LEHI - Low Ego High Impact - Mindset

This episode features a conversation with Julia Ellis on managing through election turbulence, recorded just two weeks before the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Julia's diverse background in law, marketing, and politics offers a unique perspective on effective leadership and implementation. She has helped tech startups expand into new markets, received a Harvard award for innovating government services, and developed creative solutions for improving state payment systems.Julia is a distinguished alumna of the Kellogg School of Management's Executive MBA Program, where she served as a Drake Scholar focused on developing the next generation of women business leaders. She holds a JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.This podcast was recorded remotely via Zoom.

In this episode we are hosting Howard Pratt, a distinguished physician and a leading advocate for the South Florida youth.As the Behavioral Director at Community Health of South Florida, Howard plays a pivotal role in providing mental healthcare for vulnerable communities. Howard is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and he is a graduate of Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his fellowship in Psychiatry at Nicholas Children’s hospital in Miami. He is also a distinguished alum of the Kellogg School of Management.Howard’s mission-driven impactful work in providing mental health services to children and vulnerable communities in South Florida has been recognized nationally and he was named as one of Legacy South Florida’s Top Healthcare professionals in 2022.This episode was recorded at the Allen Center of Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, IL.

This episodes features Robin Manthie. Robin is an accomplished non-profit executive who is currently leading the Kitchen Coalition at Second Harvest Heartland, one of the nation’s largest food banks. Second Harvest is distributing more than 100 million pounds of food to community food shelves, meal distribution sites, and emergency grocery pop-ups in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Kitchen Coalition was launched during the Covid-19 Pandemic and has delivered more than 5 millions of meals in just over four years by partnering with local businesses and nonprofits to distribute culturally relevant, nutritious food.Robin's career includes marketing and strategy roles at General Mills, Feeding America, Boston Consulting Group, and 3M. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. With her Passion for using food to connect and uplift communities, Robin has turned Kitchen Coalition into a lasting, impactful program. She lives in Minneapolis with her family​. This episode is co-hosted by Volkan Emre and Beth Lokken. This episode was recorded in the Kitchen Coalition’s headquarters in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. 

This episode features Eileen M. Murray, an accomplished non-profit executive who is currently leading the American Epilepsy Society (AES) as the Chief Executive Officer.Under Eileen's leadership, AES achieved significant milestones including doubling its operating budget and tripling its net assets while growing an high-impact team. With over 20 years of experience in non-profits and association management, Eileen is a recognized leader in her field, known for her strategic vision and goal-focused mindset. She is a distinguished alumni of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.This episode is co-hosted by Kinshuk Sahaya, an epilepsy neurologist and a Kellogg Executive MBA alum. This episode was recorded remotely via Zoom. 

This LEHI Mindset episode features Jennifer Clark, a leading senior executive with a lasting positive impact on a wide variety of industries from cannabis, healthcare, consumer goods and technology. Jennifer is the Chief Operating Officer at Margo Network, a private equity-owned fin tech company in the  cryptocurrency space. She was the COO of Flowers for Dreams, the largest florist in the Midwest. She was the  SVP of Operational Excellence at a leading  cannabis company, Cresco Labs,  where she significantly contributed to the transformation of the organization driving revenue growth from $10M to $825M and led the company through an IPO from 50 employees to over 3,500 over the course of four years. Prior to leading Cresco Labs, Jennifer had a progressive career at Abbott and AbbVie for over 20 years. Besides her impactful professional career, Jennifer is a leading community service leader. She is a member of Chief, an organization designed for senior women leaders to strengthen their leadership journey. Jennifer is the President of the Board of Directors of Kellogg Women@EMBA, a Northwestern Kellogg initiative that serves as a catalyst for the strategic advancement of Kellogg’s women leaders. Jennifer is a distinguished alum of the Kellogg School of Management’s Executive MBA Program and she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This episode is co-hosted by Kelly Megel, a seasoned marketer and growth expert, senior executive and distinguished member of the Kellogg Executive MBA Alumni. We  recorded this episode in the Allen Center Building of the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, IL. 

