Passing the Torch for the New Season of One Thousand Ways to Lead

New year, new hosts.  Being a good leader is being a good listener. That’s what Maree Smith (MBA ‘26), Taiwo Olawehinmi (MBA ‘26), and Melissa Ortiz Bortkiewicz (MBA ‘26) discovered last season during their stint as “One Thousand Ways to Lead” podcast hosts. In this first episode of this new season, the three chat with the pod’s incoming hosts about the lessons they learned over the course of their run and how it helped shape their understanding of great leadership.  For the first half of this episode, Smith, Olawehinmi, and Ortiz Bortkiewicz discuss their favorite guests and moments from the season, what they wish they had known on their first day, and what the incoming hosts should expect. Across the board, all three said that their biggest takeaway is to always be an active listener, and to be prepared but flexible.  The second half of the episode serves as an introduction to OTWTL’s new lineup of hosts—Nick Cavin (MBA ‘27), Jessica Ding (MBA ‘27), and Rowan Baird (MBA ‘27). They each open up about their favorite places to eat in Nashville, what it was that drew them to hosting the podcast, and who would be their No. 1 choice for a coffee chat.  Apart from finding out whether Jack Brown’s really is the best burger in Nashville, this is a great chance to get to know OTWTL’s newest batch of hosts for the 2026-27 season. Listen in! Remember to subscribe now so you never miss an episode.  Learn more about us: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/