Business Leadership Series

Derek talks with guest Verne Harnish, founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs'​ Organization (EO) and author of the best-selling book “Scaling Up”, about including his family in his business, building anti-fragile children and companies, and what’s new for Scaling Up.Verne Harnish is the founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), with over 14,000 members worldwide, and chaired for fifteen years EO’s premiere CEO program, the “Birthing of Giants” held at MIT, a program in which he still teaches today.Founder and CEO of Gazelles, a global executive education and coaching company with over 200 partners on six continents, Verne has spent the past three decades helping companies scaleup.The “Growth Guy” syndicated columnist, he’s also the Venture columnist for FORTUNE magazine. He chairs the bi-annual ScaleUp Summits in collaboration with Bloomberg LIVE.He’s the author of the bestseller Mastering the Rockefeller Habits which is translated into 9 languages; and along with the editors of For

Sanyin Siang is Derek's amazing featured guest this week! Sanyin shares highlights from her journey, and how to accept positive affirmations and constructive criticism as data points in your life, importance of being generous, and how to be vulnerable.Sanyin helps leaders launch and create value by focusing on mindset, behavioral change, and team and culture building. Sanyin is a CEO Coach, Advisor, Author,the Executive Director of Duke University’s Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) and a Professor with its Pratt School of Engineering.The COLE center is a leadership laboratory that engages all of Duke’s Daytime MBA students and convenes high-level think tank gatherings to explore today’s complex leadership opportunities and challenges.Sanyin coaches C-suite executives and is in the original cohort of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches. She is an advisor for GV (former Google Ventures), Duke Corporate Education, and the Sports Innovation Lab. Her thought leadership has appeared in Forbes, Fo

Derek Champagne interviews former NFL play and entrepreneur, Marques Ogden. Marques, the best-selling author of "Sleepless Nights: The NFL: a Business and Family", talks with Derek about his childhood years, playing in the NFL, his entrepreneurial journey, and leadership lessons along the way.Growing up in a single-parent home with a father that inspired and demonstrated perseverance and fairness, Marques Ogden learned how to define his values and set goals. Marques attended Howard University from 1998-2002, where he played Division I football. He followed his dream and his brother Jonathan's footsteps and was drafted into the NFL in 2003. At the age of 27, he founded a construction company called Kayden Premier Enterprises, a business that grew rapidly in its first few years, but he lost the business after a bad business endeavor. At his lowest point, the NFL and lessons he learned from his father and coaches, helped him restructure his life.Learn more at https://www.marquesogden.com/

In this episode Derek Champagne, CEO of The Artist Evolution, interviews Kavit Haria.From a young age, Kavit Haria learned to play “the world’s most dificult percussion instrument”, the Tabla. Having immersed himself in learning about artist promotion, Kavit began to raise his profile and performed across the UK at venues large and small, with many artists (including Jimmy Page at the Royal Albert Hall) and recorded albums at the famed Abbey Road studios.Recognizing the demand for sharing what he learned gave rise to Kavit’s first company, Insider Music Business. Within five years, from 2005 to 2010, Kavit created thirty-five different educational products online, from ebooks to video courses and audio training to membership programs, which he promoted to the growing database of 120,000 musicians and hit 7 figures in revenue.Kavit then turned to share his marketing automation strategies at business conferences in the UK and ran private workshops for small business owners in New York,Sydney and London.Since 20

In this episode Derek interviews Tim Sanders. Tim spent most of his early career on the cutting edge of innovation and change. He was an early stage member of Mark Cuban’s Broadcast.com, which had the largest opening day IPO in history. After Yahoo acquired the company, Tim was tapped to lead their ValueLab, and by 2001, he rose to Chief Solutions Officer. In 2005, he founded Deeper Media, which provides consulting services for leading brands. Today, he is one of the top-rated speakers on the lecture circuit.Tim is the author of four books, including the New York Times bestseller Love Is the Killer App: How To Win Business & Influence Friends. It’s been translated into over a dozen languages and has been featured in Fast Company, USA Today, the New York Times, The Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor and on CNN. He’s a master storyteller who offers listeners actionable takeaways that produce results right away. That’s why he’s one of the top speakers on the lecture circuit.