This LEHI Mindset episode is featuring Sofya Asfaw, a distinguished surgeon and Vice Chair of Quality and Patient Experience at the Digestive Disease Institute at Cleveland Clinic.Sofya specializes in trauma surgery, surgical critical care, and acute care surgery. She has a strong educational background with a medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, followed by a residency in general surgery at Cleveland Clinic. She also completed a fellowship in trauma surgery and surgical critical care at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a distinguished alum of the Kellogg School of Management. Sofya is a   founding member of the Greening the Operating Room Committee at Cleveland Clinic. This initiative focuses on reducing energy consumption and waste in operating rooms. This episode is co-hosted by Sheldon Wray, a seasoned industrial manufacturing and tech executive and a distinguished member of the Kellogg Executive MBA Alumni. This episode was recorded  in the Allen Center of Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, IL . 

This episode features one of the most respected figures in marketing, Professor Tim Calkins.As a distinguished faculty member at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, Tim specializes in marketing strategy and branding. His insights are grounded in his extensive real-world experience, including a successful tenure at Kraft Foods where he managed notable brand revivals and product launches.Professor Calkins is the author of books "Defending Your Brand" and "How to Wash a Chicken," both of which are considered essential readings in the marketing field. Tim is also the co-academic director of Kellogg's branding program, where he shapes the next generation of marketing leaders.This episode is co-hosted by Kelly Megel, a seasoned marketer and growth expert, senior executive and distinguished member of the Kellogg Executive MBA Alumni. This episode was recorded in the Global Hub Building of the Kellogg School of Management at the Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. 

This episode features Matthew Taylor, the founder and managing partner of MTT Ventures and the President of TransMachine. TransMachine is an industrial manufacturing company focusing on heavy duty truck, oil and gas, and agriculture industries. Prior to his entrepreneurship through acquisition journey with TransMachine, Matthew was the Head of Sales and Marketing of North America and Japan at Filtration Group. He was also a board member at Filtran Japan, a subsidiary of Filtration Group, a global leader of mission-critical filtration solutions. Matthew is a distinguished alum of the Kellogg School of Management’s Executive MBA program and Georgia Institute of Technology.

This episode features Abdol Moabery, a serial entrepreneur, a prominent philanthropist and a community service champion. Abdol is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of GA Telesis, a global leader in integrated commercial aviation services. Abdol is a distinguished alum of the Kellogg School of Management’s Executive MBA Program. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University where he recently served as the  Chairman of the Board of Trustees. This episode is co-hosted by Dhaval Shah, a distinguished oncologist and a Kellogg Executive MBA alum

This episode is featuring Greg Parranto, a leading figure in orthopaedic trauma and medical device sales and a seasoned US Army veteran who served in various critical missions in different countries and war zones.  Greg is currently the CEO of Endeavour Orthopaedics, a specialty medical device company focused on advancing orthopaedic trauma products. As the CEO with a history of leadership at DePuy Synthes and Johnson & Johnson, Greg brings a global perspective on orthopedics, innovation, and market insights. Greg holds an Executive MBA from Kellogg School of Management and degrees from Webster University and the US Military Academy at West Point.This episode was recorded in Chicago. 

This episode is featuring Kellogg legend Harry Kraemer. Harry is a Kellogg School of Management Professor, former CEO of Baxter International, and author of three best-selling leadership books. He is currently an executive partner with Madison Dearborn Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm and he serves as a board member at various impactful companies, non-profit organizations and business councils. Harry has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Lawrence University of Wisconsin and received his MBA from Kellogg School of Management in 1979. For more about Harry, you can visit harrykraemer.org.  This episode is co-hosted by Kelly Megel, a seasoned marketer and growth expert, senior executive and distinguished member of the Kellogg Executive MBA Alumni. This podcast was recorded in the Allen Center of Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. 

