Beyond High Street

Adam Carlstrom: Deputy Commander, United States Navy

Leadership. Character. Commitment. Three simple words that Captain Adam Carlstrom professes over-and-over to describe what he does day-to-day, and that he deems are important for success in life. As Deputy Commander of Electronic Attack Wing, US Pacific Fleet for the US Navy, Carlstrom takes those words very seriously. His work purview includes 160 aircraft and close to 5,000 individuals. He also talks often about the goals of his unit: Man. Train. Equip. Getting the next person ready for their daily work. This motto could be on the door of every corporate human resources executive out there. Captain Carlstrom’s call sign is Pinto, he is part of a Miami merger and he was enjoyable to converse with.

Joni Fedders: President, Facilitator & Leadership Coach, Aileron

Some conversations are easier to have than others. I am pretty sure I could talk to Joni Fedders for hours. Insightful, exuberant and quick-witted all come to mind when thinking through the chat we just had. It makes me smile when she talks about coming through the farmlands of Ohio and rolling into Oxford and onto campus. All Miamians can relate to that feeling. Two of her children graduated from Miami and her third is on campus now. She is now the President of Aileron, a national non-profit organization which helps business owners strategically manage and grow their business (almost like an accelerator for the small business community around the world).

Dave Neiswander: CEO, World Bicycle Relief

Miamian Dave Neiswander is the CEO of World Bicycle Relief, an organization committed to helping people conquer the challenge of distance, achieve independence, and thrive. To date, they have donated close to 500,000 bikes to deserving and needy children. Prior to his CEO post, Dave spent a decade in Africa building the foundational elements of the organization including program design, partnership engagement, geographic expansion and the Buffalo Bicycle social enterprise strategy. Prior to joining WBR, he had a 15-year career in investment banking in Washington, D.C.  In the pod, he shares a great philosophy of getting “one win a day”, something he learned when living in Africa. To support their efforts, check out www.worldbicyclerelief.com. 

Jon Miller: President, Programming, NBC Sports

As Content is King, Jon Miller’s job at NBC Sports as President, Programming is paramount in the media landscape. Responsible for countless hours of programming, Jon has the unique challenge of increasing the value of existing shows while continually looking for the next big thing in his NBC Sports Ventures business. While many often search for the perfect job  Jon explains a different path. Taking jobs to learn and grow and from there, finding your direction. For him it was sales, TV, then sports, and the rest is history. He is incredibly passionate about supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and so am I.

Trish Lukasik: CEO, Luxury Garage Sale

Trish Lukasik is a high energy leader (to say the least!) who recently shifted into the fast paced world of technology and e-commerce, assuming the position of CEO at Luxury Garage Sale, a leading omni-channel retailer of high end boutique and consignment merchandise. Prior to joining LGS, Trish transitioned from a career in consumer products to SpotHero, where she served as Chief Operating Officer.  Before joining SpotHero, Trish built a distinguished career over two decades within the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, with significant experience across Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo. She has a thirst for learning and an unparalleled drive that is unmistakable in this conversation.

Jeff Conroy: Three-time Emmy Award Winner; TV Show Executive Producer

Not everyone knows what they want to do when they get to Miami, but Oxford seems to set people on a path…and a path for success. This was the case for Jeff Conroy. It wasn’t until sitting with the Miami counselors half-way his Oxford run before he picked a major and a direction, and he hasn't stopped learning since. Jeff shares a great story about getting a crash course entertainment MBA by being a driver for a TV executive in Hollywood. The daily conversations helped him land his next job. Now twenty years and three Emmys later, Jeff co-runs BobCat, a multi-platform video studio based in Los Angeles. His team’s latest docuseries project, American Farmer, was just greenlit by the History Channel a few weeks ago.

Dave Knox: Author (Predicting The Turn), Venture Investor, Brand Owner

Dave brings a blend of classical marketing acumen (from his days at P&G) along with entrepreneurial instinct to navigate today’s changing business landscape. He is recognized throughout the industry as an innovator that bridges the worlds between brand marketing, digital, and entrepreneurship. He also co-founded The Brandery, one of the top 10 Startup Accelerators in the US. Most recently, Dave authored the best-selling must-read: Predicting The Turn: The High Stakes Game of Business Between Startups and Blue Chips, which was recognized as the Grand Prix winner in the 2017 Atticus Awards. He has a B.S. Marketing from Miami and with Jenny Rooney, co-created the Cradle of Marketers program within the Farmer School of Business.

John Walton: Director of Broadcasting, Washington Capitals

Miami grad John Walton is living his dream at this very moment. He is in Korea, calling Olympic hockey games for NBC (you might have heard him last night calling the USA women's 5-0 win over O.A.R (Olympic Athletes from Russia). Quite a change of location from his days in Oxford and Cincinnati and then from Hershey, PA and Washington, DC. His twenty-year career has stretched from the Cincinnati Reds to now as the Director of Broadcasting and Play-by-Play voice of the NHL Washington Capitals (he is taking a three week sabbatical to do the Olympics works). As you’ll hear in our conversation, his entire career started with a tip and some help from a Miami professor. We caught up with John before he left for Pyeongchang, and he talks about the importance of storytelling and how he uses his voice to tell that story.

Rebecca Messina: SVP and Global Chief Marketing Officer at Beam Suntory

 Rebecca Messina is a well-respected global brand marketer who has led fast-growing entrepreneurial premium brands at The Coca-Cola Company and now at Beam Suntory.  She has lived and traveled the world teaching the values of ‘brand’. Interestingly, she says the difference maker in her initial job growth at The Coca-Cola Company comes from her Spanish-speaking skills honed at Miami. Fortunately I get to spend time with her every year in Oxford at The Cradle of Marketers…because I learn from her too. Our conversation begins as we dissect this past Sunday’s Super Bowl advertising game.

 

Rick Dudley: Octagon Sports and Entertainment Network, Chairman and CEO

With two days before the Super Bowl, I felt appropriate to get Miami alum Rick Dudley on the pod. Not only did he spend more than a decade at the NFL, he has been the CEO of Octagon, a global sports and entertainment marketing and management agency, for more than 15 years. And oh yeah, he is my boss. He references two Miamians in the pod that are very relevant to the Super Bowl too - Jim Steeg and Jon Miller. We'll get them on the pod shortly. In the below image, Rick is with Octagon's Janey Miller, John Shea and client and 4x 2016 Olympic Gymastics Gold Medalist (including the Individual All-Around) Simone Biles.