It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission.

Entrepreneurial leadership requires a frame of mind that embraces failure. Because failure is the fastest way to learn.

Jon Sockell (MBA ‘12) isn’t afraid of failing, and that’s maybe the key component to his success. His leadership philosophy boils down to asking forgiveness rather than permission, a philosophy shaped by a career spent inside fast-moving companies, where planning is important, but action is essential. In this episode with Taiwo Olawehinmi, Jon delves into the leadership lessons he’s learned on trust, avoiding bottlenecks at the top, and leaving people free to swim in their own lane.

Willingness to fail is key, but it’s also about finding your passion. Because when you follow your own interests, everything is more likely to work out in the end. These are ideas that Jon formed after years in the startup trenches, where he also learned that feedback is a gift, and that it’s essential to think deeply about your customer.

If you’re wondering how to build and foster a startup culture that moves forward without fear, and that leads by action rather than academics, this episode is a must listen. Jon offers insight on not only how to embrace failure, but also on how to find a good work-life balance, and why being the first company in any new space is something he’d rather avoid.

This is leadership with intention, reflection, and heart. Listen in! Remember to subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Learn more about us: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/

What does a decade of authentic leadership inside one of the most publicly scrutinized companies in the world actually teach you about keeping global teams steady when the ground keeps shifting?

In this episode, host Melissa sits down with Gianna Dellicarpini, Chief People Officer at WeWork, to discuss what it really means to lead people operations through some of the most public corporate chapters in recent business history.

Gianna shares how the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy reshaped her early career decisions and set her on a path of career pivots she never planned for. She opens up about how those years in human capital consulting built the foundation for her leadership philosophy and the kind of HR leadership she practices today, one that centers on trust, advocacy, and showing up consistently for the people she leads even when the organization around her is making headlines.

We also get into what global leadership looks like in practice, how Gianna structures her team across time zones and cultures without defaulting to a US-centric model, and what she has learned about staying connected without overstepping. She talks honestly about building high-trust teams through organizational transformation, and what it actually took to earn that trust, not just maintain it.

You will also hear the specific advice she wishes someone had given her earlier, and what she tells anyone navigating their leadership development inside complex, fast-moving organizations.

If you have ever led people through uncertainty and wondered whether you were doing it right, this conversation will stay with you.

This is leadership with intention, reflection, and heart. Listen in! Remember to subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Learn more about us: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/

What pivotal moment in your leadership journey teaches you to prioritize employee relations over a corporate spreadsheet?

In this episode, host Maree Smith is joined by Matthew Overbay, a director of manufacturing strategy and planning who has built his career through multiple international assignments at Nissan Motor Corporation.

We break down the leadership skills behind strong team management, how his executive MBA shaped his strategic mindset, and why balancing technical skills with people-first leadership is critical inside fast-moving production lines. This conversation also highlights the role of cultural adaptation and intentional career pivots in long-term growth.

You’ll also learn how on the job training, maintenance training, and workforce development drive operational excellence, offering a clear look at how modern leaders are building stronger teams in large-scale operations.

If you want a practical look at leadership and building a strong strategic mindset inside the automotive industry, this episode offers a clear, grounded perspective.

This is leadership with intention, reflection, and heart. Listen in! Remember to subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Learn more about us: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/