Author: Don Yaeger

Avnet’s Superstar CEO Phil Gallagher Believes EQ Trumps IQ Every Day

Written on December 28, 2022.

Phil Gallagher came to believe at a relatively early age that emotional intelligence is a better guide for leadership than IQ and he has made it the hallmark of his leadership style as the CEO of Avnet, a Fortune 500 technology distributor and solutions provider. Now in his 40th year with the company, Gallagher leads more than 15,000 employees across 140 countries and enjoys a remarkable 91 percent CEO approval rating...

Whether Or Not He’s The Next Tom Brady, Brock Purdy Is Taking His Chance

Written on December 13, 2022.

San Francisco 49ers third-string quarterback Brock Purdy is living proof that irrelevancy lies in the eyes of the beholder. After both the 49ers’ starting and backup quarterbacks went down with injuries, Purdy, who was drafted 262nd —dead last—in the 2022 NFL draft, earning him the NFL’s 86-year-old traditional designation “Mr. Irrelevant,” has gone on to fashion himself a highly relevant season.

Japan Leaves A Legacy Of Leadership On And Off The Pitch

Written on December 7, 2022.

When team USA was beaten 3-1 by the Netherlands in Saturday morning’s knockout round, my favorite team was out of the World Cup. Immediately, I adopted a new favorite team—a backup favorite— Japan. Like the US, they, too, have transformed themselves into a stronger international side, beating both Germany and Spain; but it’s off the pitch that they set themselves apart from the sport’s other powers. I’m referring,...

Great Rivalries Cast The Usual Calculus Of Competition To The Wind

Written on November 30, 2022.

I live in Tallahassee and, admittedly, am a fan of the local university team, Florida State. But covering sports professionally for 30 years has made me cautious when it comes to talking trash or even prognosticating about my teams. This is especially true when the Seminoles play their great rival from the University of Florida, which took place last Friday in Tallahassee.

Ryan Leak asks: Do you know what it is like to be on the other side of you?

Written on November 18, 2022.

Ryan Leak Do you know what it is like to be on the other side of you? Corporate Competitor Podcast Episode 122 [chevron-down] Listen here or on your favorite platform Apple Podcasts Spotify Search Episodes Search by name, company or episode number. Generic...

Early Duke And Villanova Hoops Progress Show Why We Call It Succession

Written on November 16, 2022.

When Jon Scheyer and Kyle Neptune took over, respectively, the head coaching jobs of men’s basketball programs at Duke and Villanova, they replaced two long-time coaches who had together amassed seven national championships, 45 conference regular season and tournament championships and six Olympic gold medals.

Seahawks Quarterback Geno Smith: When They Write You Off, Don’t Write Back

Written on November 9, 2022.

Leave it to an English major/quarterback to provide this week’s business lesson from the world of sports. The player of note is Geno Smith, who attended West Virginia University and is now the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks. A nine-year veteran of the NFL, Smith spent most of that time in the unheralded position of “lifetime backup,” a moniker he wore with dignity behind such blue chippers as Eli Manning, Phillip...

Make-A-Wish CEO Richard Davis Says: Set A Direction, Not A Goal

Written on November 2, 2022.

Too often in our careers, many of us get caught up in the title we want to have on our business cards next year, and the year after that. Not Richard Davis. The president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America has enjoyed some pretty lofty job titles in his day. Prior to coming to Make-A-Wish in 2019, he was executive chairman and CEO of US Bank, the fifth largest bank in the U.S. Davis currently serves on the boards including...

PwC US Chair Tim Ryan founded CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion

Written on July 22, 2022.

Tim Ryan PwC US Chair founded CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion Corporate Competitor Podcast Episode 105 [chevron-down] Listen here or on your favorite platform Apple Podcasts Spotify Search Episodes Search by name, company or episode number. Generic...