From Learning Disabilities to CEO: The Leadership Mindset Behind Growth

About the Guest Marc Cooper is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Partners, an independent investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and capital advisory services. Since becoming CEO in 2016, he has led the firm’s transformation from approximately 35 bankers to more than 200 while expanding its industry coverage from two sectors to more than twelve. Before becoming CEO, Marc led Solomon Partners’ Consumer Retail Group and advised companies around the world on major strategic transactions. He is a member of The Conference Board’s CEO Center, the CNBC CEO Council, and the Economic Club of New York. A proud Dale Carnegie graduate, Marc credits the experience with helping him build confidence, strengthen his communication skills, and develop tools that continue to guide his leadership today. What You Will Learn Why growth requires getting outside your comfort zone How Marc overcame learning disabilities and built confidence Why leadership must be authentic and personal How transparency and shared ownership create stronger cultures What Marc learned from stepping into the CEO role unexpectedly Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast as Marc Cooper shares how resilience, adaptability, and personal growth shaped his journey from a young professional struggling with confidence to the leader of a growing independent investment bank. Whether you’re navigating change, developing your leadership style, or preparing for an AI-driven future, this conversation offers practical lessons on building trust, investing in yourself, and continuing to grow throughout your career.  Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest Jayney Howson is the Chief Learning Officer at ServiceNow and the architect behind ServiceNow University, a free AI-powered learning platform designed to prepare people for the future of work. Under her leadership, the platform has grown to approximately two million learners and is on a path toward three million. She oversees learning programs that help customers, partners, employees, and aspiring professionals develop the skills needed to succeed in an AI-powered economy. Before moving into learning and talent development, Jayney built a career spanning hospitality, marketing, communications, sales, and leadership. Her diverse experiences have shaped a leadership philosophy centered on curiosity, courage, trust, and human connection. What You Will Learn Why being interested is more important than being interesting How early hospitality jobs can teach lifelong leadership lessons Why asking for help strengthens relationships and teams How great leaders create the conditions for others to thrive The role trust plays in high-performing organizations Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast as Jayney Howson shares lessons on leadership, learning, courage, and human connection in an age of artificial intelligence. From restaurant tables to the forefront of AI-powered learning, her journey offers a powerful reminder that our greatest advantage isn’t technology alone. It’s our ability to think, connect, adapt, and grow together.  Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest Cybele Negris is the CEO and Co-Founder of Webnames.ca, Canada's original dot-CA registrar and a provider of hundreds of domain extensions, web hosting, email, security products, and other online solutions. A serial entrepreneur, seasoned board member, speaker, mentor, and columnist, she has grown Webnames into a multi-million-dollar company serving some of the country's largest corporations, governments, law firms, and global Fortune 500 brands. A Hall of Fame inductee of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women and a nine-time winner of the PROFIT W100, Cybele serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of the Royal Canadian Mint and sits on the boards of BCAA and AGF Management, among many others. She is a columnist for Business in Vancouver, a sought-after speaker at events including TEDx, and a passionate mentor. She is also a second-generation Dale Carnegie graduate, part of a family legacy that now spans three generations of graduates. What You Will Learn Why “feeling the fear and doing it anyway” is the key to growth How to recognize and move past imposter syndrome Why authentic, vulnerable leadership builds deeper connection How empowering smart people, rather than commanding them, creates stronger teams The power of mentorship, for both the mentor and the mentee How to turn adversity into a competitive advantage Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast as Cybele Negris shares how courage, authenticity, and humility can transform the way we lead and live. Whether you are building a business, wrestling with your own self-doubt, or learning to step outside your comfort zone, this conversation offers honest, practical lessons for leading with resilience in an ever-changing world. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest: Howard Hochhauser is the CEO of Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics. After serving as the company's CFO and COO for more than a decade, he became CEO and quickly led a cultural and business transformation centered on customer focus, employee engagement, and innovation. Under his leadership, Ancestry has renewed growth while leveraging artificial intelligence to make historical records more accessible, searchable, and meaningful for millions of people around the world. Howard is passionate about building organizations rooted in curiosity, transparency, and humility. He believes leadership is about surrounding yourself with talented people, listening carefully, and creating an environment where honest feedback drives continuous improvement. What You Will Learn: Why humility is one of a leader's greatest strengths How curiosity fuels innovation and better decision-making Why feedback should be treated as a gift, not a threat How AI is transforming historical data into meaningful human stories The importance of staying approachable as a leader Why focusing on today's work creates tomorrow's opportunities Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast as Howard Hochhauser shares how purpose-driven leadership, curiosity, and humility can transform both organizations and the people within them. Whether you're leading a team, navigating change, or embracing new technology, this conversation offers practical lessons for leading with authenticity in an AI-powered world. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest: Ania Smith is the CEO of TaskRabbit, the global marketplace connecting people who need everyday tasks done with skilled local "Taskers." Born in Poland, she immigrated to Sioux Falls, South Dakota at 12, learned English, and went on to study business — including an exchange back in Poland — before earning her MBA at Wharton. She began her career in international development, moved through investment banking and consulting at L.E.K., and held leadership roles at Expedia, Walmart, and Airbnb before taking the top job at TaskRabbit at the end of August 2020. Ania is known for her candor about ambition, her belief in running toward growth and discomfort, and her conviction that great leadership is fundamentally human. She leads TaskRabbit (now part of the IKEA family) with a focus on helping Taskers build meaningful income while keeping human connection at the center — even as AI reshapes the way we work. Hear more about her journey from a paper route in South Dakota to the CEO seat in this episode of the Take Command Podcast. What You Will Learn: Why resilience is "getting up after the fall" — and how to stop catastrophizing setbacks Why careers are non-linear, and how lateral moves and new skills set you up to lead How humility ("hire people smarter than you") becomes a leadership superpower Why listening is the single most important skill of a good leader How to build relationships that last by keeping in touch when you need nothing Why human creativity and connection still beat AI's "generating to the mean" Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast to explore what it takes to lead with grit, humility, and heart. Ania Smith doesn't claim to have all the answers — she'd rather hire people who do — but her journey offers clear, practical lessons for any leader navigating uncertainty and growth. