Something Extra with Lisa Nichols

Growing up in rural Iowa didn’t stop Todd Finders from developing a love of technology. Now, as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Clayco, he reflects on how being raised in a small town helped him cultivate his sense of integrity and leadership. Listen today to find out why “competitive empathy” is Something Extra he believes every leader needs.

When Cary Granat left a multibillion-dollar partner of Miramax Films and founded his own media company, he wanted to recapture a sense of imagination. Since then, he has been a partner in producing films such as the Narnia Series, Holes, Bridge to Terebithia, and more. Join us to hear why true leaders hold fast to their ideas while being flexible to improvements along the way.

Bryan Citrin was once told, “If you can achieve your dreams on your own, you are not thinking big enough.” This advice has bled into his life as a missionary, entrepreneur, and public speaker. We invite you to listen to this episode as Bryan shares how his sales career started at the age of eight selling rocks and has progressed into financially supporting the needs of those he’s encountered along his journey.

As the Founder and President of Working Solutions, Kim is a technology executive who started the business with her husband. What’s more, Kim and Lisa share the same drive and entrepreneurial mindset that has helped them innovate and scale in the work-from-home era. Tune in as they both share an inside look into the mindset and business strategies that have led to their companies’ success.

Arguably, a leader’s best-kept secret is their executive assistant. Join us for this unique and captivating episode as we speak with Jenny Heal about how the Something Extra podcast persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic. We also get a glimpse behind the curtain to learn about her unique journey from the world of professional theatre to the corporate world. You’ll see what makes Jenny an indispensable asset to the CEO at Technology Partners.

“When preparation meets opportunity” is how Michael Arrieta would define the word luck. As the Founder & CEO of Garden City, Michael reflects on the serendipitous moments that allowed him to put all of his preparation into action. Join us as Michael shares insights from his prior experience working for companies such as Cutco, Wyse Technology, Dell, and DocuSign, and the importance of creating time for solitude and reflection as an accomplished leader.

While we all know that successful leaders are busy, get-things-done kinds of people, we also know that not all tasks are created equal. Join us as Zack Clark, Founder of Development & Leadership, discusses how leaders have to ask themselves hard questions to guide their own efforts before managing others. You’ll also hear how he grew up with a schoolhouse in his backyard and was immersed in duck hunting as a child. Join us for an equally fun and insightful episode all in one.

When Deb Liu went into an interview for employment at Facebook, she took a risk and pitched an idea: To build a marketplace where users can buy and sell from each other. Six years later, her dream is a reality used by more than one billion people per month. Deb has yet again taken another chance on herself and now serves as the CEO of Ancestry. This episode is packed with wisdom on proving yourself wrong, making intentional decisions, and leaving a legacy.

Jennifer Labit started out as a young mother who had to choose between diapers or food for her newborn. Now, as the President & CEO of Cotton Babies, she has received numerous distinctions such as “Most Influential Business Woman” and “40 under 40.” When describing her journey as an accidental entrepreneur, Jennifer says it best: “As leaders, we rarely give ourselves permission to disrupt ourselves, which is essential to personal growth.” Listen and grow today.

Have you ever considered what it would mean for your life and leadership to integrate “love the verb” into each day? This week’s guest, Joel Manby, has been a CEO for five companies and combines these experiences into his book, “Love Works.” Listen as he and Lisa discuss why integrating love into the foundation of your organization can foster grateful employees, impress customers, and drive business health.