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.
Subscribe on the platform of your choice:
Feb 4, 2020 | S:2 E:9
Fred Koury started his business career by subcontracting his weekly chores to kids in the neighborhood. Fast forward to today and his list of accomplishments and business success stories have become extensive. Fred Koury is the President and CEO of Smart Business Network, a multi-faceted company serving the business community nationwide. Listen as he freely shares on how he makes big decisions, on the importance of mentoring, and many valuable life lessons regarding the intersection of faith and ethics while running a company.
Excerpt from The "Mary Gloster" by Rudyard Kipling (1894)
“They copied all they could follow
but they couldn't copy my mind
so I left them sweating and stealing
a year and a half behind.”
Andre Pienaar is the founder and CEO of C5, a venture capital firm operating at the intersection of commerce and government. On the boards of companies in 4 different countries, this British national shows a passion for America's strength and excellence greater than many of his U.S.-born colleagues. Tune in to hear how this national security and intelligence expert found himself labeled as a 'conniving intelligence officer,' and an 'evil foreign agent,' by the president of one major nation, all while working in pursuit of what he calls mission capital.
Many of the largest and most-respected organizations in the U.S. turn to Dale and Diversified Search when they want to find the best CEOs and board members in the marketplace. And unlike most of his peers in executive search, Dale himself is a board member of several high-profile companies like Chick-fil-a, Special Olympics, and Morehouse College. At the pinnacle of his profession, Dale does not forget where he came from and is convinced that we grow the most when we overcome major challenges.
Shelby Coffey attained the highest positions in his chosen field of journalism, as both the award-winning editor of the Los Angeles Times and also as President of CNNfn. With a rare combination of intellectual wit and substantial brain power, this Up2 guest provides meaningful commentary on the new media and technology, on big life choices, and on what it feels like to work in the public eye and have all of your efforts so broadly scrutinized.
Dan Richards is a true entrepreneur, having started numerous businesses and considering many more. After nearly 30 years of building his chemical testing business, why did he decide to sell his largest company? Meet yet another super-successful human being who has remained humble throughout his journey... And how extreme stress almost derailed him along the way.
San-Diego-based Mark Tager, MD, has practiced medicine, been a successful entrepreneur and is a global leader in creative marketing. He's the author of 10 books and has given more than 1,000 speeches. He even created his own personality profile system and is a recognized expert in anti-aging. This wide-ranging discussion will be valuable to anyone hoping to become the best possible versions of themselves.
What does it feel like to negotiate deals with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and in business? And how do you decide, 'what's next?" after achieving major success at a young age? This Washington D.C. power broker authentically shares on the importance of knowing your own strengths (and weaknesses), and the influential role honest mentors can play in your life, during this meaningful episode of the Up2 podcast.
Rick Goings: How does a man who left home at 16; quit college; and sold encyclopedias door-to-door end up running a successful $2 billion enterprise with worldwide reach? Our latest Up2 guest is a U.S. Navy veteran; has served as the global chairman of 4,000 Boys and Girls Clubs; and he is such a passionate leader that he became known for sweating through multiple shirts when he pumped up his teams on stage.
Washington, D.C.-based Jodie McLean leads Edens, a national retail real estate development company with more than 115 properties. Also a member of the Federal Reserve Board; a catalyst for female founders; and so much more, this Up2 guest authentically shares about her mission to enrich communities through bringing people together, and how she 'sorts' through initiatives to lean on her strengths to pursue the most compelling opportunities at home, at work, and in society at-large.
Palo Alto, California-based Pankaj Shah, lives and works in the heart of Silicon Valley. He has founded several companies and has invested directly in even more. A new social network focusing on emotion rather than accomplishment; an innovative insurance company; even a new gin business! Our guest today builds bridges between the hyper-fast world of NBA players, music superstars, and some of the biggest names in venture capital, managing to always remain humble and helpful in spite of his success.
Washington, D.C.-based David Ciccone and his family epitomize the American Dream. Both his parents grew up in modest Western European villages and came to America with huge hearts and big ideas for a bright future. Just one generation later, David is now leading his family and an extremely successful business of his own, serving CEOs and high net worth individuals throughout the U.S. In spite of his success as the managing director of CTH Group, David's mind and heart never stray far from his nurturing and intuitive heritage. CTH has become one of the largest wealth management firm's on the East Coast, and in this episode of the Up2 podcast David shares with Adam some of the secrets to his success.
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.
