Advertise on podcast: Take Command: A Leadership Podcast

Christina Dorr Drake & Rusty Drake, co-founders of Willa’s Organic Oat Milk, faced the dual challenges of launching their new product during Covid-19 Pandemic and navigating Christina's breast cancer journey This episode explores their entrepreneurial lessons, emphasizing communication, relationship building, resilience, and the vital role of self-care in business. From battling cancer to empowering teams, their inspiring journey encapsulates the strength found in adversity and the keys to building a successful product, brand & collaborations.

Niren Chaudhary is the CEO & Chairman of the Board of Panera Brands, one of the world's largest fast-casual restaurant companies. With prior roles as President of Krispy Kreme and 23 years at Yum! Brands, including the Global President of KFC, his leadership is unparalleled. Join us and listen to Niren's leadership insights on leading with courage, gratitude, generosity, and congruency. Be self-aware to not overplay our strengths and present one version of ourselves.

Alvaro Nuñez Alfaro, originally from Madrid, Spain, found himself drawn to the world of tennis at an early age. His dreams of becoming a professional tennis player laid the foundation for his resilient and adventurous spirit. Graduating as a valedictorian student, Alvaro used his proficiency in tennis as a lever to secure a scholarship in the U.S., kickstarting a journey that would transcend sports and lead him into the dynamic realm of entrepreneurship. He is the founder & CEO of the real-estate company Super Luxury Group in Miami, FL, bestselling author of “Level Up”, based in Miami, FL. He was recently named the “Best Health Influencer of the Year” by Influencers Insider.

Chris Winton was a key figure in both FedEx and is the Champion of People at Tesla, gaining profound insights from iconic CEOs Fred Smith and Elon Musk. Join us to learn Chris’ insights on authentic leadership, setting goals, mentoring with humanity, and preparation with passion.

Join us and listen to Deena Ghazarian's insights about the importance of open communication, networking, mentorship, and adaptability in our career journey. Deena is a former executive at Macy's who has transitioned into a tech executive and is currently the CEO of Austere, an award-winning technology accessories company. She is also the co-founder of Chloe Nickie, a women's shoe business that provides higher-end brands at reasonable prices and donates a significant portion of its profits to support autism spectrum disorders

Vala Afshar is a prominent figure in the world of technology and digital transformation. He currently serves as the Chief Digital Evangelist for Salesforce. Vala is renowned for his thought leadership, digital presence, and storytelling abilities. He has nearly one million followers on Twitter (now X), over 600 published articles, and is the author of two books, and is also the co-host of DisrupTV, a weekly podcast show covering the latest digital business and innovation market trends. Join us to hear Vala Afshar’s valuable insights on developing our personal brand, building healthy habits, and improving people’s careers and lives.

Aarash Darroodi is General Counsel, Executive Vice President, and Corporate Secretary of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, one of the world’s global leaders in manufacturing instruments and amplifiers. He grew up in Iran with his grandparents and was able to move to his parents in the USA at the age of 7. His background and experience with immigration to the US shaped who he is today. With a background spanning over 19 countries, he connects cultures across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and beyond. His endeavors resulted in Fender's largest acquisition of PreSonus Audio Electronics. Darroodi attributes his success to several factors, including taking a Dale Carnegie course while he was a teenager. Aarash offers key pieces of advice that are core to his success and ingrained in his philosophy of life. -Become a Storyteller -Navigate Cross-Cultural Teams -Execute Innovative Leadership Strategies -Grow Through Networking -Make Strategic Decisions -Apply Adaptive Learning Techniques -Be Resilient in Adversity -Make Strategic Decisions

Britta Wilson most recently served as the Vice President of Inclusion & Outreach at Pixar Animation, where she led initiatives to discover, nurture and empower diverse voices. Her primary focus is on cultivating resonant content, fostering a culture of belonging, and promoting compassionate community service. Britta's life journey also involved prioritizing her family and pursuing a Ph.D. in Education, specializing in organizational leadership. She consistently sought opportunities to make an impact and learn, even if it meant taking on roles with less prestigious titles. Setbacks were seen as learning moments, never reasons to wallow. Join us in this captivating podcast episode as we delve into Britta Wilson's inspiring journey and her dedication to creating a positive impact through storytelling and inclusive leadership.

