It may be an unconventional path for a CEO, but when Angela Ahrendts is asked about how she made the transition from being CEO of one of the most recognized fashion brands in the world, Burberry, to SVP at Apple, she says the move was really just another way of doing what she’s always done: working in the “people business.”
As a leader, Ahrendts famously says she prefers to focus her attention not on her organization’s P&L, but on its P&I, as in “people and impact.” When she moved from Burberry to Apple, she did so not to gain industry experience in technology or chase a promotion. She did so because she saw an opportunity to leverage Apple’s farflung workforce to effect change in communities around the world.
Once she arrived at Apple, she took the lessons she had learned at Burberry and went all in on impact by leading the company in a crowdsourcing exercise that asked Apple’s 55,000 employees around the world to answer the question, “What should Apple be doing in your community?” The answers that came back became action points and ways she improved the relationships she had not just with the community in the areas of education and business opportunity, but also with her team.
Following Apple, Ahrendts performed another one of her pivots and took her talents and experience to the boards of such brands as Ralph Lauren, AirBnb, and Save the Children International, a charity focused on improving the lives of at-risk children worldwide. As with those she’s led or serves with on boards, listeners to the podcast will benefit from lessons Ahrendts draws from her remarkably diverse experiences. These include:
• Why even the most tech-driven corporate cultures need to strike a balance between technology and humanity.
• How to use offsites to draw your team together, put people on the same page and get the best out of them.
• How to connect with your personal passion to make a difference in the lives of others.
Ahrendts, who has been named to the Forbes Most Powerful Women list eight times, says the move from corporate to nonprofit represents less of a pivot than a natural extension of her passion. “When I got the call for Save the Children and saw it had offices in 30 countries and 25,000 people on the ground focused on women and children, it just felt like it was a calling,” said the loving wife, mom, sister, daughter, friend and leader.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
