Leadership, breaking through, and the value of communications: An interview with Sally Susman, chief corporate affairs officer of Pfizer

In this interview, Heidrick & Struggles’ Jerry Gorss speaks to Karl Iagnemma, the CEO of Vecna Robotics. Iagnemma shares how the talent needs of the robotics and automation sector are evolving as the sector grows, as well as how he thinks about finding and training the right talent. He also shares his perspectives on managing economic and geopolitical uncertainty, industry consolidation, and the evolution and importance of implementing the flexible and collaborative automation technology for case picking in today's supply chain operations. Finally, Iagnemma also discusses artificial intelligence and what its advances mean for the human leader in terms of the skills or capabilities they will need to manage a workforce with an increasing share of machines and collaborative work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Heidrick & Struggles’ Nicole Balsam and Haven Thompson sat down with Lisa Valentino, president of Best Buy Ads, which is the in-house regional media arm of Best Buy. The three discuss the growth in retail media networks and what this means for talent across the retail, media, and ad tech sectors. Valentin shares the capabilities and skill sets that are most important for talent today, and what sectors outside of retail media networks can be relevant experience. She also discusses how generative AI is affecting the retail media networks space, and how she expects the space to continue evolving in the next few years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, Heidrick & Struggles’ Scott Bae speaks to Dr. Roawen Chen, the chief supply chain and operations officer of Qualcomm Technologies. Dr. Chen first defines the concept of a “fab” [fabrication facility] versus “fabless” semiconductor company, and explains how the management of the supply chain is nuanced between the two. He then shares what he calls the “semiconductor trilemma”—how leaders have to balance three competing KPIs: pursuing the most advanced technology, having the lowest cost, and having unlimited supply—and discusses the leadership capabilities he believes are critical to manage that trilemma. Throughout the conversation, he also offers his advice for leaders who are managing the current uncertain and volatile market dynamics as it pertains to the chip space, how he has seen the role of the supply chain and operations leader evolve, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, and how he approaches the balance between developing talent internally and recruiting talent externally, particularly when conditions are changing so rapidly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles’ Paula Davis is joined by Sally Susman, the chief corporate affairs officer of Pfizer. Susman, who recently published her book, Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World, shares her insights on what skills are most important as a leader, particularly a communications leader, as well as the value in humanity, humility, and humor. She also discusses navigating professional boundaries and spotting a healthy corporate culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special feature of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles’ Jason Henderson and Sean McLean sit down to talk about trends in private equity across Canada and the United States: evolving dynamics, human capital, and how leaders can compete in this environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, Heidrick & Struggles’ Uroš Zver speaks to Jennifer Granholm, the former United States Secretary of Energy, about what leadership looks like in the context of the global energy transition—a transformation that's technological, economic, political, and human all at once. Granholm discusses the value of storytelling as a leader as well as how leadership evolves under pressure, especially when the stakes involve generational change and long-term global challenges. She also reflects on the moments that shaped her leadership philosophy, shares insights on how to foster cultures that balance innovation and execution, and discusses what it takes to keep teams motivated in long-horizon, purpose-driven work.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil Slater, CEO of Redevco, a real estate management company, explores his personal leadership journey and the pivotal moments that led him to the CEO role. He reflects on the formative experiences that shaped his approach to leadership, the challenges he faced transitioning from a global head role to CEO, and what he’s had to unlearn to lead effectively in a rapidly evolving business landscape. He also discusses the importance of resilience, adaptability, and self-reflection, as well as aligning his personal values and corporate values to cultivate a leadership team that moves in harmony with his strategic vision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, Mitja Schulz, the newly appointed CEO of Debrunner Koenig, a Swiss wholesale company specializing in reinforcements, steel and metals, metal services, and technical products, describes his leadership style and shares the core leadership competencies he believes are essential for steering his organization through today's dynamic business landscape that places increasing demands on CEOs. He also discusses how he thinks about developing leaders who excel in collaboration, staying agile, and being goal oriented; strategies he has implemented to develop these competencies within his leadership teams; and some common challenges that arise when building high‑performing teams. Looking into the future, he also shares how he thinks digital tools and AI will shape the future of leadership development, and how he is preparing his teams and wider workforce to adapt to these changes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, as part of our ongoing series examining how leaders across functions are managing and incorporating AI, Heidrick & Struggles’ Julian Ha spoke to Miriam Vogel the president and CEO of EqualAI, which is a nonprofit organization created to promote artificial intelligence governance.Miriam, who has extensive experience working with C-suites and boards and the government to help them establish best practices for legal regulatory compliance, as well as operationalizing those best practices, discusses the ways that leaders of all kinds have become much more AI literate with respect to potential harms and litigation risks, and how they are mitigating liability as well as avoiding those harm to companies, individuals, and communities. She also shares what she’s excited about when it comes to the future of AI, what it means to her to lead in an AI-enabled world, and how she believes that leaders must balance guardrails and innovation, so that their organizations remain competitive, ensure there's trust in AI systems, and that those AI systems deserve our trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, Heidrick & Struggles’ Scott Bae and Alexis Hennessy sit down with Lior Susan, the founder and managing partner of Eclipse Ventures, a venture capital firm dedicated to partnering with entrepreneurs, transforming industries that are critical to people's lives and national economies, such as manufacturing, supply chain, transportation, healthcare, and defense. Susan shares the leadership traits that he believes are uniquely critical to success in start-ups in the physical industries, as well as how leaders can seamlessly adapt between start-ups and large companies, how he thinks about investing in highly regulated industries, and his perspective on AI’s evolution and impact on the space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.