What happens when a Fortune 20 executive blends sharp strategic thinking with a lifelong learner’s mindset? You get Sowmyanarayan Sampath, Chief Executive of Verizon Consumer. In this wide-ranging conversation, Sampath pulls back the curtain on how he leads one of the world’s largest tech-driven organizations—with clarity, calm, and a deep belief in people. From reshaping careers through AI to building lasting trust in teams, Sampath shares what it means to lead intentionally in a time of rapid change. He opens up about his personal philosophies, including why he thinks in three-year chapters, how karma influences his choices, and why self-discipline and communication are the new power skills. And his take on AI? It’s not something to fear—it’s “borrowing another brain.” He explains how it’s already transforming productivity, reshaping job roles, and giving professionals a chance to grow in entirely new ways.

Some leaders walk into a room and instantly change the energy—and Liz Haberberger is absolutely one of them. Liz is president of Dale Carnegie Missouri, a high-impact leadership coach, and a keynote speaker with a contagious blend of confidence, authenticity, and grit. Her superpower? Helping people see what's possible and empowering them to show up as the best version of themselves. She lives by the belief that “When you said yes to being a leader, you gave up the right to have a bad attitude.” In this episode, Liz shares how that mindset informs her approach to leadership, culture, and performance—and how anyone can build the emotional discipline to lead with intention. Whether she's guiding a Fortune 500 executive or a frontline manager, Liz brings clarity and candor. You'll also hear how her commitment to gratitude journaling and mindset training has helped her “train [her] brain to just look for what’s right instead of what’s wrong.”

Guy Fieri is back! A few months after our first conversation, he returns with even more energy, insight, and straight-talking leadership wisdom. In Part 2 of our episode, Guy dives deeper into what it truly means to stay authentic in a world that often pulls you away from your roots. From building rescue trailers for disaster zones to staying grounded despite massive success, Guy lives by principles that are both timeless and timely. As he reminds us, “If you don’t take the shot, you’re guaranteed to miss.”

Hal Elrod’s story is nothing short of miraculous. At 20, he died for six minutes after a car accident, broke 11 bones, and was told he would never walk again. But Hal didn’t just survive—he thrived. After overcoming incredible odds, including a battle with a rare form of cancer, he now helps others transform their lives through the power of mindset. As Hal says, "I will take 100% ownership for my health and healing for my life, and I will relentlessly research every holistic practice known to man, and I will implement all of them." Now, Hal shares his journey and his framework for success in his bestselling book The Miracle Morning. His approach has helped millions start their days with intention and clarity, and he continues to inspire others to take command of their lives. "The difference between successful and unsuccessful people," Hal says, "is not that they don’t face fear or insecurity. It’s whether they allow those mental and emotional roadblocks to stop them, or push forward despite them."

Anne Mahlum is not just an entrepreneur—she’s a force of nature. From using running to help people experiencing homelessness to scaling one of the fastest-growing boutique fitness brands in the country, she’s built businesses that change lives. But Anne’s story is more than just success—it’s about taking risks, embracing reinvention, and refusing to play by the rules. “We don’t have to live life the way other people expect us to,” she says. Tune in to hear how she built Back on My Feet and [solidcore], why she shared millions from her company’s sale with employees, and what’s next for her in business and life.

Scientific and medical research are critical aspects of our lives and even the economy. And no one knows this better than Dr. Bruce Stillman. Bruce is president and CEO of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He’s led this distinguished organization by wholeheartedly expressing his belief in what the company stands for. He says, “I think if you believe in the mission we have, which I do, then it's easy to pitch the mission, and if you pitch the mission right, then people can buy into it.” Bruce knows a thing or two about leading people to greatness. Listen out in this episode for his advice concerning the benefits of a flat organization, the paradox of the freedom and restrictions of science, the potential of AI in business and medical systems, and why mentoring is critical to an invested workforce. Bruce says, “We can afford to take a lot of risk, and we can hire people who are risk-takers. And that is the secret, I think.” Discover more of Bruce’s secrets in this eye-opening episode.

