CEA Summit - Asheesh Advani | JA Worldwide

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit, featuring Asheesh Advani, CEO of Junior Achievement Worldwide and co-author of Modern Achievement.

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Asheesh leads an organization that impacts over 15 million young people annually across 118 countries, fostering entrepreneurship, self-efficacy, and leadership skills in the next generation.

In this conversation, he shares insights on:

• The Future of Achievement: Why traditional goal-setting is outdated in a world where young professionals will have 20 jobs and 7 careers on average.

• Self-Efficacy & Entrepreneurship: How JA programs instill an unshakable belief in success through hands-on experience.

• Innovation & Adaptability: A framework for navigating change—fixed, flexible, and freestyle—that empowers leaders at all levels.

• Building a Meaningful Network: The power of surrounding yourself with mentors and how relationships drive career success.

Asheesh’s perspective is a must-hear for leaders, educators, and anyone passionate about shaping the future workforce.

#Leadership #FutureOfWork #Entrepreneurship #ChiefExecutiveSummit #MarkThompson

Mike Clem | Sweetwater

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit, featuring Mike Clem, CEO of Sweetwater, the nation’s largest online retailer of musical instruments and audio/video equipment for creators. Mike shares his inspiring journey from tech and e-commerce professional to leading Sweetwater—a $1.5 billion company with over 10 million customers and a culture centered on building lifelong relationships. After two pianos and four trumpets later, Mark is sold on Sweetwater.

Key insights from the conversation:

Heart and Culture: Sweetwater thrives by fostering one-to-one relationships and providing over-the-top customer service, from free tech support to personalized guitar inspections. Mike discusses how this culture was shaped by founder Chuck Surack, who started the company in 1979 in the back of a VW bus.

Leadership Transition: Mike shares how his 20 years with Sweetwater prepared him to step into the CEO role, including his commitment to preserving its people-first culture while navigating rapid growth.

Employee Engagement: With 2,700 employees, Mike emphasizes the importance of leadership accountability for team happiness and engagement, noting how this approach strengthens customer experiences.

Balancing Stakeholders: Learn how Mike leads with heart while balancing the needs of employees, customers, investors, and the community.

This is a masterclass in scaling with purpose and staying true to core values in leadership. Don’t miss it!

Geoff Smart | ghSMART

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit, featuring Geoff Smart, Chairman and Founder of ghSMART and a leading expert in CEO and C-suite readiness. Geoff shares his transformative approach to leadership assessment and development, offering invaluable insights for aspiring and current executives.

Key Highlights:

Beyond Psychology Tests: Geoff explains why traditional tools like cognitive tests often fall short at the executive level.

Forensic Leadership Analysis: Discover Geoff’s unique method of evaluating leadership through a detailed examination of past experiences and performance, validated by peer and board feedback.

Role-Specific Readiness: Insights into tailoring leadership development to the strategic needs of an organization.

Geoff also discusses groundbreaking research, including the three key traits that increase team success by 20 times: prioritization, talent management, and result-focused relationships. These principles, combined with a rigorous selection process, drive long-term success for leaders and organizations alike.

Don't miss this conversation about aligning leadership excellence with organizational strategy.