Backstage Pass: Ep. 5 - Peter Sheahan: Owning & Accelerating Transformation

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 5 - Peter Sheahan: Owning & Accelerating Transformation

Backstage Pass: Ep. 5 - Peter Sheahan: Owning & Accelerating Transformation

peter sheahan bio

After decades of standing in the fire with leaders of high-performing organizations, Peter Sheahan has come to believe that an organization will only go commercially where its leaders first go personally.

Having grown his own companies by accelerating the growth and transformation for clients that include: Apple; Chick-fil-A; DeBeers; and AT&T -- Peter will provoke you to get bigger, by getting better! When leaders are true to their purpose, they gravitate towards doing work that matters and solving higher-order problems. The journey to get there requires that they have the courage to tell themselves the truth, take intelligent risks, and assume ownership for driving the alignment necessary to build an organization which behaves in ways worthy of its leadership position.

In being true to his own ambitions and relentless pursuit of growth, Peter has published seven books, built three global companies and delivered more than 2,500 presentations in 40+ countries. Today he is focused exclusively on inspiring leaders to do the hard work required to accelerate growth and transformation.

Learn more about peter sheahan

show notes

Peter Sheahan is an entrepreneur, strategist, C-suite advisor, and in-demand speaker. After writing Generation Y, his first book, he quickly found himself in boardrooms speaking about understanding and connecting with the next generation. Since then, Peter has written several books and has headlined countless speaking events. During the episode, Peter shares the importance of owning change to accelerate transformation on teams.

Key topics in this episode include:

  • Where Peter’s career started and the trajectory it took from there.

  • Why Peter wanted to write about the value shifts of young people.

  • How he ended up teaching about change and disruption globally.

  • How he got the nickname “CEO whisperer,” and his method for pushing people.

  • Peter’s process for preparing for a keynote speech and the interview he must have first.

  • What it takes to be a great leader in today’s organizations.

  • Why he decided to sell some of his businesses and what he’s focusing on instead.

  • Peter’s ideal audience and who he loves speaking to the most.

  • What happened when he crossed paths with Brené Brown and why he’s a big fan.

  • How speakers set expectations for their events and why some seem high maintenance.

  • Why speakers are prone to depression (despite what it looks like on the outside).

  • The advice Peter has for event planners when making speaker selections.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Peter Sheahan to your next event!

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 27 - War-Time Interrogator’s Secret to Trust with Eric Maddox

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 27 - War-Time Interrogator’s Secret to Trust with Eric Maddox

Backstage Pass: Ep. 27 - War-Time Interrogator’s Secret to Trust with Eric Maddox

Eric Maddox Bio

Upon graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1994, Eric Maddox joined the U.S. Army as an infantry paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division. After spending three years as a paratrooper, jumpmaster and a qualified ranger, Eric reenlisted as an interrogator and Chinese Mandarin linguist. Since 9/11, Eric has conducted over 2,700 interrogations while deploying eight times in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) to include multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

In 2003, while assigned to a special operations task force in Tikrit, Eric conducted over 300 interrogations and collected the intelligence which directly led to the capture of Saddam Hussein. As a result, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Director’s Award and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement. After being hired as a civilian with the Department of Defense, Eric continued to help fight the Global War on Terror (GWOT) until 2014. In May 2015, he earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and is now a private consultant and negotiator and lives in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Eric is also the author of Mission: Black List No. 1 (Harper Collins, 2008), which he wrote with the permission of the Department of Defense.

Learn more about eric maddox
 
 

show notes

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Eric Maddox discusses the importance of empathy-based listening in building trust and effective communication in both personal and professional settings. 

Key topics in this episode include:

  • Empathy-based listening is crucial for building trust.

  • Organizations need to focus on understanding their clients.

  • Listening is more important than pitching in conversations.

  • Trust is the foundation of effective partnerships.

  • Empowerment within teams leads to better outcomes.

  • How Eric’s techniques can be applied across various industries.

  • Empathy-based listening vs. sympathy-based listening.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Eric Maddox to your next event!

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 15 - Josh Linkner: Everyday Innovation

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 15 - Josh Linkner: Everyday Innovation

Backstage Pass: Ep. 15 - Josh Linkner: Everyday Innovation

josh linkner bio

Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.