Ginni Rometty is someone who has defined herself and her career through intentional action backed by hard work and determination. She says, “It's your attitude, and you control it. You can spend ninety percent of your time reliving the problem and ten percent on the way out of it. Or you can spend ten percent dwelling on the problem and ninety percent about what to do going forward.” Ginni’s episode is packed with amazing advice. She talks about how intentional practice can produce brilliance, why it’s selfish when leaders aren’t role models, and what it means to become an “Olympic learner.” Ginni wants to see others succeed, saying, “Don't worry about not having every step planned out . . . I didn't. My view was [to] do a great job and the next thing will open itself up.” Tune in for this and other shining nuggets of Ginni’s wisdom.

Guy Fieri is arguably one of the most recognizable and well-known chefs in the culinary TV and restaurant world, and he owes it all to How to Win Friends and Influence People. Guy brings his whole self to everything he does, not worrying about anything standing in his way. Of his doubters, he says, “There may have been people deterring [me], but I don't really listen to that stuff. I pay attention to the things that are positive.” Guy has plenty of stories on this episode, as well as invaluable advice for anyone wanting to get along with others (which, let’s face it, is everyone in the workplace). From his early experience with Dale Carnegie’s teachings to his time on reality TV, Guy has built a brand of empathy, understanding, and genuine curiosity for others’ stories. He tackles life head-on, saying, “Empower yourself to engage in the situation, and at least be standing up taking the punches versus hiding in the corner laying down.” Learn plenty more from Guy when you tune in to this amazing and riotously funny episode.

This episode of the Take Command podcast comes with a twist—Joe (our usual host) is our interviewee! He sat down with Dr. Greg Story, president of Dale Carnegie Training in Tokyo. Among a plethora of exciting topics, Joe brings up the idea of trust, a concept he discussed with Richard Edelman on another podcast episode. Joe says, “At the end of the day, it does come down to believability. Do people do what they say they're going to do? Do they care? How do they follow through?” In this episode, Joe gives plenty of examples and advice on how to win friends and clients in business and why believability all comes down to human relationships.

Jason Buechel had a big task ahead of him when he started at Whole Foods: Consolidate thirteen distinct regions of teams into a system where individualization remained but could be scaled efficiently. His successes led him from the CTO/CIO position to COO in 2017 (when Amazon acquired Whole Foods), and now he leads as CEO. This journey has come with plenty of lessons. In this episode of the Take Command podcast, Jason discusses his style of servant leadership and what he’s learned while leading his teams through major changes. Everything he does is motivated by the idea that “our goal is ultimately not just how do we serve customers today, tomorrow, five years, ten years from now? But we want to change this entire industry so we can make sure that this is protected for future generations.” Tune in to hear why you shouldn’t dismiss things that you may not fully understand, why getting real-time feedback after you put solutions out there is important, and why you should always put your own name on the list.

On this episode of the Take Command podcast, Joe hosts Penny Zenker—a TEDx and keynote speaker, bestselling author twice over, and a self-proclaimed “focusologist.” What does that mean? To Penny, it means being present and conscious in the moment. “I believe that we've lost connection, and so we need to relearn and recommit to focus,” she says. But we’re living in a world where everything is “pushed” toward us and wants immediate attention. She says, “Let's move and be intentional to pull it when we want it. If we leave it where we're in the push world, then we're at the mercy and the interruptions of anything and everything.” Penny also walks listeners through four critical questions from her new book The Reset Mindset that will help them regain focus. Catch this episode to learn all about why we should ask ourselves “What’s next?”, what the gatekeepers are that help protect our focus, and what an -ologist really is.

Bob Chapman is a visionary who grew a small company through thick and thin to become a $3.6 billion powerhouse. But he knows that wouldn’t have been possible without the people surrounding him, and those people need to be cared for. He says, “Seventy-four percent of all illnesses are chronic. The biggest cause of chronic illnesses is stress. And the biggest cause of stress is work. We are destroying people.” That’s why Bob shares all his human-focused leadership insight in this episode of the Take Command podcast. “We can all say, ‘The government needs to do this, the new president needs to do that.’ But what are we doing to create the kind of world where our children, our friends, our family have a chance to be who they're intended to be?” Bob encourages all leaders to start measuring success by the way they touch the lives of people, from employees to customers to suppliers and more. Listen in as Bob and Joe discuss the history of Barry-Wehmiller, the importance of a foundational business plan, and why putting people first is the secret to success.

