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Excellent International Leadership

This podcast will provide case studies, strategies, and tactics from seasoned global leaders who have navigated the complexities of the global market. Your host Dr. Katrina Burrus, MCC is the First Master Certified Coach and founding Board Member of the International Coach Federation in Switzerland. She has served as an adjunct professor at several universities. She coaches leaders around the world and facilitates a mastermind of seasoned international leaders. For more episodes go to https://mkbconseil.ch/eil-podcast/
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Excellent International Leadership
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Now displaying: 2024
Apr 25, 2024

Everyone wants to achieve success in their career by making strategic decisions and committing wholeheartedly.  

But the challenge lies in navigating cultural differences and adapting to diverse work environments, as highlighted by Gavin Isaacs' experience in international business.  

The key to success is to respect and understand different cultures, make decisions confidently, and commit fully to the chosen path. By embracing multiculturalism and being open-minded, individuals can effectively navigate challenges and achieve their goals.  

Gavin Isaacs is an Experienced Public Company Board director. AGA Gaming Hall of Fame. Previously entrepreneurial and innovative global gaming and lottery CEO with over 25 years’ experience acquiring, financing and building multi-billion-dollar businesses in the Americas, EMEA, Asia, and Australia. Savin Isaacs is known for creating new company cultures that focus on exceeding customer expectations, driving high employee performance, and delivering strong bottom-line financial results. He emphasizes the importance of making decisions with commitment and aligning heart and gut instincts. 

In this episode, Gavin shares his fascinating journey from being an attorney to becoming a prominent figure in the gaming industry. 

Embrace cultural diversity, make decisions with confidence, and commit wholeheartedly to your chosen path to succeed in the dynamic world of international business. 

 

What you’ll Learn from this Episode: 

  • Discover the key ingredients for turning around a struggling company to a successful one 

  • From corporate law to running a conglomerate of over 12,000 people, Gavin Isaacs shares his valuable insights on international business and leadership.  

  • Learn about the importance of cultural awareness in international business  

 

On making leadership decision "Once you make a decision, think about it, make your decision and then make it and commit to it. and go with your heart and your gut, they've got to be aligned." - Gavin Isaacs 

 

Topics Covered:

02:26 - Gavin's early career and transition to gaming 
03:41 - Achievements in the gaming industry 
04:14 - Key ingredients for company turnaround 
06:30 - Building a great team and leadership style 
08:02 - Differences between law and gaming industries 
10:15 - Psychology behind gaming and entertainment 
13:23 - Overcoming age and credibility challenges 
15:59 - Relationship with CEO and career progression 
22:08 - Experience as CEO of Shufflemaster 
23:23 - Leading specific  games and major acquisitions 
25:07 - Venturing into online gaming and sports betting 
28:11 - Advice for international business 
32:48 - Personal reflections and advice to younger self 

 

Connect with Gavin Isaacs 

 

Connect with Katrina Burrus 

Mar 28, 2024

Everyone wants to succeed in their investments by avoiding the pitfalls discussed in the podcast.

The challenge lies in navigating the complexities of investment decisions, including conducting thorough research, assessing and managing risks, and avoiding emotional decision-making.

In this episode of the Excellent International Leadership Podcast, Dr. Katrina Burrus interviews Andrew Stotz, an international financial analyst and investment expert who has conducted 800 interviews on people's worst investment experiences. 

Stay tuned to learn more about the six key lessons from Andrew's interviews.

 

What You’ll Learn From this Episode

  • Learn about the top 6 mistakes people make when investing, including insights into financial investments, starting a business, or entering a relationship.

  • Explore cultural differences in attitudes towards money between the US and Thailand.

  • Use the 6 listed investment mistakes as guide for you to create, grow, and protect your wealth

 

On investing ‘  "...people basically get emotional. They jump into something or they're not thinking clearly." - Andrew Stotz

Topics Covered:

  • 00:15 - Discussion on the lessons learned from interviewing 800 people on their worst investment ever. Emphasis on the importance of research before investing and not solely relying on advisors.

  • 04:29 - Importance of assessing and managing risks in investments.Explanation of the stop-loss strategy in managing risk.

  • 06:26 - Discussion on the impact of emotions and flawed thinking on investment decisions.

  • 13:15 - Examples of misplaced trust in investments leading to scams and fraudulent schemes.Comparison between the US and other countries in terms of regulatory burdens and trust in investments.

  • 20:27 Importance of monitoring investments to prevent losses.Discussion on the decline of capitalism in the US and the impact of regulatory burdens on entrepreneurship.

