Corporate Competitor Podcast

Don Yaeger

What do most Fortune 500 executives have in common? They learned important lessons on the fields and courts of their high school and collegiate sports teams. This is true for both men and women. Ernst & Young found that a whopping 94% of women holding a C-suite position, played sports.

Join 13-time New York Times Best-Selling Author Don Yaeger on his journey to sit with some of the brightest executives in the world as we discuss how sports shaped their professional trajectory in life.

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22 episodes
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S1 · E273
September 30 · 54 min
Southern Company CEO Chris Womack on 38 Years With One Company and a Grandmother Who Wouldn't Let Him Quit
Ep. 273: Six months before his daughter's wedding, he got a diagnosis: liver cancer, less than six months to live. Three years of treatment later, and now he's Chairman, President and CEO of Southern Company — a company that just ranked #1 in its industry on Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies list. On this episode, you will learn: Why he tells his team "I can't do anything by myself" — and means it How vulnerability, not authority, built trust across 30,000 employees What it actually takes to avoid complacency after you've already won Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started:https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Amelia Prieto for making this episode possible.
S1 · E272
September 16 · 1 hr 3 min
How to Make Storytelling Your Secret Weapon with Simon Sinek
Ep. 272: The Business of Storytelling hit shelves this week and Simon Sinek is here to celebrate! Join us for this special edition episode to learn: Why you should treat every story like a jigsaw puzzle Why AI can write a great story, but can't make you a better storyteller The Disneyland detail that reveals the real power of a company's origin story Why "I've heard this story..." might be the most underrated four words in storytelling Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Abbie Brandt for making this episode possible.
S1 · E271
September 2 · 36 min
Victory Cruise Lines CEO John Waggoner on Why Leaders Should Still Wash the Windows
Ep. 271: The captain was given a choice: grab a rag to help the team wash the windows or hand over the boat. He tapped his epaulettes signaling his rank, "I'm the captain." John fired him. Why? Because the problem was never the windows. It was the belief that his title made certain jobs beneath him. Today, John Waggoner, Founder and Chairman of Victory Cruise Lines, still tells that story during employee orientation. His message is simple: if the owner will sweep the dock, carry the trash, or wash the windows, everyone should be willing to jump in. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Will Goodman and Abbie Brandt for making this episode possible.
S1 · E270
August 19 · 45 min
The Standard President and CEO Dan McMillan on how to turn disappointment into development
Ep. 270: Linfield basketball alum Dan McMillan shares how empowering your team to GIVE can create a ripple effect. A grieving customer once received a box of gourmet pears from his insurance company because a claims employee sensed he needed something extra. It turned out pears were his late wife's favorite fruit. Dan, now President and CEO of The Standard, shared the story with his executive team — and today, it's included in strategic materials shared with 30,000 salespeople around the world. On this episode, Dan joins Don Yaeger to talk about: The five words a high school coach gave him that he still lives by 40+ years later How to turn disappointment into development The lesson from a Linfield basketball bench that shaped how he handles every setback since Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Amelia Prieto and Abbie Brandt for making this episode possible.
S1 · E269
August 5 · 44 min
Penske President Bud Denker on How He Turned a Dinner Table Idea Into a Presidential Executive Order
Ep. 269: Team Penske has raced in more than 6,600 races and won 10% of them — and they're the winningest team in IndyCar history. This summer, Bud is leading the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, the first-ever IndyCar race in the nation's capital, down Pennsylvania Avenue August 22–23. In this episode, you will learn how a dinner-table idea turned into a presidential executive order and lessons in: Why "it's all in the communication" when you're building trust with people you don't lead Why effort equals results — and why Bud carries a coin with his sons to prove it How to turn a gut-wrenching loss into your team's next strategy session Why he opens meetings with a story instead of a to-do list Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time, Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team toward personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Amelia Prieto and Lilly Mae Stewart for making this episode possible.
S1 · E268
July 22 · 47 min
Wall Street Executive Mike Dorrell says: You've won the meeting when the other person talks more than you.
Ep. 268: Stonepeak CEO was shaped by rugby league, cricket, and growing up in a working-class farming town in Australia. Today he's built a career on Wall Street, but the personality that took him there was forged on fields where teammates and opponents alike gave each other unfiltered honesty — and expected the same in return. Want to become a better storyteller? Pre-order Don's new book The Business of Storytelling and become a Founding Member of The Circle of Storytellers. This is a limited experience — it ends at launch. All of these resources are yours FOR FREE the moment your order is confirmed. donyaeger.com/circle Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Sophia Fusco and Johnny Levin for making this episode possible.