Bill Kramer’s entire aim as CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is to support creatives by leading his team into the future while preserving and honoring the past. It takes a lot of leadership prowess to do what Bill has achieved. Bill says that starts with finding joy in your work.: “We’re going to have good days; we’re going to have bad days. But if we’re not enjoying the work, if we're not sharing in working towards the mission of the organization, if we don't feel that it's important, then it’s hard to find the joy.” Tune in to hear why a CEO is only as good as their team, how to find opportunities in disruption and change, and what to do to move out of your comfort zone. Bill’s advice will have you stepping up to better leadership in no time.

As CEO of the Consumer Technology Association—which puts on the largest electronic show on the planet—Gary Shapiro has some serious clout. But Gary says that the way he came into his current position was “kind of amazing, in a way. It's almost like how many of us meet our spouses. It's just almost so random that it doesn't seem you could be so lucky.” Gary hasn’t relied on luck, however, to become a great leader. He’s put in the work, and he’s learned some incredible things that he shares with Dale Carnegie CEO Joe Hart on this episode of the Take Command podcast. Tune in to hear about why the risk-averse never succeed, the importance of meeting people where they are, and how the United Nations General Assembly came to name the “right to access technology” as a fundamental human security.

Wonya Lucas embodies all the best qualities of a leader, and, just like mom’s cookies, she does it all with a sprinkle of love. “Love is a commonality that we all have,” she says. “It is very much at the core of each person and the essence of people.” During her marketing and advising work, Wonya has kept her focus on those whom she is leading. “I want people to know that, as a leader, I'm here not just to help the company but to really help with their careers.” Tune in to hear more about how getting to know people feeds their success, why creating a safe space for vulnerability is critical, and why everything is about connecting with people to build relationships.

Barry McCarthy—CEO of Deluxe Corporation, a trusted payments and data company—visits the Dale Carnegie Take Command Podcast to share his wisdom. But don’t expect tautologies on the art of appeasing consumers. Barry is concerned with something deeper: “If we lose a customer, we can find another customer. If we lose our reputation, there's no way to get another reputation back, which means that integrity is incredibly important.” Integrity is what engages employees in the company mission and ultimately delivers for customers. Tune in to hear Barry’s thoughts on how to build (and destroy) passion, how to show you’re ready to be a leader, and why communication supports all your other goals.

On today’s Take Command podcast, Joe Hart digs into the expertise and stories of Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman Communications. Richard believes that leadership is simple: “We have to make others believe that they can be the next us and give them the chance over time to do that.” After earning his company the title “PR Agency of the Decade” from both Advertising Age and The Holmes Report, Richard knows a thing or two about leading others to greatness. “I want everyone to aspire to do something, to change the world,” he says. Tune in to hear about humble leadership, failing forward, and the origins of the Butterball “Turkey Talk” hotline.

How often do we tell ourselves stories about ourselves or our lives that are just that—stories? Sharon Price John is here to show us a better way to the truth. Sharon grew up in a town where everyone knew everyone’s names. This upbringing taught her how to form lifelong relationships and truly connect with people. She says, “What you do in the moment matters in the long run, and you should hold yourself accountable.” This drives her actions and the advice she gives in this incredible episode of the Take Command podcast. In her insights, you will find advice on working for people (not just investors), gaining strategic trust from employees, and how to be malleable while sticking to the company’s ultimate mission. In the end, she tells us: “If you're dreaming of being a C-level individual, I advise anyone to learn how to be a change agent.” Sharon has not sat back and watched her life go by. She has grabbed at every opportunity and used them to learn and grow. Don’t miss out on her wisdom.

Aaron Witt says that the first time a bulldozer roared by him was an “intoxicating” experience. Now, he’s made the Dirt World (a term coined by him) his business with BuildWitt, a company focused on helping attract and train individuals in construction and infrastructure jobs. As a business owner, Aaron sees his imperative as becoming the best leader he can be, so he can best serve those around him. You don’t want to miss this episode packed with leadership lessons, communication tips, and plenty of inspiring stories detailing how Aaron got to where he is today.

Today’s guest is none other than Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS and author of the book GRAVITAS: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. If there’s one word that defines Lisa it’s—you guessed it— “gravitas,” a word Lisa admits she didn’t know the meaning of the first time she heard about her lack of it in a performance review. From insightful gems such as “The mentor chooses you. You don't choose the mentor, so make yourself “mentorable” to entertaining and inspirational quips like “Feedback is a gift and not a stick of dynamite,” this interview helps listeners overcome issues with confidence to become the leader they’ve always wanted to be. Tune in to hear about naming our fears, why language matters, and what really made Dumbo fly.