  • 28:55 Critique of the current narrative around big businesses and their role in societal issues.Discussion on the function of businesses to increase value within legal frameworks.

 

Connect with Andrew Stotz

 

Connect with Katrina Burrus

 

Mar 21, 2024

Leadership communication is essential for good leadership, as it is the connective tissue that binds organizations together. Both internal and external leadership rely on effective communication to influence the marketplace. 

However, the challenge lies in the evolving realm of communication, where leaders must navigate the digital landscape and polarized markets.  

William Berenson has a diverse work experience spanning over three decades. William is currently serving as the Senior Partner at Paktolus Solutions LLC, a technology services company that connects people and businesses globally.  

Prior to this, Berenson held the position of Partner/Board Member at PWRstation SA, where they served as the Chief Marketing Officer.  

Don't miss out on this enriching discussion on leadership communication with Katrina and William. 

Listen to learn more about the latest trends in leadership techniques and elevate your leadership skills to the next level. 

 

What You’ll learn From this Episode: 

  • Learn about the importance of communication in leadership. 

  • Learn about the evolving realm of communication in today's digital world. 

  • Determine the impact of different communication styles on leadership success. 

  • Find out how to bring your leadership to the next level through effective communication strategies. 

 

"Communication is central to the idea of leadership." -William Berenson 

Topics Covered: 

  • 03:12 - Introduction to the importance of communication in leadership and the changing landscape of communication in today's digital world. 

  • 03:54 - Discussion on evaluating leadership communication styles, comparing articulate vs. less articulate approaches and their impact on influencing the marketplace. 

  • 04:58 - Examples of effective leadership communication: Donald Trump's use of digital media and Senor Rendao's quiet yet influential leadership style at Banco Bradesco. 

  • 05:29 - Impressive leadership examples showcasing wisdom and experience in decision-making. 

  • 06:15 - Summary of key leadership attributes discussed: clarity, influence, wisdom, and the importance of effective communication in leadership. 

 

 

Connect with William Berenson 

 

Connect with Katrina Burrus 

Feb 23, 2024

Leadership in service and working with nations with different leadership styles is a crucial aspect of international cooperation. 

However, the challenge lies in bridging the gap between different leadership styles and approaches. Each nation has its own cultural and organizational context, which can influence their leadership practices.

To overcome this challenge, leaders must have a deep understanding of different leadership styles and be adaptable in their approach. 

And the question, how does one find consensus from different countries in NATO  because each nation has its own priorities.  

Derrick Lee, a military/army officer with 30 years of experience in the intelligence specialty, with extensive experience in multinational,coalition,alliance operational environments, having led both US and allied military service members. Two combat deployments, to Iraq and Afghanistan, and experience in NATO as well as Republic of Korea/US Combined Forces Command. 

Well, let's deep dive with  Derrick Lee about his extensive military experience and his experience in multinational alliance operation and how consensus reached us at all. 

 

What You’ll Learn From This Episode

  • Challenges in Building Consensus within NATO Members: Discover the complexities of aligning diverse national interests within NATO to achieve common goals.

  • Leadership Evolution in Military and Organizational Hierarchies: Explore the shift in leadership styles as you progress up the ranks, from a focus on internal operations to strategic oversight.

  • The Importance of Relationships in Leadership: Learn how guiding and leading your teams to cultivate strong relationships, not just vertically but also horizontally, can enhance team dynamics and performance.

Derrick Lee on managing different levels of the organization: "As you go up, the ratio of down and in versus up and out shifts. Down and in means you're focused within your organization and you're really kind of being closely involved. Up and out means you're interacting more with your higher headquarters, you're interacting more with your adjacent organization, and really kind of looking at the greater strategic picture."

 

Topics Covered:

  • 00:23 Introduction to Derrick Lee's background in military intelligence, focusing on analyzing threat situations.

  • 04:14 Discussion on monitoring Russian military activity in 2021 and the process of determining potential threats and future actions.

  • 07:00 Challenges of building consensus within NATO due to different national priorities and threats perceived by countries bordering Russia.

  • 09:50 Importance of explaining the strategic context behind orders to enhance team understanding and initiative.

  • 12:00 Managing different levels of the organization, emphasizing the shift from focusing within the organization to overseeing strategic contexts.

  • 14:46 Learning from various leadership styles and experiences to adapt to different levels of responsibility within the military.

  • 17:54 Transition to working in defense contracting, highlighting the importance of understanding financial aspects and budget execution for operational success.