From the interview vault: Derek talks with Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas. Jesse helps companies stand out by thinking different, creating attention and creating fans for life.Jesse is the Owner of Fans First Entertainment, who owns and operates the Savannah Bananas. Cole is an in-demand speaker and author of “Find Your Yellow Tux – How to Be Successful by Standing Out” Cole believes to be successful you need to Stand Out and Be Different. He releases blogs and videos daily on FindYourYellowTux.com. He is passionate about creating attention, loving your customers more than your product and loving your employees more than your customers. Cole’s mantra is “Whatever’s normal, do the exact opposite.”Order Jesse's book now: http://findyouryellowtux.com/

In this episode Derek Champagne interviews John Rossman. John Rossman is the author of The Amazon Way book series, and a Managing Director at Alvarez and Marsal (A&M), a global professional services rm. John is an expert in innovative and digital business models and organizational change, including internet of things (IoT).Prior to A&M, John was an executive at Amazon.com where he launched the third party selling business, which today is over 50% of all Amazon units and supports over 3 million sellers. He is a leading analyst on Amazon and has been featured by the New York Times and CNBC.The Amazon Way series helps managers and leaders build digital strategies and skills. The customer reviews tell the story on the impact these books are having.The Amazon Way: 14 Leadership Principles of the World’s Most Disruptive Company is considered the authoritative work on helping business leaders understand how Amazon creates a systematic culture of operational excellence and innovation.The Amazon Way on IoT: 10

From interview vault: In this episode Derek Champagne interviews the Founder & CEO of RedHead Wines, Marisa Sergi just after she has landed a deal with WalMart stores. Marisa is a young business owner who is a third generation wine maker. Marisa shares her background, passion for making wine, and the highlights of her entrepreneurial journey.Learn more at https://redheadwine.us

In this episode Derek Champagne talks with Shark Tank veteran Yannis Moati. Yannis is the Founder & CEO of Hotels by Day, which seamlessly unlocks latent intra-day room inventory, bringing guests the flexibility of short stays. Intra-day rooms being the inventory of unsold rooms from the night before pooled with early checkouts.Yannis shares his experiences launching his new business and growing his national brand.Learn more at www.hotelsbyday.com

In this episode Derek Champagne chats with Eddie Yoon. Eddie is a growth strategy expert for the last 20 years as a Partner with The Cambridge Group. In the last 5 years, he has helped double numerous businesses-cable media company, food brand, beverage company, pet food brand, consumer robotics, standby generators-from several hundred million to close to a billion dollars.Eddie is the author of the acclaimed book, Superconsumers: A Simple, Speedy and Sustainable Path to Superior Growth (Harvard Business School Press, 2016). He is also the author of over 40 articles, including Make Your Best Customers Even Better (Harvard Business Review magazine, March 2014) and Why It Pays to Be a Category Creator (Harvard Business Review magazine, March 2013). Eddie has been a keynote speaker in the U.S., Africa, Australia, Denmark, the UK and Japan.

Derek interviews successful entrepreneur and coach Aaron Walker. Aaron talks with us about the meaning of success, growing from personal tragedy, and living a purpose-filled life. Aaron is the founder of ISI Brotherhood, helping faith-forward business men to step out of isolation to live a life of success AND significance around the five pillars of a whole man: personal, professional, relational, spiritual, and financial.  Learn more at https://www.isibrotherhood.com/

In this episode Derek Champagne interviews Siphiwe Baleka. Fox Sports won an Emmy for Changing Lanes: The Siphiwe Baleka story.Siphiwe Baleka is the founder of Fitness Trucking, LLC and serves as the DriverHealth and Fitness Coach at Prime Inc., one of America’s largest trucking companies.His innovative, on-the-go wellness program has helped thousands of truckdrivers lose weight and reclaim their health (69% of truck drivers are obese; thetrucking industry is the least healthy of any industry in the country).His premise is that ANYONE with 4 minutes can get fit. What works for truckers can workfor any sedentary person! Formerly, Baleka served as the Driver Health Editorfor both Road King magazine and The Trucking Network magazine. After beingraised in Chicago by a single dad, he graduated from Yale University and is thefirst African American ever named to the First Team All-Ivy League Swim Team.He missed qualifying for the 1992 Olympic Swimming Trials in the 100 freestyleby just 0.8 seconds! He is the author

Derek talks with Ishveen Jolly, CEO + Founder at OpenSponsorship. Ishveen shares her entrepreneurial journey, key leadership principles, and how she built the category leader.The startup was born out of her experience as a successful sports agent in India and the UK. OpenSponsorship now has over 5,500 athletes, teams and events being managed to brands globally looking for sports marketing opportunities. Ishveen was included in the Forbes 30under30 sports list in 2015 and OpenSponsorship was named a finalist in the 2015 Sports Technology Awards, category of best technology facilitating commercial returns. She graduated from Oxford University.OpenSponsorship is a two-sided marketplace for sports sponsorship that makes sponsorship accessible, efficient and data-driven. Brands can save time and energy sifting through opportunities by using the easy but comprehensive search, then connect with the relevant partnerships which are listed directly by the teams, athletes, federation, events or their agencies.Learn more

