Plain Spoken

Join Derek Fournier in this episode of "Plain Spoken," the bi-weekly podcast where business, leadership, and life intersect. Discover the keys to building a high-performance culture that goes beyond perks and compensation. Learn how to align roles with strengths, communicate effectively, empower your team with accountability, and lead by example. Tune in to understand the importance of small wins, purposeful alignment, and trust-bu...

In this episode of Plain Spoken, join host Derek Fournier, recording from Antwerp, Belgium, as he discusses the essence of leading with empathy. Discover how genuine empathy transforms leadership and fosters an inclusive, motivated, and resilient workplace. Derek shares personal anecdotes, emphasizes the importance of open communication, and discusses effective tools like active listening. Learn how being an empathetic leader not o...

Dive into the intricacies of building a customer-centric business with Derek Fournier on the latest episode of Plain Spoken. Discover how passion and care in leadership can drive customer satisfaction and business success. Learn from real-world examples like Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks on how to leverage customer feedback, empower employees, and implement scalable solutions.

This bi-weekly podcast shares valuable insights, st...

In this episode of "Plain Spoken" with host Derek Fournier, we dive into the world of fractional leadership with Beau Billington, the visionary founder of The Free Agent. Covering a wide array of topics from the benefits of fractional leadership in the tech sector to the importance of mentorship, this episode reveals how companies can utilize fractional executives for both strategic and tactical support. We discuss the in...

In this episode of the Plain Spoken podcast, host Derek Fournier delves into the complex world of business transformations. Drawing from his extensive experience in leadership and the digital industry, Derek shares valuable insights on how to effectively navigate transformative changes within organizations. From defining a clear vision and strategy to engaging stakeholders and maintaining effective communication, this episode offer...

Join host Derek Fournier in the latest episode of the Plain Sight Strategy Group podcast as he dives into the transformative power of innovation in traditional industries. Drawing insights from the book "Outstanding," Derek highlights a remarkable case study where simple innovation took business metrics to new heights. This episode underscores the significance of investing in research and development, patents, and trade...

In this insightful episode of Plain Sight Strategy Group, host Derek Fournier dives deep into the art of effective leadership in times of crisis. Drawing on his personal journey and extensive experience from his time at Microsoft and leading his current organization, Derek discusses the crucial elements that make or break a leader during challenging periods.

He shares valuable lessons on the importance of clear communication, empat...

In this compelling episode of "Plain Sight Strategy Group," host Derek Fournier gets into the multifaceted journey of Prag Shah, from working on groundbreaking NASA projects to navigating the corporate world of Sprint and leading global transformations at Rosetta Stone, and how those experiences directly shaped his path more recently into hospitality/travel/leisure at Princess Cruises and Vail Resorts. Prag Shah's car...

Join us on this enlightening episode of the Plain Spoken podcast, hosted by Derek Fournier. In this session, we dive deep with Trevor Hunter, an executive coach from Talentism, who brings a revolutionary perspective to leadership and business management. Trevor discusses the transformative concept of "Talentism," which leverages insights from neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology to systematically unleash hum...

Join us on this enlightening episode of Plain Spoken, where host Derek Fournier engages with transformation coach Huw Edwards in a deep and rich conversation about the dynamics of personal and professional growth. Discover insights on the power of gratitude, the art of surrendering to life's experiences, and the importance of integrating intuition with intellectual rigor. Huw shares his transformative personal journey from pres...

Role Reversal!

Today, I am the guest on another podcast but I will release it here as well. For those interested, and I think you should be, I am with Dan Dominguez of the Lead Different Podcast. His show can be found here: Lead Different Podcast | Dan Dominguez (podbean.com)

Join us on this enlightening episode of "Lead Different" where our host, Dan Dominguez, sits down with esteemed business strategist and innova...

Dive into the "Plain Spoken" podcast with Derek Fournier as he tackles the nuanced concept of 'family' in the workplace. In this insightful episode, Derek challenges the traditional boundaries between personal and professional relationships, advocating for a broader understanding of family that encompasses the trust and bonds formed in our work environments. Join him as he navigates the complexities of work dynami...

Join host Derek Fournier and special guest Dan Dominguez in this insightful episode of Plain Sight Strategy Group, where we dive into the value of knowing your 'why' and the power of simplicity in leadership. Discover how authenticity and clear communication can attract like-minded individuals and clients who value trust in a consultant. Dan shares his personal journey, leaving a high-profile corporate job to pursue his pa...

Join Derek Fournier on Plain Spoken as he delves into the evolving landscape of content consumption. In this quick hitter episode, Derek discusses the emergence of "TL;DV" (Too Long; Didn't View) as an entry in the urban dictionary and explores the implications of our shrinking attention spans on how we consume information. Through insightful commentary, Derek shares his thoughts on the importance of context and the ...

Welcome to "Plain Simple," where we explore the essence of constructive conflict and its critical role in fostering innovation within teams. Drawing on experiences from my years at Microsoft, this episode delves into how a culture of open disagreement and trust can propel teams toward unprecedented success.

Discover:

• Why constructive conflict is essential for bringing the best ideas to the surface.
• The importance...

In this enlightening episode of "Plain Spoken," host Derek Fournier engages in a deep dive with Andy Schwalb, a visionary leader whose journey from Disney to Virgin Voyages has shaped the realms of technology and innovation. Schwab shares his insights on authentic leadership, the pivotal role of company culture in driving success, and the integration of technology with storytelling to create immersive experiences. He ref...

In this episode of "Plain Spoken," Derek Fournier sits down with Bill Anderson, a veteran in the realms of technology and leadership at Ford Motor Company's Mode E Division. With over two decades of friendship and professional camaraderie between them, Derek and Bill dive into the essence of what makes leaders truly impactful. They'll explore the significance of moving beyond compensation to foster a work environm...