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest: Eric Ries has been a force in entrepreneurship and innovation for over twenty years. He is the creator of the Lean Startup method and the author of The Lean Startup, The Leader’s Guide, and The Startup Way. His ideas have shaped how startups and large companies approach growth, decision-making, and innovation. As a founder, Eric has applied his principles with ventures like The Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE); Answer.AI, an AI research lab; the Lean Startup Co.; Virgil, a legal services startup; and IMVU, where many of the concepts that became the Lean Startup method were forged. He has served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Harvard Business School and IDEO. Eric lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children. What You Will Learn: How to create systems and cultures that encourage experimentation and learning Lessons in influencing and leading without formal authority Why long-term thinking matters for both founders and teams The importance of compounding small, deliberate actions over time Insights on how Lean Startup principles can transform established organizations Join us for a deep dive into leadership, innovation, and the mindset that allows founders and executives to build companies that last. Eric’s approach is practical, disciplined, and forward-thinking. Tune in to gain strategies that go beyond theory and into the real-world application of building lasting organizations. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest Janice Bryant Howroyd is the Founder and CEO of The ActOne Group, a global workforce solutions company operating in more than 30 countries. She is recognized as the first African American woman to build a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. A best-selling author and global speaker, she has been honored for entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation, and has advised leaders across business, government, and education. Her work focuses on connecting people to opportunity through a deeply human-centered approach to business. What You Will Learn: Why “no shortcuts, no excuses” is a leadership mindset for long-term success How asking better questions and listening drives stronger outcomes Why resilience is essential when facing adversity How AI is changing work but increasing the need for human skills Why people must remain at the center of leadership and growth Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest Jake Rawson leads Craft Sportswear North America with a focus on innovation, resilience, and performance. Inspired by the principles of Dale Carnegie, he has built a culture that values collaboration, encouragement, and incremental improvement. Beyond business, Jake applies the same endurance mindset to family and coaching, proving that small, consistent actions can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Whether guiding his team, developing athletes, or mentoring his children, he turns lessons into action and emphasizes the power of patience, persistence, and positivity. What You Will Learn: How treating business like an endurance sport drives long-term success The power of small, incremental gains in leadership and personal growth Practical applications of Dale Carnegie’s principles in work and life Why saying “yes” to opportunities can unlock hidden potential Building confidence, resilience, and positive habits in yourself and others Join us for a candid conversation about perseverance, mindset, and growth. Jake isn’t just running a business—he’s running the long game, stacking wins, and showing how small steps lead to big results. Tune in today and discover the incremental edge in life and leadership. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest: Mr. Wai Phyo is a leading entrepreneur and business leader in Myanmar whose companies span food manufacturing, nationwide distribution, and technology. He is Managing Director of Yathar Cho Industry Ltd. and Cho Cho Industry Ltd., among the largest instant noodle manufacturers in the country, and also oversees Myanmar Zarla Distribution, one of the largest B2B distribution platforms. His technology ventures include Parama Technologies, OneLink Technologies, and Cannopy Technologies. He serves as Vice President of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, founding President of the Myanmar Young Entrepreneurs Association, and is a 2017 Eisenhower Fellow. Wai Phyo is known for his resilience in a volatile environment, his commitment to developing future leaders, and his focus on preparing organizations for an AI-driven future. He believes in reskilling and redeploying people so they can thrive as technology evolves. Hear more about how he turned a family business into a multi-company enterprise in this episode of the Take Command Podcast. What You Will Learn: Why grit is essential to extraordinary leadership and how to build it through failure How to move from scattered expansion to focused, synergistic growth Why succession is a privilege and how to prepare leaders to step up confidently How to create a culture of ownership, trust, and shared responsibility How to apply empathy, respect, and genuine interest in a modern organization How AI can boost productivity while creating new opportunities through reskilling Join us for this episode of the Take Command Podcast to explore what it takes to lead through uncertainty and build something lasting. Wai Phyo combines humility, long-term thinking, and a strong belief in people. He doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but his journey offers clear lessons for any leader looking to turn challenges into opportunity. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest: Wemimo Abbey grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where he witnessed his mother borrow at 400% interest to fund his education. That early experience inspired him to co-found Esusu, helping millions of Americans get credit for paying rent and access fair financial services. Abbey has been recognized on the TIME100 NEXT List and named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023. He serves on the SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the University of Minnesota Crookston Board of Trustees, LEDA, and co-chairs the LACMA Director Circle. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota and earned an M.P.A. from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. What You Will Learn: How to turn early adversity and rejection into entrepreneurial success The power of resilience, faith, and purpose in leadership Why failure is a stepping stone and “falling forward” accelerates growth Strategies for building mission-driven companies that create tangible impact Lessons on teamwork and collaboration: going far together, not just fast alone Discover how to lead with impact, embrace failure as a tool for growth, and create opportunities for others while building a sustainable business. Join Joe and Wemimo for a conversation full of inspiration, practical wisdom, and the mindset needed to make a difference. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.