This episode is featuring Enis Hulli, a prominent VC investor. Enis is a General Partner at 500 Emerging Europe, focused on investing in Central Eastern European and Turkish entrepreneurs on pre-seed and seed. Enis has assisted various tech unicorns, guiding them from their seed stage to their  IPOs. He is a native of Istanbul, he holds an engineering degree from McGill University in Canada and is currently based in London.This episode has been recorded remotely via Zoom.

This episode is  with Joe Manone, President and CEO of Rite-Hite Products Corporation. Rite-Hite is a world leader in the manufacture, sale, and service of loading dock equipment, industrial doors, safety barriers, HVLS fans, industrial curtain walls, and more. For over two decades, Joe has been instrumental in steering Rite-Hite's remarkable growth. He is a distinguished alum of the Kellogg School of Management's Executive MBA Program and holds a Bachelor’s in Finance from Arizona State University. Beyond his impactful career, Joe is also an accomplished guitar player and singer, known for his passion for uniting people and crafting unforgettable experiences.This episode was recorded in Miami and co-hosted with Kinshuk Sahaya, a distinguished neurologist and a fellow Kellogg Executive MBA alum. 

This episode is featuring Devesh Sachdev, the founder, Managing Director, and CEO of Fusion Microfinance. Since its inception in 2009, Fusion Microfinance has become one of the fastest-growing microfinance institutions in history. This growth is largely attributed to Devesh's leadership, which is focused on adopting state-of-the-art digital technologies while serving millions in vulnerable communities. Currently, Fusion Microfinance is a publicly traded company and stands as one of the largest microfinance / non-bank financial  institutions in India.Join us to explore Devesh's incredible journey and his mindset in building one of the most impactful companies in the world that not only brings financial inclusion to millions but also unlocks enormous opportunities for inclusive economic growth.

This episode is with Manvendra - Manny -  Saxena, founder and Executive Chairman of Mars Energy Group. Mars Energy Group is a private equity holding company that acquires renewable energy businesses and provides support after acquisition by utilizing technology, implementing systems, and driving process improvements. The main focus of Mars Energy is solar. Prior to Mars Energy, Manny grew a street sweeping holding company to be the second largest street sweeping business in the US. After this significant growth, the street sweeping company led by Manny was sold to Warburg Pincus, a large global private equity firm.  Manny's success is captured in a Northwestern Kellogg  School of Management business case entitled “Swept Up in Uncertainty at Power Sweeping”. Manny is an immigrant professional and he is originally from India. He  holds an engineering degree from IIT Varanasi and  received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.This episode was recorded in San Francisco. 

This is a thought-provoking episode with Professor Mohanbir Sawhney, a globally recognized scholar, consultant, speaker, and author in technology, innovation and marketing. He's a distinguished professor at the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University, and an advisor to global Fortune 500 companies.  We sat down with Professor Sawhney to delve into his impactful professional journey and explore his mindset, which has enabled him to stay ahead of rapidly evolving, cutting-edge technology trends. Professor Sawhney shared invaluable advice for both entrepreneurs and corporate career professionals seeking personal and professional development. Additionally, we discussed the future of business school education and the rapid growth of India's tech ecosystem.This episode is one you won't want to miss.

This  is a unique episode that was recorded with Kostas Poulakidas in Bangalore, India, featuring two amazing Indian female tech leaders.  Joining us are Sonia Arora and Preetha Menon. Both have over 15 years of impactful tech leadership experience in the United States in diverse industries. In this episode we are delving into their inspiring stories and their reflections during a visit to India with the Kellogg of School of Management. Sonia and Preetha are classmates from the Kellogg School of Management’s Executive MBA Program.  Sonia Arora is a seasoned technology leader in cloud and agile transformation, software development life cycle, and process improvement. She is currently leading digital transformation projects at Blue Shield, California to provide access to safe, quality and affordable healthcare.  Preetha Menon is an innovative business technology leader and a strategic product owner with experience in deep tech product development. She is currently at AbbVie where she is a leader in the delivery of innovative products to improve the lives of the patients.  

