On this 6th episode of the Leadership Podcast, your hosts Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford share the how, what and why behind this enterprise. Jim and Jan both ardently believe that a person’s family is their most important legacy. These C-Level executives have very different backgrounds, but similar aspirations. They joined forces to accomplish their goal of creating a place for new and seasoned professionals to build character through mentorship and a place for companies to find inspiration from proven and effective leaders. Through this medium, they have the unique opportunity to study the minds and practices of leaders who excel at inspiring others.
[1:37] Get to know your podcast hosts Jim and Jan, on a professional and personal level.
[8:15] What drives Jim to help young professionals learn to be leaders?
[13:50] The non-traditional ways Jan teaches executives to purge during a Digital Detox (aka “The Crucible” expedition).
[17:42] Upcoming episodes will include the #1 doctor in the world, authors, business leaders, and those who embody a growth mindset.
[22:42] Moving forward with the intention of getting in the heads of those who have done great things.
[27:49] How leader effectiveness is measured.
Jim Vaselopulos is a C-level executive with a proven record as a rainmaker and new business development expert. With a reputation for principled leadership, strategic vision, and effective execution, Jim has built successful new enterprises and turned around underperforming organizations. Jim has been a consultant to many companies across nearly every industry. An entrepreneur at heart, Jim has started many companies, managed partnerships and participated in several well-orchestrated exits. Jim has an Engineering degree from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Marquette University.
A former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier and successful business executive, Jan Rutherford knows the value of overcoming challenges to strengthen resilience and lead more effectively. With over 25 years of business experience, Jan has held executive roles in business development, marketing, sales, training, product management, and as a CEO. As a professional speaker, coach, expedition leader, and strategist, Jan works with leaders across the U.S. and Europe who have heroic aspirations, and believe the best way to grow an organization is by developing their people.
“One of the highest callings is to teach. Mentoring a young professional is one way to share your knowledge.”
“When you are cold, wet and hungry, it reveals your character. All the good as well as the bad things.”
“Any leader who can move companies and five people who worked for him want to go too – that’s someone I want to learn from.”
Interact with Jim & Jan here:
I’d like to be the first one to point out that Jan and I need a much better photo together!
Nice change up. The listener wants to know about the POD-ers as well as the POD-ees. You guys are both imminently qualified to host your leadership show. So interviews become a discussion on that subject among peers. To steal from one source is called plagiarism, to steal from many sources is called research. Your format allows the listener to always be engaged in Leadership research from (3) sources at a time. Yea, no guilt!
On future PODcasts, you may want to consider focusing on specific traits that are common to all true leaders, in and out of the workplace. For example, Stephen Covey was so adamant about TRUST that his son, Stephen M R Covey wrote a powerful book called, “The Speed of Trust”. I will send you an Executive Summary under separate cover.
Keep up the great work, it is a tireless subject!