Redfoo, born Stefan Kendal Gordy, is a multi-platinum selling singer and two times Grammy nominee, songwriter, producer, and Web3 coder. Despite facing hurdles and criticism, Redfoo pursued his passion for music and achieved success. He is best known for his hit single "Party Rock Anthem" in 2011 and his performance for Super Bowl Half Time Show in 2012. However, he has recently shifted his focus towards coding, considering it the ultimate creativity that combines math, science, engineering, and language. Growing up, Redfoo harbored aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player, only to have his dreams dashed when his mother asserted that his height would prevent him from making it. Undeterred, he turned his attention to music, immersing himself in rap and showcasing his talent with a Casio keyboard. Despite facing further skepticism from his father, the influential music industry figure Barry Gordy, who doubted his vocal abilities, Redfoo defied the odds and achieved remarkable success as a multi-platinum rapper. These experiences taught him the importance of pursuing personal dreams and not allowing external opinions to sway his path. Piers Ridyard is CEO of Radix, a Web3 and DeFi company. He collaborates with Redfoo to create accessible and user-friendly digital platforms. They both share a common goal of making Web3 and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) easily approachable for everyone. They collaborated to develop #Scrypto, a programming language that simplifies the process of building on Web3 and DeFi, enabling individuals to create projects in a short time frame.

Meet Merrie Williamson, an accomplished leader with a diverse background. With 20 years of experience leading engineering teams at Intel and currently serving as the Corporate Vice President of Azure Infra at Microsoft, Merrie's career trajectory has been remarkable. In this episode, Merrie shares her personal journey of discovery and the pivotal moment that led her to embrace empathy and transition into her current leadership role as CVP of Azure Infrastructure and Digital & App Innovation at Microsoft. Merrie’s journey also touches on her personal experiences, including her adoption and subsequent exploration of her identity during her time as a student at the University of Michigan. She emphasizes the role of support networks, such as employee resource groups (ERGs) and peer mentoring, in fostering personal and professional growth. Join us on this episode as Merrie Williamson's inspiring story unfolds, offering valuable insights for leaders and professionals in the business world.

Meet Ron Carter, a veteran of the technology industry and the inventor of the first video doorbell—now known as Ring. He is revolutionizing the industry with his latest first-generation technology that addresses security in the e-commerce sector using mobile applications for improved security, access, and logistics. Despite facing multiple setbacks, including losing everything and battling cancer, he never gave up and continued to pursue his dream. Join us and get inspired to take command of your ideas, leverage individual strengths, and build highly effective teams.

Silvina Moschini is an Argentinian entrepreneur and businesswoman. She is the founder, president & chairwoman of Unicoin, a next-generation cryptocurrency designed to be stable and profitable because it’s backed by a portfolio of equity stakes in the companies part of Unicorn Hunters, is a new groundbreaking investment platform that will spotlight emerging growth companies looking to hit the coveted $1B “unicorn” valuation mark while rallying individual investors worldwide to help fund these breakout ventures. She is highly respected in the fields of technology and the digital transformation of the workplace. In 2020, she became the first Latin American woman to lead a company to unicorn status, with an evaluation of more than $1.6 billion through a Global Private Offering. Silvina’s restless entrepreneurial energy keeps her continuously innovating. She aims to transform the way people invest and transact. Her belief is that alternative forms of currency are needed to address the current instability of traditional currency markets. She’s already sold more than $315 million worth of Unicoin in less than a year. Her leadership style is grounded in several fundamental concepts: inspire others, bring out the best in everybody, and work together toward a goal. She admits that she picked up some of these principles from reading How to Win Friends and Influence People early in her career,