On the business front, he’s been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He’s the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (mooDEE-tah) Venture Partners – an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he’s helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He’s twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.

While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. He’s been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world.

His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world’s foremost experts on innovation. Josh is the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he’s on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.

Learn more about josh linkner

show notes

On the latest Backstage Pass episode, Gail Davis is joined by Josh Linkner who shares insights on the transformative power of everyday innovation, turning disruption into opportunity, and embracing creativity.

Josh Linkner, a five-time tech entrepreneur and expert in innovation and leadership. The conversation explores the parallels between jazz music and business leadership, emphasizing the importance of creativity and innovation in today's rapidly changing landscape. Josh shares insights on overcoming misconceptions about innovation, the significance of everyday innovation, and real-world examples of companies that have successfully embraced creative approaches. The discussion also highlights the importance of tailoring messages for diverse audiences and engaging them effectively during presentations. In this engaging conversation, Gail and Josh delve into the themes of innovation, disruption, and the art of keynote speaking. They explore the concept of the 'judo flip' as a method for embracing change, the importance of audience-centric keynotes, and how to turn disruption into opportunity. The discussion also highlights the significance of micro innovations and the transformative potential of AI.

Key topics in this episode include:

  • Jazz musicians operate like effective business leaders.

  • Today's leaders must embrace creativity and innovation.

  • AI is automating traditional skills, leaving creativity as a key human asset.

  • Companies often overestimate the risks of innovation and underestimate the risks of stagnation.

  • An experimentation mindset can de-risk innovation efforts.

  • Everyday innovations can lead to significant results.

  • Real-world examples illustrate the power of creative thinking.

  • Sales roles require creativity and adaptability.

  • Tailoring presentations to the audience enhances engagement.

  • Creating a fear-free environment fosters creativity. The 'judo flip' is a powerful tactic for embracing change.

  • Keynotes should focus on the audience, not just the speaker.

  • Disruption can be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat.

  • Micro innovations are a practical approach to managing change.

  • AI is a transformative force, comparable to the internet.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Josh Linkner to your next event!

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 23 - Seth Mattison: Farm-Grown Wisdom for a Future-Ready Workplace

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 23 - Seth Mattison: Farm-Grown Wisdom for a Future-Ready Workplace

Backstage Pass: Ep. 23 - Seth Mattison: Farm-Grown Wisdom for a Future-Ready Workplace

Seth Mattison bio

With his finger on the pulse of the changing nature of work and leadership, Seth Mattison blends storytelling from his own personal experience working with category-leading brands with cutting-edge research to develop fresh perspectives on the issues most relevant for organizations to thrive today.

Seth is an internationally recognized thought leader, author, advisor, and top- rated keynote speaker on talent management, high performance cultures, leadership, and the Future of Work.

His research, case studies, and thought leadership focus on inspiring audiences, while sharing actionable strategies to support individuals and organizations in their pursuit to be future-ready.

For almost two decades, Seth has shared his insights with tens of thousands of business leaders around the globe for many of the world’s most recognizable brands including Mastercard, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, The Dallas Cowboys, AT&T, PepsiCo, GE Energy, E&Y, Caterpillar, and The Walt Disney Company, to name a few.

In addition to speaking, Seth is the founder and CEO of FutureSight Labs, an org design and transformation firm that supports many of the world’s most inspiring leaders by helping prepare themselves and their organizations for the Future of Work through research, training, advising, coaching, digital tools, and thought leadership.

Learn more about seth mattison
 
 

Show notes

On this episode of Backstage Pass, Seth Mattison shares his insights on self trust, the future of work, the importance of perspective, and the crossover between business and lessons learned growing up on a farm.

Seth discusses how the dynamic nature of agriculture parallels the evolving workplace - emphasizing the need for human expansion over extraction, advocating for regenerative work practices that nurture both individuals and organizations. He also highlights the significance of self-trust in uncertain times and the value of community among thought leaders.

Key topics in this episode include:

  • Seth Mattison emphasizes the importance of adapting to the changing landscape of work.

  • He believes that jobs are evolving faster than individuals can keep up with.

