Northwestern Intersections

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Isabelle Nüssli '10 MBA on Empowering Productivity in C-Level Leadership and Partnerships Aug 29, 2019

Show notes

After her own experience in conflict with chairpersons, Isabelle Nüssli interviewed 100 chairpersons and CEOs to uncover the source of the tension that's often built at the top of the corporate pyramid. When she realized that admitting these issues in leadership was considered taboo, she sought out to take action, ultimately resulting in writing her book. Nüssli is the author of Cockfighting: Solving the Mystery of Unconscious Sabotage at the Top of the Corporate Pyramid. In this episode, you'll learn the three conscious and five critical unconscious drivers that drive these types of turmoil, according to her findings.

Ellie Burrows Gluck '06 on Meditating in the Midst of Busy Schedule Aug 22, 2019

Show notes

Start your day off with a sense of peace and mindfulness with Ellie Burrows Gluck as she guides us through a calming meditation exercise in this special episode. Before co-starting MNDFL, Ellie Burrows Gluck served as an executive in the film business for a number of years until she came across her true passion: spirituality and pursuit of consciousness. She then quit her job in 2013 to travel around the world as a spiritual tourist, returning to New York City at the end of the trip to pursue her Certificate in Coaching. And then came along MNDFL, a drop-in meditation company where New Yorkers can better connect to their mind, heart, and the body without the weekend-long commitment. Listen in as she sheds light on her non-linear career changes she made while facing unexpected life circumstances.

Erica Keswin '95 MBA on Quality Relationships at the Workplace Aug 15, 2019

Show notes

Erica Keswin is a workplace strategist and business coach with over 20 years of experience, having worked with top organizations that honor relationships at their workplace. Keswin, a bestselling author, published her book, Bring Your Human to Work, to help employees and leaders at organizations navigate ways to connect in the workplace and develop a winning culture. In addition to tips on how to form genuine relationships, she also shares her experience in the field of executive recruiting, a field not most MBA graduates go into, and her transitions between companies while going through major personal life changes. Keswin is always ready to be challenged and she is ready to share with the world on how to leverage all that technology has to offer but also to put it in its place and connect with humans face-to-face.

Behind the Scenes with Chuck Bontrager '94 and Heather Aranyi '05 Aug 08, 2019

Show notes

Concertmaster of Hamilton: An American Musical of the Chicago company and artist and teacher-in-residence at the Lyric Opera of Chicago come together to share their stories as entrepreneurial artists in the 21st century. What's inspiring about these artists is that they're not afraid to be vulnerable when it comes to elaborating on the topics of injury, fear, and insecurity – most which are not often talked about in the creative arts community. Aranyi, who is also on faculty at the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Northwestern, offers her expertise on branding classes she teaches on campus, one of which Bontrager was invited as a guest speaker at. No matter how many times (around a thousand) he performed Hamilton or she sang cantatas and debuted at the Carnegie Hall, they still get nervous. And that makes them human.

Paula Whitman '86 on De-Stressing the College Admissions Process Aug 01, 2019

Show notes

August 1st is the long-awaited day that the Common App opens for students applying to colleges. Paula Whitman is here to tell you that applying to colleges does not have to be stressful! Whitman, a college application and essay coach, shares what has changed and stayed the same over the past year in the admissions process and offers tips for each class of high school students. She also points out what to avoid and the pitfalls most students make during this process. Tune in to hear how to make the college admissions process as easy and smooth as possible for the entire family.

Gary Beasley '87 on Taking Calculated Risks Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

Gary Beasley went with his gut to leave his first job after few months, despite the general rule of thumb his mentors suggested of staying at a company for few years. This was only one of the many successful calculated risks he took to become the CEO and Co-Founder of Roofstock, a technology-enabled marketplace that provides tools to investors for evaluating, buying, and selling single-family rental homes. Beasley shares his experience of how to take charge in one's non-linear career track and how to manage transitions between varying levels of roles at one's company. You'll also hear tips on how to be a valuable CEO at a thriving organization and how to scratch the entrepreneurial itch.

Nicole Gibbons '03 on Revolutionizing the Paint Industry Jul 18, 2019

Show notes

Nicole Gibbons moved her way up from being the PR Assistant to become the Global Director within her ten years of tenure at Victoria's Secret. What makes her story even more impressive is that she was managing a side hustle at the same time to pursue her passion for design. Gibbons is the founder of Clare, a company designed to make paint shopping easier, accessible, and more inspiring. She has been sought out by top media outlets and appears as a design expert on Home Made Simple, a home improvement reality show on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Gibbons sheds light on the reality of building your own start-up, transitioning into becoming an entrepreneur, and managing up at your company.

Scott Shay '79, '80 MBA on the Golden Rule in Finance and Life Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

Scott Shay didn't think he would be where he is today as the Chairman of Signature Bank when he started his freshmen year at Northwestern as a chemistry major. Shay, a Chicago native, moved to New York shortly after graduating to join the Salomon Brothers Group. Despite the first six months of his tenure at Salomon Brothers being some of the hardest times in his career both intellectually and physically, he grabbed every opportunity to pursue new projects. His dedication led him to meet some of the most notable mentors, including Lewis Ranieri, and opened up new forks down the road in his career path. Shay, who is also the author of In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism, reflects on his father's experience as a Holocaust survivor and to continue his legacy of resiliency.

Audrey Cheng '15 on Redefining Success to Prioritize Happiness Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

As the CEO and Co-Founder of Moringa School, a multi-disciplinary learning accelerator to provide young students with digital and professional skills training in Nairobi, Kenya, Audrey Cheng quickly rose to be selected as one of the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs. But Cheng shares that this journey also came with battling unforeseen life hindrances and burnouts. The key to her success? Being rooted in happiness. Tune into Cheng's story to hear how she led her team to prioritize their well-being, even through difficult situations.

Brian Mustanski '99 on his Passion for LGBT Health Research Jun 20, 2019

Show notes

It was during his undergraduate years that Brian Mustanski knew he wanted to combine the perspectives of biology and psychology in the world of human sexuality research. He now serves as the Director of the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, the Co-Director of the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research, and he is a tenured Professor at Northwestern. In this episode, Mustanski enlightens us with how his identity has impacted his career as well as his passion for influencing local policy makers on public health. Tune in as Mustanski talks us through fighting for equality, how to be allies to show solidarity with the LGBT community, and how to form collaborative partnerships.

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