Kent Hance is a lawyer, a former U.S. Congressman, a university chancellor, and most notably, a native Texan. With the launch of his new podcast, Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, Hance shares stories from his legendary life on themes relating to leadership, politics and great friendships with some real characters.Hance received his B.B.A. from Texas Tech University in 1965 and his law degree from the University of Texas in 1968. He served in the Texas state senate from 1975 - 1979. In 1978, after defeating George W. Bush, Hance was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Texas’ 19th Congressional District, where he served until 1985.Following six years as a U.S. Congressman, Hance served on the Texas Railroad Commission from 1987-1991 (Chairman 1989-1990), the Governor’s Energy Council, Governor’s Oil Spill Advisory Committee, Texas High Speed Rail Commission, Interstate Oil Compact Commission, and the Texas Mining Council.In 2006, Hance was selected to serve as Chancellor to Texas

Sanyin Siang shares highlights from her journey, and how to accept positive affirmations and constructive criticism as data points in your life, importance of being generous, and how to be vulnerable.Sanyin helps leaders launch and create value by focusing on mindset, behavioral change, and team and culture building. Sanyin is a CEO Coach, Advisor, Author,the Executive Director of Duke University’s Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) and a Professor with its Pratt School of Engineering.The COLE center is a leadership laboratory that engages all of Duke’s Daytime MBA students and convenes high-level think tank gatherings to explore today’s complex leadership opportunities and challenges.Sanyin coaches C-suite executives and is in the original cohort of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches. She is an advisor for GV (former Google Ventures), Duke Corporate Education, and the Sports Innovation Lab. Her thought leadership has appeared in Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN. She has mor

From the interview vault: Derek Champagne talks with pro athlete entrepreneur Rennie Curran about how to (Rennie's phrase) "operate at the level of your vision". As a former NFL player, Rennie shares his experience in transitioning to an entrepreneur and the valuable leadership lessons he's learned along the way.Rennie is the CEO of Game Changer Coaching whose mission is to help business professionals and elite athletes reach their fullest potential through personal development workshops and one-on-one coaching in order to improve leadership and career performance. Key areas of expertise include leadership effectiveness, building effective teams, strategic planning, mental toughness, conflict resolution, overcoming adversity, diversity and inclusion, and personal branding.Rennie is the author of Free Agent: Intangible Assets For Overcoming Adversity and Times of Transition and What Does It Take To Be A Star?, which he co-authored with his daughter.Learn more at https://renniecurran.com/

From the interview vault - In this episode Derek interviews Seth Buechley.Seth is a serial entrepreneur with a unique background. He grew up in a commune in the woods of southern Oregon, married his high school sweetheart, skipped college, and still managed to build and sell severalcompanies resulting in multi-million-dollar exits.He enjoys connecting high-potential leaders with the ideas and resources to grow their business or organization while achieving lasting leadership impact.Seth is also the author of the popular new book Ambition: Leading with Gratitude.Learn more at www.sethbuechley.com

Interview vault from Derek Champagne's discussion with international business woman Arlene Battishill. Arlene is the co-founder of the International brand GoGo Gear, a Shark Tank veteran, consultant, and best-selling author of the book Retail Therapy: A Prescription For What Ails Your Online Sales. Shark Tank Star, Daymond John, has called Arlene book, Retail Shock Therapy as "a MUST READ for businesses selling online."Arlene talks with Derek about building her brand, testing her product, shifting with the marketplace, her experience on Shark Tank, and tips for building effective communication that resonates with your target audience.

We pulled one of our favorite interviews from the BLS interview archives where Derek Champagne interviews Michael Levin. This was a powerful interview and Michael overdelivered as our guest! As one of the most established writers in the nation, New York Times best-selling author Michael Levin has written or co-written more than 100 books, of which eleven are national best sellers.He appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank on January 20th, 2012. In the past, Michael has published with Simon & Schuster, Random House, St. Martin’s Press, Putnam/Berkley, and many other houses. His works have been optioned for film and TV by Steven Soderbergh/Paramount, HBO, Disney, ABC, and others. One of his own novels became Model Behavior, an ABC Sunday night Disney movie of the week. He has also made contributions to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com, Politico, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, the Jerusalem Post, Writers Digest, CBS News. Michael has had the experience to teach writing classes at the Un

In this episode Derek Champagne is on the other side of the interview as a guest on Motivational Mondays, an amazing London-based podcast, hosted by Abigale Otchere.Derek talks about coming from humble beginnings, his years as a Hollywood musician, his rock bottom and overcoming obstacles, celebrating 15 years as an agency owner, how he ultimately measures success, and becoming a legacy entrepreneur.Learn more at www.businessleadershipseries.com