 

Connect with Derrick Lee

 

Connect with Katrina Burrus

 

 

Jan 25, 2024

Everyone wants to know what it takes to be a good director of a choir or a coach of a football team. 

But the challenge lies in acquiring the necessary skills and gaining the trust and cooperation of the team members. 

Discover the secrets from Alan Woodbridge, the Chorus Director of the Geneva Opera House. With his exceptional musical expertise and ability to inspire, Woodbridge knows how to bring out the best in his team of professional singers. 

Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your leadership skills and take your team to new heights. 
Join us now and unlock the path to excellence in today’s episode.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode

  • Determine the importance of having a clear vision and inspiring the team.
  • Find out how to forge a team and create a team spirit.
  • Learn about the similarities between being a choir director and a coach of a football team.


“You have to have a lot of self-belief.” - Alan Woodbridge


Topics Covered: 
01:00 - Introduction: Exploring the similarities between a choir director and a football coach. Meet Alan Woodbridge: Director of the choir at l'Opéra, the Théâtre de Genève.
01:49 - Qualities of a good choir director: Excellent musician, preferably a singer, with strong interpersonal skills.
02:22 - Clear vision and ability to inspire and motivate the singers.
03:00 - Importance of understanding music scores and getting the best out of the singers.
03:39 - Building a team spirit among the singers.
04:06 - Alan's biggest challenge: Conducting the entire show of La Belle Elène at short notice.
05:07 - Resilience and self-belief required to take on unexpected challenges.
06:46 - Similarities between a choir director and a football coach: Both train their teams to work together and achieve success.
06:50 - Delegating responsibility and instilling belief and vision in the performers.
07:01 - Advice for young conductors: Gain as much experience as possible and find what truly ignites your passion for music.

Connect with Alan Woodbridge

Connect with Katrina Burrus 

More Impactful Episodes at https://mkbconseil.ch/eil-podcast/ 

 

Jan 11, 2024
AI can enhance the coaching experience, automate mundane tasks, and provide valuable support to coaches.
 
The challenge for coaches in incorporating AI into their practice lies in finding the right balance between leveraging technology and maintaining the human touch. While AI can automate mundane tasks and provide valuable insights, it cannot replace the deep level of understanding and emotional connection that coaches bring to their clients.
 
To explore the possibilities of AI in coaching, listen to the latest podcast episode where Samiur Rahman, an AI software expert and founder of Heyday, discusses the role of AI in coaching.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode 

  • Find out how AI can automate mundane tasks for executive coaches. 

  • Learn how AI can help coaches with note-taking during client sessions. 

  • Learn how AI can serve as a memory partner for coaches, helping them recall important details from client conversations. 

“Our mission is to be an AI assistant for knowledge workers, automating mundane tasks and allowing them to focus on their creative superpowers.” - Samiur Rahman 

Topics Covered: 

  • 00:24 - Samiur Rahman shares his background in building machine learning and AI products, including his previous company Journal and his current company Heyday. 

  • 01:54 - Dr. Burrus asks why executive coaches should use AI and what it can do for them. 

  • 03:05 - Samiur explains how AI can help coaches with tasks like note-taking and content creation, allowing them to focus on insightful conversations with their clients. 

  • 03:41 - Dr. Burrus asks how Heyday's approach to note-taking differs from other transcription services like Otter. 

  • 06:12 - Samiur discusses how Heyday can help coaches extract key takeaways and insights from client conversations, as well as create content for social media. 

  • 09:41 - Dr. Burrus asks for suggestions on how coaches can start experimenting with AI. 

  • 12:03 - Samiur provides examples of how coaches can use AI, such as analyzing 360 reviews and generating draft lists of strengths and areas for improvement. 

  • 15:13 - Dr. Burrus discusses the potential time-saving benefits of using AI for data analysis in coaching. 

  • 17:21 - Samiur explains how Heyday integrates with various platforms like email, Slack, and chat services to capture relevant data. 

  • 19:24 - Dr. Burrus asks about the thought partner aspect of Heyday and how it can assist coaches in their work. 

  • 20:39 - Samiur expresses his belief that AI will not replace coaches but rather enhance their abilities, allowing them to focus on their unique skills. 

  • 22:48 - Samiur provides contact information for Heyday and himself, including the Heyday website, his email address, and his LinkedIn profile. 

  • 23:37 - Dr. Burrus expresses her appreciation for the information and sees the potential value of Heyday in executive coaching. 

Connect with Samiur Rahman 

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