In this episode we are hosting Orie Browne, a distinguished physician, tech entrepreneur, and community service leader. As the Chief Medical Officer at Checkpoint Health, Orie plays a pivotal role in providing innovative health management solutions for people with chronic illnesses. His extensive career as a physician spans various locations in the US and internationally.Orie's remarkable educational and professional journey started at West Point, and advanced  with significant experiences in Israel, Germany and the United States. He holds an MD from the Medical School for International Health at Ben Gurion University in Israel, where he also earned his PhD in Neurophysiology. Orie is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.Additionally, Orie is an alum of the Kellogg School of Management, where he completed the Executive MBA program. I was privileged to be his classmate at Kellogg. Beyond his professional life, he is a sailor with a deep passion for linking sailing to meaningful community service. We are recording this podcast in Tel Aviv, Israel, where Orie and I are visiting as Crown Family Israel Fellows at the Kellogg School of Management. 

In this episode, we are hosting Ashish Sinha, a distinguished non-profit  leader in the US democracy space. Ashish currently serves as the Chief of Staff at the Institute for Responsive Government, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. This organization is dedicated to assisting policymakers in finding solutions that enhance government efficiency, accessibility, and responsiveness to the needs of real people.Ashish is a fellow alum of the Kellogg School of Management. 

In this episode,  we are hosting Ardaman Singh, a senior executive of Axtria, a global provider of cloud software and AI-driven data analytics to the life sciences industry. The company officially became an unicorn with over $1 billion valuation  after raising $150 million from Bain Capital Tech Opportunities in 2021. Ardaman is a seasoned business executive and entrepreneur with experience in almost all continents.  He is is an alum of Kellogg School of Management's Executive MBA program at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. We are recording this podcast in Delhi, India. 

Hi from Evanston, Illinois. In this podcast Kostas Poulakidas and I, Volkan Emre, are hosting Oender Boyman, a fellow Kellogg Executive MBA and a seasoned venture capital investor. Onder is currently a  Partner at Swiss Venture Capital firm VI Partners. Vi Partners was founded in 2000 by ETH Zurich, McKinsey and ten Swiss blue-chip companies with the mission to stimulate entrepreneurship and foster the VC industry in Switzerland. Prior to joining VI Partners, he was the head of the Swiss Post Ventures, the venture investment arm of Swiss Post, the national postal service of Switzerland - consistently voted as the most innovative and best postal service in the world.Oender is an alum of the Kellogg School of Management's Executive MBA program.

Hi from Bangalore, India! In this episode,  Kostas Poulakidas and I, Volkan Emre, are hosting   Anant Vidur Puri, a technology and entrepreneurship enthusiast who is a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners’ India branch. Bessemer is one of the World’s leading VC companies, with more than 135 IPOs and 200 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces.  Anant is an alum of the Harvard Business School. 

Hi from Bangalore, India. Today,  Kostas Poulakidas and myself, Volkan Emre, are hosting Abhinay Choudhari, the founder of BigBasket.com, one of the largest and most impactful e-commerce ventures in the World. BigBasket was sold to Tata Group for over $2 billion valuation in 2021. Abhinay is also the founder of LaundryMate, a groundbreaking platform revolutionizing the way how laundry is done. We are at LaundryMate’s headquarters in Bangalore and thankful for Abhinay’s hospitality. Abhinay is an alum of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. 

Today we are hosting Linda Maclachlan, founder and current Board Chairperson of Entara, a Chicago-based leading Cybersecurity and  IT Managed Services company. Linda is also the Co-founder and CEO of Forecheck, a cybersecurity startup.  Linda is an alum of the Kellogg School of Management's Executive MBA program.