S1 · E267
July 8 · 46 min
Axon President Josh Isner on What His Mentor Bill Belichick Told Him That Still Runs His $45 Billion Company
Ep. 267: Harvard Golf and playing at Whisper Rock alongside Jon Rahm, Wyndham Clark, and Max Homa shaped Josh Isner's understanding of what winning really requires — and it shows in how he leads one of the most competitive companies in America. Axon is the $45 billion public safety company behind body cameras and life-saving technology protecting law enforcement and first responders across the country. In this episode, you will learn: Why the best mentors are never assigned — and how Luke Larson, a Marine Corps officer just one year ahead of Josh at Axon, chose to invest in him and deliver the one line that transformed his leadership: "It's not what you say — it's what they hear." How the advice, "It's not what you say; it's what they hear," reshaped the way he communicates, coaches, and leads. How playing alongside the world's top golfers at Whisper Rock revealed the mindset shift that separates good from great — and how Josh applied it to his leadership. Download a free chapter of Don Yaeger's new book on mastering The Business of Storytelling Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Lilly Mae Stewart and Abbie Brandt for making this episode possible.
S1 · E266
June 24 · 44 min
Deloitte US CEO Jason Girzadas on The Feedback Formula: 3 Things Every Leader Must Consider
Ep. 266: Long before he was CEO of Deloitte US, Jason Girzadas was on the pitcher's mound with the bases loaded, his team up by one run, and his coach walking out to deliver the kind of feedback that sticks for a lifetime. In this episode, you will hear the lesson he learned, PLUS: How to fight complacency inside a historically successful organization — and keep your people hungry Why "know yourself so you can be yourself" is not a soft idea but a leadership prerequisite How timely, direct, one-on-one feedback creates a domino effect of accountability across an entire organization Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Danielle Cadena and Abbie Brandt for making this episode possible.
S1 · E265
June 10 · 42 min
Guardian Life Executive Mike Perry teaches how to respond to a crisis without reacting to it
Ep. 265: As Head of Client Solutions and Wealth Management at Guardian Life Insurance, Mike has learned that the most transformational moments in business look a lot like cycling: riders who trust each other, rotate leadership, and communicate constantly can cover ground together that no one could cover alone. In this episode, you will learn: How finding a coach — whether on a bike or in a boardroom — speeds up every kind of growth. Why the best response to a crisis is not reacting to the event itself, but locking onto what you can actually control. How making space for every voice in the room doesn't just improve morale — it produces better ideas and stronger teams. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Guillermo Orellana and Johnathan Levin for making this episode possible.
S1 · E264
May 27 · 43 min
Papa John's CEO Todd Penegor on what the restaurant floor teaches that offices never will
Ep. 264: Playing high school golf in Michigan and winning the Upper Peninsula State Championship shaped this CEO who led Wendy's through a decade of global growth before stepping into the CEO role at Papa John's after a very brief retirement. Today, Todd Penegor brings that same team-first mentality to every leadership table he sits at — and in this conversation, he shares exactly how. In this conversation, Todd shares how he thinks about developing next-generation leaders, why he believes a CEO's job looks more like an offensive lineman than a quarterback, and what it really takes to earn both the heads and hearts of a franchise community. — Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started:https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Abigail Brandt and Danielle Cadena for making this episode possible.
S1 · E263
May 13 · 42 min
Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy Says: When FOMO Fear of Failure, You Move
Ep. 263: With a resume that includes StubHub President and Google President of Asia Pacific and Latin America, this technology exec joins the show talk about how tennis shaped her, and the way she now is involved in ownership of the Toronto Tempo! In this episode, you will learn: Why pre-morteming failure shrinks fear and drives real action Why the who you work for will always matter more than the what How modeling imperfection — not perfection — creates psychological safety on your team How to find passion in your work, not just find work you're passionate about Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Amelia Prieto and Johnathan Levin for making this episode possible.
S1 · E262
May 6 · 43 min
Emmy-winning Food Network Star Giada De Laurentiis Says: Know What You Need and Make It Non-Negotiable
Ep. 262: What conditions do you actually need to perform at your best? Emmy award-winning chef Giada De Laurentiis shares that knowing your non-negotiables is the key ingredient. Don't miss these amazing stories on this episode: Food is connection. When Giada moved to the US from Italy, she struggled with the language barrier. But food became the great translator. "Food was the thing that could connect me to other people and maybe start to forget some kind of community," she said. Keep your recipes. As an Italian-born chef living in the US, Giada wonders how to balance being herself with preserving culture. "How do I gain my independence but still hold onto what I feel like is my identity and my grounding?" she said. Ultimately, she tries to put it all in the food. A kitchen is like a ballet. The best teams feel as if everyone is on a string, like each person is moving in unison together. Giada likens that to a dance. "The kitchen is like a dance, right? It's like a ballet—it really takes precision," she said. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. https://gr8links.co/bookdon
