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.

Tom Gruber | Siri, Humanistic AI

Join Mark for the latest episode of the Chief Executive Summit featuring Tom Gruber, co-creator of Siri and a pioneer in humanistic AI. This conversation dives deep into Tom's remarkable journey and the future of artificial intelligence, offering unique insights for leaders navigating this transformative era.

Key Highlights:

The Origins of Siri: Tom reflects on building Siri with a small team of 24 and the pivotal decision to join Apple, sharing personal anecdotes about working with Steve Jobs and embedding AI into the iPhone.

AI's Role in Leadership: Discover how leaders can embrace AI to augment human capabilities rather than replace them, emphasizing collaboration and critical thinking in a tech-driven workplace.

Humanistic AI: Tom advocates for AI systems designed to enhance human potential and address global challenges, from education to mental health care.

Navigating Risks: Learn how to balance AI’s powerful potential with the ethical responsibility to prevent unintended consequences, such as misinformation or system failures.

Tom's vision for AI goes beyond automation—it’s about empowering humanity. Whether you're leading a Fortune 500 company or an emerging startup, this episode is a must-listen for understanding AI's role in shaping the future.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with actionable insights.