Refreshingly candid conversations with some of today's most humble leaders. Adam Kaufman dives into topics often left unexplored. His guests’ challenges, fears, and motivations show what it takes to become a humble leader.
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Joel Peterson: Radical Intentionality
September 16, 2024 | S:6 E:5
There's something special about super-accomplished business leader, Joel Peterson. He teaches some of the most popular courses at Stanford; he led JetBlue Airways when they topped the industry's customer satisfaction rankings; and he was at the helm when Tramel Crow was the largest real estate development company in the U.S. His newest book, Juggling Glass and Rubber Balls, chronicles how this father of 7 successful children (31 grandchildren!) navigates parenting and career and the inevitable curves in the road. Exuding authentic humility in spite of all of his achievements, Joel embodies the ethos of Up2. Tune in for Joel's wisdom career, intellectual and spiritual maturity, goal-setting, and parenting.
Wikipedia refers to him as the Co-Founder of the Blockchain. But Dr. Stornetta identifies himself first as a 'Grandfather,' on his LinkedIn profile, illustrating perfectly how humbly this Stanford PhD (physics) and CEO thinks about what matters most. What a privilege it is to get inside the mind of such an accomplished yet meek achiever, as Scott (his preference) previews where he feels blockchain technology will benefit us most and also how faith and science-based worldviews can co-exist.
Dr David Agus is unofficially but quite likely the most famous and sought after physician in the world. Always on the front end of medical innovation, countless patients around the globe have benefited from his care. He's written multiple New York Times bestsellers, including The End of Illness, and his expertise and vision inspired Oracle founder Larry Elllison to donate $200 million to create perhaps the most advanced center in the world. He led Steve Jobs' medical team for years and he routinely serves on U.S. and international health panels alongside the most important health leaders in the world. All while remaining humble and modest and with a thirst for improving results for the betterment of all society.
After mastering protocol at the highest levels at both the White House and the U.S. State Dept., Shelby started a business to serve literally the most famous and influential humans on the planet. Pope John Paul II; Nelson Mandela; President Reagan..... and throughout her impressive career has lived a life exuding and promoting civility.
After losing sales because he couldn't accept credit cards as a young, independent artist, this glass blower invented Square (NYSE: SQ), enabling not only his artist friends but literally millions of small business owners to process credit cards with mobile phones. Now, this remarkably humble billionaire is building his next transformational idea, all while remaining unchanged from his family-centric, Midwestern roots. In spite of his obvious success and many gifts, our latest Up2 guest is so self-deprecating, he reminds himself to, 'Shut up and try not to embarrass yourself.' ... Could just be our most meaningful conversation yet.
Born into perhaps America's most watched and revered family, Tim Shriver decided to focus on education for his first major pursuit. Recognized for his passionate efforts as the worldwide leader of the Special Olympics, a few years back Dr Shriver delivered the most powerful presentation I ever witnessed... Which made me thrilled to have him in our Up2 studio for a conversation about spirituality, dignity, and what role we all play in making America the best she can be.
Having spent 20 years helping to write the Google story, Ted Souder is now applying his creative mind to help cities, companies and consumers around the world think about a more digital future. A leading member of the Chicago business community, this technologist authentically shares on his first in-studio appearance on the Up2 podcast.
Talking his way into a Hughes Helicopter business in Indonesia just after graduating from Stanford, Jim Jameson's career as a global business man seemed evident early on. 120 countries later, after meeting dozens of heads of state, and identifying and backing countless entrepreneurs worldwide, our guest owns a myriad of companies in diverse industries: Publishing in Poland; Agriculture in the Middle East; Motion Pictures in Vietnam; Aerospace in Los Angeles; E-commerce in China; he even has 25 employees in the Ukraine... But this sophisticated thinker does not only ponder commerce. On this edition of the Up2 podcast we also discuss how Jim works to see the best in people, even his classmate convicted of murder, and why he continues to visit a French monastery annually to retreat silently to explore life's biggest questions.
He transformed his family business into a global leader in the industry. He's passionate abut his family, motorcycles, and living life with boundless optimism and joy. Tune in for this meaningful conversation with Dirk Junge, former chairman and CEO of Pitcairn, a world leader in family offices and generational wealth. Considered a true thought leader in family enterprises, Dirk divulges how his own family's combination of privilege and tragic loss inform who he is and how he aims to inspire others to live life to the fullest.
Peter Goldstone is the Chairman of GovExec, a large digital media platform gobbling up many of the most important communication and data assets serving the government. This dynamic leader's rise was not without loss and pain, however, yet today he's living life to the fullest...always smiling, always humble. Operating out of D.C. but with his New York-hometown still in his heart, tune in here as this magnetic achiever authentically shares about not only his accomplishments but also how he managed to navigate some considerable curves in the road along the way.
For the past twenty years, Adam Kaufman has been serving, calling on, and marketing to many of the most successful and influential leaders in the U.S. and abroad. He has earned the trust of CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and nonprofit leaders. This professional life has created a platform from which he has been able to observe the most effective leaders and what motivates these accomplished people of influence: their leadership styles, their challenges, their worries, and their motivations.
Adam has been an advisor to JumpStart’s CEO and President for five years and is a partner in Palo Alto-based Ovo Fund, a seed-stage venture fund. Adam also serves as the Carol A. Melton Executive-in-Residence at Washington, D.C.-based PathNorth. He loves helping leaders grow their companies and is a board member of South Dakota-based Biltmore Trust Company and an advisor and board member to several entrepreneurs.
Previously, Adam served as president of Healthnetwork Foundation for a decade, providing facilitated access into top hospitals for high net-worth families worldwide. Additionally, he led a fast-growth business which reached #10 on Cleveland’s Weatherhead 100 list.
