Brooke Dukes: Lead Without the Bottleneck — Why Your Strategy Keeps Failing

Stephanie Vera on Building Homegrown Impact at BMW Manufacturing

In this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, host Ron Harvey sits down with Stephanie Vera, Supplier Development and Engagement Operational Lead at BMW Manufacturing, to talk about the leadership it takes to build something authentic from the ground up. Stephanie owns the concept, approvals, and execution of the BMW Supplier Exchange, and she pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to bring a 2,500-person event to life while keeping it genuine and homegrown. The conversation moves from Stephanie's start in logistics to leading a team and a flagship community event, and it lands on practical wisdom any business owner or emerging leader can use. In this episode, Ron and Stephanie discuss: * Why leadership starts, runs, and ends with people * How BMW weaves small businesses into a large-scale event so it stays authentic * The economic impact mindset behind BMW's investment in the Greenville-Spartanburg community * The high standards and ethics suppliers must meet to grow with a major manufacturer * How to actually work a conference room without burning out or chasing only the "big" contract * Pro tips for refining your pitch and knowing exactly where you fit before you walk in * Why the road less traveled and an optimistic mindset can become your next big opportunity The BMW Supplier Exchange takes place May 13 at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Registration is open at BMWSupplierExchange.com and closes in mid-April. For buyer pro tips, follow BMW Supplier Network Purchasing Americas on LinkedIn. Connect with Stephanie Vera on LinkedIn. This episode is brought to you by Global Core Strategies and Consulting, a professional leadership firm based in Columbia, South Carolina, where Ron Harvey serves as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Connect with Ron on LinkedIn, and if you know someone who would add value to the audience, reach out about being a guest. Connect with Ron [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldlharvey/] Just Make A Difference: Leading Under Pressure by Ron Harvey [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692879765/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_VQNsAb89ND7KH] > “If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.” Learn more about Global Core Strategies [https://gcs.consulting/services.html] . . . . . Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this podc...

David Fung on Leading Yourself First, Rebuilding Trust, and Why Beliefs Hold Leaders Back

In Episode 177 of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, host Ron Harvey of Global Core Strategies and Consulting sits down with David Fung — executive coach, founder of Coach Full Coaching, and 23-year veteran of the tech industry, including a leadership tenure at Salesforce. Based in Toronto, Canada, David now works with executives and teams navigating major transitions and chaos, helping them find clarity when the stakes are highest. Ron and David dig into the real, often uncomfortable work that separates titled managers from trusted leaders. From the metaphor of playing soccer at the edge of a cliff to the belief systems that quietly steer behavior, this conversation gives leaders practical language and frameworks they can put to work immediately. What you will hear in this episode: * Why learning to lead yourself is the non-negotiable starting point for leading anyone else * The "soccer at the edge of a cliff" metaphor for creating safety that fuels innovation * How to lead with weakness instead of performing strength, and why it draws people to you * A practical framework for diagnosing where and when trust was broken on a team * Why the "how will we work together" conversation is the one most teams skip * Lessons from Salesforce on running a metrics-driven culture without losing your humanity * How clarity, cadence, and accountability prevent conflict-averse leadership * Why beliefs — not skills — are what most often hold leaders back * The four pillars of sustainable leadership: faith, family, friends, and meaningful work * What the 1937 Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals about community and well-being * A candid story about how David's biggest strength became the behavior burning out his team This is a conversation for current and emerging leaders who want to grow without losing themselves in the process. Connect with Ron [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldlharvey/] Just Make A Difference: Leading Under Pressure by Ron Harvey [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692879765/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_VQNsAb89ND7KH] > “If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.” Learn more about Global Core Strategies [https://gcs.consulting/services.html] . . . . . Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this podc...

Work Gets Better When Leaders Treat Fairness Like A Social Contract

We talk with Hanna Hasl-Kelchner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahaslkelchner?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAEelhYBXuv4iJFKIpxlLUYbrBNOVl-6nl0&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3BCCCAbicoQCihkZrBE3FZjw%3D%3D] about why fairness at work is a leadership issue that shapes trust, health, and performance. We break down the hidden “unwritten rules” that drag down engagement and share practical ways leaders can build a fairer culture without treating work like a transaction.  • fairness as a social contract that drives results  • why power shifts can make good leaders less curious  • the hidden costs of unfairness: productivity loss, stress, sick days, turnover, lost customer relationships  • fairness as the foundation of trust, not a wish list  • five unwritten-rule categories: approachability, recognition, bias, conflict management, workload management  • how meetings reveal culture through airtime, credit, and interruptions  • three practices to start now: stronger conflict management, better communication, better listening  Tell your friends, tag your friends, post it, share.  Connect with Ron [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldlharvey/] Just Make A Difference: Leading Under Pressure by Ron Harvey [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692879765/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_VQNsAb89ND7KH] > “If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.” Learn more about Global Core Strategies [https://gcs.consulting/services.html] . . . . . Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this podc...