S1 · E261
April 29 · 46 min
No Finish Line: How IndyCar Legend Sam Schmidt Turned Paralysis Into Purpose
Ep. 261: Just months after winning his first IndyCar race, Sam Schmidt hit a wall at nearly 200 miles per hour during preseason testing. He was paralyzed from the neck down at 35 years old. Doctors told his wife he wouldn't make it through the night. Twenty five years later, Sam has co-founded championship racing teams, driven a car at 107 miles per hour using only his head, stood in an exoskeleton to dance with his daughter on her wedding day, and built a foundation helping thousands of others get the rehabilitation they would never otherwise receive. In No Finish Line, his new memoir—which I had the honor of co-authoring with him—Sam shows what resilience looks like when life refuses to follow the script. ——— Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.
S1 · E260
April 22 · 40 min
Dutch Bros CEO Christine Barone says: It's not about being the most valuable player. It's about creating the most valuable team.
Ep. 260: The Harvard water polo co-captain, who had never played the sport before joining the team,now leads one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the countrywith the same philosophy that earned her that captaincy: it's not about being the most valuable player. It's about creating the most valuable team. In this episode, you will learn: • Why the "zone of discomfort" is where real leadership growth happens • How to set goals just beyond what seems possible—and why trust makes them achievable • Why the jobs we don't like are often the ones with the most to teach us Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.
S1 · E259
April 15 · 43 min
Calero President & CRO Eric Martorano says: Data tells you what's happening, stories tell you why it matters.
Ep. 259: After a decade at Microsoft where he was responsible for more than $17 billion in revenue, Eric used lessons from the baseball field—failure, resilience, and belief—to build award-winning cultures at Nextiva, Accordo, and Calero. You will learn: • Why people commit to stories—not spreadsheets • How to build belief in your team after failure • Why clarity—not control—is the foundation of great leadership Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.
S1 · E258
April 8 · 52 min
TruGreen CEO Kurt Kane says: To elevate your game, stop protecting your spot and start improving it.
Ep. 258: Former Wendy's U.S. President and now CEO of the nation's largest lawn care company, Kurt Kane, shares a powerful truth: "We are the leaders we've been waiting for." In this episode, you will learn: • Why protecting your position can hold back your growth • How great leaders use questions to focus an entire organization • The power of simplifying complexity to drive results Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started:https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.
S1 · E257
April 1 · 27 min
The Film Room: 5 Ways to Make Your Processes More Efficient
What if your biggest leadership problem isn't results—but process? In this new mini series, we break down lessons from leaders at Ritz-Carlton, Aflac, and more who transformed performance by refining the details. In this episode you will learn how to identify friction, improve systems, and build repeatable excellence. To listen to each guest's FULL episode click below: Lumen's Kate Johnson Ritz-Carlton's Horst Schulze Perspire Sauna Studios' Caroline Linton T-Mobile's Cameron Janes Aflac's Virgil Miller Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Guillermo Orellana for making this episode possible.
S1 · E256
March 25 · 45 min
Gas South President & CEO Kevin Greiner says: Sometimes the best deal is the one you don't make.
Ep. 256: What if culture isn't built by slogans, but by what you reward? In this episode, you will learn: How Kevin makes values account for 50% of performance on his team When walking away from a deal is the smartest move a leader can make Why calm leadership matters Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Johnathan Levin and Vincent McClellan for making this episode possible.
S1 · E255
March 18 · 47 min
2-Time NBA Champion Shane Battier on the Secret to Winning: Study the Competition's Weakness
Ep. 255: The original "No-Stat All-Star" won Teammate of The Year playing alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Here he teaches you why being selfless and studying your opponent are the two secrets to success. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started:https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Johnny Levin and Guillermo Orellana for making this episode possible.
S1 · E254
March 11 · 38 min
Gallagher Insurance Executive Shannon Gallagher on Mentorship That Works
Ep. 254: A black eye in her first Cornell rugby match taught Shannon she could do hard things—and that lesson still shapes her leadership today. A four-time New York City Marathon finisher, she believes leadership isn't about forcing people into the same mold. Like rugby, every role matters, every player brings strengths, and every stride counts. Don't miss: The two questions she asks every mentee Why joy and laughter belong in leadership Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don's favorite quotes from today's episode and a reflection question so you can apply today's insights. 📚Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ 🎤Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Chase Nagel and Karson Hills for making this episode possible.

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