Take Command: A Leadership Podcast

About the Guest:

Ivan Tornos grew up in Madrid, Spain, facing profound loss—his father, uncle, and brother all passed at 45 from cancer—which fueled his mission to "alleviate pain and extend life" in healthcare. Now CEO of Zimmer Biomet, a century-old medtech giant, he's expanding from orthopedics into robotics, AI, and infection prevention, aiming to become "the boldest medtech company on Earth."

Early in his career, Ivan struggled with leadership until embracing purpose alongside execution. "Once you get the purpose right and you're authentic about it, that's not enough—you gotta inspire performance and manage performance," he explains, outlining his 4P algorithm honed over 31 years at companies like J&J and Baxter.

Listen to hear how he "fired himself from email," blocks personal KPIs in his calendar (like gym time and calling his 90-year-old mom), and prioritizes patients over short-term shareholders—creating low turnover and high engagement at a $20B+ market cap firm.

What You Will Learn:

The 4P leadership model (Purpose, Plan, People, Processes) for turning vision into results

How to define winning holistically across spiritual, personal, physical, mental, and professional dimensions with personal KPIs

Why saying no and ruthless calendar audits (every Sunday) beat busyness every time

Balancing hugs and "kicks" as a leader, plus allowing failure for bold innovation

Ivan delivers transformative advice for leaders at any level, rooted in Dale Carnegie authenticity. "Purpose equals a sense of urgency when you're dealing with other people's lives," he says.

Discover how to lead with intention, build unbreakable teams, and live carpe diem when you listen to this inspiring episode of the Take Command Podcast. Join Joe and Ivan for stories, frameworks, and the discipline to win big.

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We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest:
Sanjay Gupta comes from a family of trailblazers. His mother, the first woman engineer hired at Ford Motor Company—a refugee who fled India at age 5—took Dale Carnegie courses to conquer public speaking fears, making How to Win Friends and Influence People a family staple. Inspired by her grit, Sanjay pursued neuroscience early, became a White House fellow, and joined CNN just before 9/11, evolving from healthcare wonk to global reporter on wars, disasters, and outbreaks—while still operating in war zones.
That’s why Sanjay is CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, a practicing neurosurgeon at Emory, a bestselling author (Keep Sharp), and a Dale Carnegie graduate. He credits the course (taken at 16–17) for turning speaking terror into TV poise for millions. Hear more about blending medicine, media, and mentorship when you listen to this episode of the Dale Carnegie Taking Commandpodcast.
What You Will Learn:
Insights into how family resilience shapes bold careers
Lessons in humility as a leadership superpower ("Say 'I don't know'—it galvanizes teams")
Stories about Dale Carnegie's hacks like using names and unsolicited praise notes
The hard truth on brain health: movement grows neurons, but brisk walks beat sprints for optimal results
Join us for this deep dive into balancing dual careers, learning from everyone, and optimizing your mind for peak performance. Sanjay isn’t just a reporter—he’s a perpetual student turning lessons into action. Tune in today to learn from one of the best.

Please rate and review this Episode!
We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest:
Danica Patrick grew up in a household where discipline and high standards were the norm, with her father urging, “get up, don’t waste the day.” She started go-karting at 10 and by 14 had dominated nearly every race, which led sponsors to fund her Dale Carnegie course.
Her grit propelled her to become a trailblazing race car driver—the first woman to win an IndyCar race, lead laps at the Indy 500, and finish it—while also building a career as an author, podcast host, and media personality. Her mantra of blind faith and expanding comfort zones has guided her journey, proving that “when things are meant for you, they go fast.” Hear her full story on this Take Command episode.
What You Will Learn:
How embracing early discomfort, like leaving high school to race in England, can forge unshakable confidence
The role of passion and cumulative effort in bouncing back from setbacks
Mindset shifts like leaning into change, pushing harder, and knowing when to pivot
Insights on resilience, health hacks from her Pretty Intense era to modern biohacking, and her vision for a driving school rooted in real work
Join us for Danica’s candid reflections and practical advice. She doesn’t just talk about success—she shows how courage, grit, and curiosity drive it. Tune in today to learn from one of the most daring and inspiring athletes of our time.

Please rate and review this Episode!
We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest:
Michelle K. Johnston, Ph.D., traces her passion for leadership and connection back to childhood, when she discovered Dale Carnegie’s work in her father’s study and learned the lesson of genuine connection through Carnegie’s story of his dog, Tippy. That early spark shaped her path as a leadership professor, executive coach, bestselling author, and podcast host.
Her first book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, emerged from her work with healthcare executives navigating constant change. Her latest collaboration with the world’s number one executive coach, Marshall Goldsmith, launched in London following Thinkers50 conversations on why humanity will always outperform technology.
Michelle encourages leaders to shift their focus from the constant “what” of tasks to the critical “who” of people, starting with themselves. A former Loyola University leadership professor, she now coaches CEOs and senior executives to rethink calendars, rebuild engagement, and lead in ways that reduce burnout and increase results. Her message is clear: connection isn’t soft. It drives retention, satisfaction, and real business performance.
What You Will Learn:
Why today’s loneliness epidemic rivals the health impact of smoking 15 cigarettes a day
How your calendar reveals your true priorities and how to redesign it around people
Why digital meetings don’t automatically create connection
Simple questions that deepen trust and engagement
How small language shifts can transform feedback and relationships
This episode of Take Command is a thoughtful, energizing conversation about leading with heart in a high-tech world. Michelle blends timeless Dale Carnegie principles with modern leadership realities, offering practical wisdom you can apply right away. Tune in to connect more deeply and lead more effectively.

Please rate and review this Episode!
We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

About the Guest:
John Hope Bryant leads the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of financial literacy services for youth and adults. Recognized globally, he was named to the Forbes BLK50 List in 2024 and TIME Magazine’s inaugural The Closers List. A best-selling author and CNBC contributor, he reaches millions through his ‘Straight Talk’ series and continues to advance economic opportunity and inclusive capitalism.
What You Will Learn:
Why becoming the person you’re meant to be often confuses others
How courage, optimism, and faith drive leadership
Lessons from Dale Carnegie on influence and growth
The mindset shifts that separate good leaders from great ones
Join us for this inspiring conversation with John about acting boldly, embracing fear, and evolving into your best self.

 
Lukas

Please rate and review this Episode!
We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.