Executive Edge Podcast

In this episode of Executive Edge, Simon sits down with Professor Americus Reed II, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, to explore the deep connections between psychology, branding, and leadership. Americus shares his journey from early questions of identity to becoming a leading voice on brand equity and identity loyalty.

Together, they unpack the power of personal and...

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg welcomes Camille Batiste, a trailblazing leader in global supply chain and procurement. Camille’s journey began in Jamaica and took her through Stanford, engineering, and two decades at Honeywell before stepping into senior leadership roles at Archer Daniels Midland. Today, as president of the Blackman Grant Group, she invests in leaders and small businesses to shape the next generation of ch...

On this episode of Executive Edge, Greg sits down with John McCown, non-resident senior fellow at the Center for Maritime Strategy and a leading authority on container shipping and maritime commerce. With more than four decades of operating and investment experience, John shares how his early career in banking led to a 20-year mentorship under Malcolm McLean, the inventor of container shipping, and later to founding TrailerBridge, ...

On this episode of Executive Edge, we’re joined by Chris Droney, Chief Operating Officer at Milo’s Tea Company. Chris shares how Milo’s has grown from a regional favorite into one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the U.S., expanding from one to four facilities in just five years and setting sights on $1 billion in retail sales by 2027.

With nearly 20 years of CPG and supply chain leadership, Chris offers insights on scalin...

On this episode of Executive Edge, Simon Rycraft sits down with Simon Hall, former BBC correspondent turned Cambridge lecturer, communication coach, and author of more than 20 books. Hall shares how a rebellious teenager inspired by a hippie English teacher grew into a master of storytelling, and why clarity, brevity, and authenticity are the secret weapons of every great leader.

From coaching executives to ditch the jargon to the ...

On this episode of Executive Edge, Greg Anderson interviews John Hellriegel, a supply chain veteran and Rutgers professor, about decades of hands-on experience in demand planning, inventory optimization, and distribution. John shares stories from Pepperidge Farm, Diageo (including solving Red Stripe’s bottling and logistics issues), Honeywell and Estée Lauder, explains multi-echelon inventory thinking, and discusses the role of AI ...

In this enlightening episode of Executive Edge, host Simon engages in a captivating conversation with Beth Fisher-Yoshida, a renowned Columbia University professor and UN advisor. Together, they delve into the complexities of communication, conflict, and power dynamics in the modern workplace.

Beth shares her valuable insights on the evolving appreciation of communication skills in corporate and governmental institutions, highlight...

Join Simon on this episode of Executive Edge as he engages in a profound conversation with Cece Morken, a distinguished Fortune 500 board director and former CEO of Headspace. Cece shares insightful perspectives on the critical yet underrated executive skill of mindfulness in leadership. Discover what it truly takes to serve on top boards and the strategic importance of being present in leadership roles. Cece delves into her season...

In this episode of Executive Edge, host Simon Rycraft welcomes Nada Alnajafi, an esteemed attorney and founder of Contract Nerds, to explore the intricacies of contract redlining. Nada shares her expertise on how the right redlining etiquette can streamline contract negotiations and enhance clarity and collaboration among parties.

Listeners will gain insights into Nada's journey of building a thriving global community dedicated to ...

In this episode of Executive Edge, host Greg Anderson delves deep into the evolving landscape of procurement technology alongside industry legend Pierre Mitchell, Chief Research Officer at Spend Matters. Pierre shares his extensive experience in the procurement field and provides insights on how AI is revolutionizing the sector.

Listeners will explore the myths and realities of AI's role in procurement, particularly the misconcepti...

In this episode of Executive Edge, host Simon Rycraft talks with Kevin Petrie, former Chief Procurement Officer at Nestlé and a seasoned expert in supply chain management. Kevin shares insights from his global career, starting as a coffee trader and rising to lead procurement and supply chain operations at one of the world’s largest CPG companies. He discusses navigating tariffs, managing risk in complex supply chains, and turning ...

In this episode of Executive Edge, host Greg Anderson talks with Jim O'Rourke, a seasoned leader in operations and supply chain management with a unique background in military service. Jim shares his extensive experience transitioning from a U.S. Army Airborne Engineer to key roles at major companies like Procter & Gamble, offering insights into leading teams, managing supplier relationships, and fostering company culture. With...

Welcome to this episode of Experts Uncut, where Simon sits down with Jon Sonnenschein, a multi-time CEO with a rich background in product management and Private Equity. Jon shares his journey from starting in product management to becoming a pivotal figure in various successful business ventures, providing valuable insights into managing $300 million P&Ls without direct authority and rallying teams to drive business growth.

Jon...

In this episode of Experts Uncut, host Simon welcomes Tiger Tyagarajan, the former CEO of Genpact, to discuss the engineering, leadership, AI and fitness. Tiger shares his journey from being a sales leader at Unilever to leading Genpact through its transformation and public listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

Listen in as Tiger elaborates on the importance of long-term relationships, trust, and team building in driving change a...

In this episode, Simon sits down with Natasha Gurevich, the former Chief Procurement Officer at Nike and a seasoned expert in procurement leadership. Natasha shares her extensive experience, starting from her unexpected journey into procurement at The Gap, to leading global procurement at renowned companies like McKesson, Salesforce, and PayPal.

Natasha discusses the importance of understanding global factors, building strong suppl...

In this episode of Experts Uncut, we look behind the scenes of the Food Supply Chain with Howard Graham, a food entrepreneur turned consultant who has worked with some of the world’s largest food manufacturers, distributors, and investors.

Howard discusses how consumer trends have evolved over the last 30 years and the impact that has had on how companies buy, ship, store and sell food products. He also shares some of the technique...

In this episode of Experts Uncut, we explore Leadership best practices in the face of uncertainty with Kenneth Valentine, a prior-Special Agent in Charge of the Dignitary Protective Division in Washington, DC who served on the US Secret Service's Presidential Detail for Presidents Bush, Clinton and Obama.

Kenneth discusses the importance of vision in leadership through a compelling analogy from his Secret Service training, emphasiz...

In this episode of Experts Uncut, we delve deep into the art of negotiation with Scott Walker, a former Scotland Yard detective and kidnap for ransom negotiator. Scott shares his wealth of experience from over 16 years in counterterrorism and hostage negotiations, now channeled into helping businesses and individuals navigate high-stakes negotiations and resolve conflicts.

Scott discusses the importance of preparation, the psychol...