Sebastian Page on the Psychology of Leadership, Strategic Patience, and Performing Under Pressure

In this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, Ron sits down with Sebastian Page, money manager, marathon runner, and author of The Psychology of Leadership, for a candid conversation about what actually separates good leaders from great ones. After 25 years in finance and after publishing scientific research in quantitative finance, Sebastian turned his attention to a different kind of question: why do high performers stress about stressing, and what can sports psychology teach us about leading under pressure? The answers challenge nearly everything popular culture tells us about leadership. Key topics and takeaways from this episode: * Why the "perfect leader" stereotype is often the opposite of what works at the top level * The difference between ego-driven and mastery-driven performance, and the handball story that explains it * Strategic patience: the most underrated leadership skill, and the one question that sharpens every decision * How transparent communication and genuinely getting to know people build trust on high-performing teams * The Yerkes-Dodson curve: why optimal performance never happens at zero stress, and why the sweet spot depends on the task and the person * Why simple tasks reward high adrenaline and complex work requires lower activation * Goal-induced blindness and the danger of obsession with measurable targets in high-performing organizations * The three-legged stool of self-leadership: sleep, diet, and exercise, and why sleep is usually the missing leg * What Simone Biles taught the world about building rest into elite performance * Race-car pit stops as a model for sustainable leadership rhythms * Pioneers versus settlers: why the fast follower often wins in business * Why positive relationships are the most robust predictor of happiness in the research, and how to keep them honest rather than people-pleasing * The audio-video match: why leading by example matters more than what you say about vacation days or boundaries Connect with Ron [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldlharvey/] Just Make A Difference: Leading Under Pressure by Ron Harvey [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692879765/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_VQNsAb89ND7KH] > “If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.” Learn more about Global Core Strategies [https://gcs.consulting/services.html] . . . . . Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this podc...

Hire Yourself: Giuseppe Grammatico on Leaving Wall Street, Franchising, and the Power of "Why"

What does it take to walk away from a stable, high-paying career and bet everything on yourself? In this episode of Unpacked, host Ron Harvey sits down with Giuseppe Grammatico, franchise consultant, author, and host of the Franchise Freedom podcast, to unpack the real story behind leaving Wall Street to become a business owner. Just three days after launching his first business, Giuseppe found out he was about to become a father, and what followed was a masterclass in resilience, transparency, and controlling what you can control. Giuseppe shares the practical mindset and operational decisions that helped him survive the 2008 downturn, build a profitable business, and avoid the traps that derail most aspiring entrepreneurs. From having honest financial conversations with his spouse to sharing P&L statements with his team, his approach to leadership is built on trust, preparation, and clarity of purpose. In this conversation, Ron and Giuseppe dive into: * Why Giuseppe left a lucrative Wall Street career and what finally pushed him to "hire himself" * How to prepare financially and emotionally before quitting your W-2 job * The role of transparency in marriage, leadership, and team building * How to lead a small business through economic downturns by pivoting your customer focus * Why AI is a tool to embrace, not fear, and how leaders can prepare their teams for change * The difference between revenue growth and profitable growth that most owners miss * Why your "why" matters more than your business plan when times get hard * The five freedoms every entrepreneur should pursue, especially time freedom * Why hiring experts sooner saves more than it costs * How to avoid the "misery loves company" trap in entrepreneurship Whether you are a corporate professional considering a leap, a small business owner navigating uncertainty, or a leader trying to build trust with your team, this episode delivers practical wisdom from someone who has lived it. Connect with Ron [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldlharvey/] Just Make A Difference: Leading Under Pressure by Ron Harvey [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692879765/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_VQNsAb89ND7KH] > “If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.” Learn more about Global Core Strategies [https://gcs.consulting/services.html] . . . . . Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this podc...