Failure is the Fastest Way to Learn: Building a Team That Moves Fast, Fails Well, and Comes Back Stronger with Startup Founder, Jon Sockell

Failure is the Fastest Way to Learn: Building a Team That Moves Fast, Fails Well, and Comes Back Stronger with Startup Founder, Jon Sockell

It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission. Entrepreneurial leadership requires a frame of mind that embraces failure. Because failure is the fastest way to learn.  Jon Sockell (MBA ‘12) isn’t afraid of failing, and that’s maybe the key component to his success. His leadership philosophy boils down to asking forgiveness rather than permission, a philosophy shaped by a career spent inside fast-moving companies, where planning is important, but action is essential. In this episode with Taiwo Olawehinmi, Jon delves into the leadership lessons he’s learned on trust, avoiding bottlenecks at the top, and leaving people free to swim in their own lane.  Willingness to fail is key, but it’s also about finding your passion. Because when you follow your own interests, everything is more likely to work out in the end. These are ideas that Jon formed after years in the startup trenches, where he also learned that feedback is a gift, and that it’s essential to think deeply about your customer.  If you’re wondering how to build and foster a startup culture that moves forward without fear, and that leads by action rather than academics, this episode is a must listen. Jon offers insight on not only how to embrace failure, but also on how to find a good work-life balance, and why being the first company in any new space is something he’d rather avoid. This is leadership with intention, reflection, and heart. Listen in! Remember to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about us: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/

What It Really Takes to Lead Global Teams: Gianna DelliCarpini, Chief People Officer at WeWork

What does a decade of authentic leadership inside one of the most publicly scrutinized companies in the world actually teach you about keeping global teams steady when the ground keeps shifting? In this episode, host Melissa sits down with Gianna Dellicarpini, Chief People Officer at WeWork, to discuss what it really means to lead people operations through some of the most public corporate chapters in recent business history. Gianna shares how the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy reshaped her early career decisions and set her on a path of career pivots she never planned for. She opens up about how those years in human capital consulting built the foundation for her leadership philosophy and the kind of HR leadership she practices today, one that centers on trust, advocacy, and showing up consistently for the people she leads even when the organization around her is making headlines. We also get into what global leadership looks like in practice, how Gianna structures her team across time zones and cultures without defaulting to a US-centric model, and what she has learned about staying connected without overstepping. She talks honestly about building high-trust teams through organizational transformation, and what it actually took to earn that trust, not just maintain it. You will also hear the specific advice she wishes someone had given her earlier, and what she tells anyone navigating their leadership development inside complex, fast-moving organizations. If you have ever led people through uncertainty and wondered whether you were doing it right, this conversation will stay with you. This is leadership with intention, reflection, and heart. Listen in! Remember to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about us: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/

Purpose-Driven Leadership in Action: How to Grow Your Career by Leading People, Not Just Operations with Matthew Overbay

What pivotal moment in your leadership journey teaches you to prioritize employee relations over a corporate spreadsheet? In this episode, host Maree Smith is joined by Matthew Overbay, a director of manufacturing strategy and planning who has built his career through multiple international assignments at Nissan Motor Corporation. We break down the leadership skills behind strong team management, how his executive MBA shaped his strategic mindset, and why balancing technical skills with people-first leadership is critical inside fast-moving production lines. This conversation also highlights the role of cultural adaptation and intentional career pivots in long-term growth. You’ll also learn how on the job training, maintenance training, and workforce development drive operational excellence, offering a clear look at how modern leaders are building stronger teams in large-scale operations. If you want a practical look at leadership and building a strong strategic mindset inside the automotive industry, this episode offers a clear, grounded perspective. This is leadership with intention, reflection, and heart. Listen in! Remember to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about us: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/

From Doing to Guiding: Leading Cross-Functional Environments with Situational Awareness

Are you growing as a leader through strong mentorship and reflection? In this episode, host Taiwo Olawehinmi sits down with Megan Fisher, Executive Director and U.S. Brand Lead for Rare Disease at Amgen, to discuss career development inside a complex corporate culture. She shares how intentional leadership transition, cross-functional leadership, and authentic leadership shaped her path. We explore her move into executive leadership and general management, and how integration skills, situational awareness, and clear organizational strategy shape her decisions. She also shares how she approaches team empowerment and selects the right strategic levers to strengthen brand leadership for the long term. You can lead with empathy and clear authority while staying grounded in your values as a leader. If you are growing into a bigger responsibility, this talk will ground you. Megan shares how staying mission-driven, strengthening integration skills, and investing in professional networking support steady growth without losing yourself.   This is leadership with intention, reflection, and heart. Listen in! Remember to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about us: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/

Strategic Leadership: How to Master Decision-Making, Improve Operational Efficiency & Lead with Confidence

Do you ever feel like the pressure to succeed is outpacing your current leadership skills? It is common to feel overwhelmed when you are chasing career growth while simultaneously trying to master the daily demands of a complex role. You might worry that your existing management skills are not enough to navigate the high stakes of today's fast-paced business environment. You can absolutely navigate this complexity with confidence and clarity. In this episode, I sit down with Katie Smigelski, Owen Vanderbilt MBA 2020, to discuss her fascinating journey from management consulting at BCG to leading major initiatives at Delta Airlines. We explore how she successfully transitioned into corporate strategy and managed a massive digital transformation. Katie reveals exactly how she aligns her daily work with the broader business strategy without losing sight of the critical details. We dive deep into the reality of strategic leadership and what it truly takes to lead effectively from the middle. Katie shares her personal frameworks for tough decision-making when information is incomplete or constantly changing. You will learn how to balance the need for operational efficiency with high-level strategic thinking so you can drive results that actually impact the bottom line. Leading a team brings its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. We talk about the nuances of team management and how to navigate shifting team dynamics with empathy and precision. Katie also emphasizes the critical role of mentorship in her success and explains how she uses intentional goal setting to keep her team focused and inspired. This conversation eventually turns to her current passion for leading loyalty programs and driving engagement. We discuss what it really takes to elevate the customer experience in a competitive market like the airline industry. This episode is packed with actionable insights that will change the way you approach your own leadership journey. This is leadership with intention, reflection, and heart. Listen in! Remember to subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about us: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/