Lieutenant Colonel David Oclander, Battlalion Commander of 1-508 PIR

Chris’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachute Badge and Ranger Tab.

Please consider supporting the Warrior 196 Foundation. It is a 501(c)3 with a mission to honor and remember Chris and four other men from Independent School District 196 who paid the ultimate sacrifice by providing scholarships to young leaders and support to the community.

A special thank you to Jeni Huff, Erin Jorich LaVoie, Scott Wigen, Rick Ferrera, Mary Alice Noel, Kimberly Jung, Kevin Kniery, Quinn McArthur, John Bockstanz, Rajiv Srinivasan, James Booth, and Lance Dietz for participating in this tribute. It was so wonderful to hear how so many people were impacted in such profound ways by Chris, and this group only represents a small portion of those impacted by Chris.

Thank you to Randy Goeke and Kelsey Goeke for providing so many wonderful pictures of Chris for us to reflect on his life.

Finally, a HUGE thank you to Julie Blim, Dean Zawacki, Jamie Flora, Shawn Brady, and Chris Woodland for editing, mixing, and producing this tribute. Your kindness and generosity to make this project come together were amazing! Thank you!

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