  • Mindsets are more crucial than skills in navigating the future of work.

  • Self-trust is the antidote to uncertainty in the workplace.

  • The future of growth should focus on human expansion rather than extraction.

  • Regenerative work draws parallels from agriculture, promoting sustainability in the workplace.

  • Seth encourages leaders to embrace AI as a tool for better work, not just more work.

  • Gallup global report on AI usage

  • He advocates for a community of thought leaders to support one another in their journeys.

  • Seth's speaking style has evolved to create a more intimate connection with audiences.

  • Tailoring presentations to specific audiences enhances engagement and relevance.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Seth Mattison to your next event!

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 26 - The Hidden Strength Every Successful Team Shares with Jeremy Poincenot

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Backstage Pass: Ep. 26 - The Hidden Strength Every Successful Team Shares with Jeremy Poincenot

Backstage Pass: Ep. 26 - The Hidden Strength Every Successful Team Shares with Jeremy Poincenot

Jeremy Poincenot Bio

At 19, Jeremy Poincenot was your typical college sophomore. Friends, sports, fraternity and most importantly, perfect 20/20 vision. Then it happened, no warning, no time to prepare. Life began to blur. Over the next few months, Jeremy lost central vision in his right eye, followed closely by his left. The diagnosis: a rare genetic disorder called Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a disease that affects a mere 100 people in the U.S. each year with no treatment or cure in sight. At first, Jeremy thought losing his vision meant forfeiting his life. But he soon learned that with every challenge comes an opportunity for growth.

When Jeremy lost his central vision, he thought the game of golf he loved was over. But with some hard work, dedication, and the support of his family and friends, he quickly learned that his golfing career had just begun. At 20 years old and with his Dad as his guide, Jeremy competed in and won the 2010 World Blind Golf Championship with a dramatic chip-in in a playoff. They have since gone on to win 8 National Championships, an Australian Blind Open, an Italian Blind Open and two more World Blind Golf Championships. In 2011, Jeremy was honored as the San Diego Hall of Champions Challenged Athlete of the Year. Like all things, it’s the most difficult trials that shape who we are—and Jeremy is a better athlete and person because of this sport.

Now, Jeremy strives to raise awareness of LHON, and along with the help of his friends, they have created the C.U.R.E. (Cycling Under Reduced Eyesight) Ride, an annual fundraising bike ride that has raised over $350,000 for LHON research. Their goal is to raise a million.

Today, Jeremy is an Inspirational Speaker traveling the world, sharing his story to inspire audiences to take control of life and turn trauma into triumph. Jeremy is not your ordinary motivational speaker. With a powerful personal narrative, a little wit and a strong inspirational message, he has made it his mission to help his audiences rise up to their biggest obstacles and see them as opportunities.

Jeremy’s objective when he steps in front of an audience is not to dictate how to succeed in life; it’s to convince individuals that independence is good, while interdependence is great. He speaks from experience and has discovered that with a focus on the good, key insights, and the determination to persist through the challenges, anything is possible.

Jeremy has had the privilege of being featured on ABC's 20/20, ESPN.com, CNN’s “Great Big Story” and MTV's True Life and has spoken for many prestigious companies including Aflac, Honda, John Hancock, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo and many more.

Learn more about jeremy poincenot

Show Notes

In this episode of Backstage Pass, host Gail Davis talks with world champion blind golfer Jeremy Poincenot. Jeremy shares his inspiring journey of losing his sight at 19 due to a rare genetic disorder and how he discovered the joy and power of interdependence.

He discusses the importance of asking for help, maintaining perspective during adversity, and the tools he offers to help others shift from victim to victor. Jeremy also shares personal anecdotes about finding love and the impact of his speaking engagements.

Key topics in this episode include:

  • Life doesn't have to be perfect to be powerful.

  • Losing his sight led to unexpected opportunities.

  • Independence is important, but interdependence is powerful.

  • Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

  • Perspective is key in overcoming adversity.

  • We often have what we need to be happy already.

  • Suspending judgment can lead to better experiences.

  • Experiential events enhance the impact of speaking engagements.

  • Connection over isolation is vital for growth.

  • How technology has greatly improved accessibility for the visually impaired.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Jeremy Poincenot to your next event!

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