Shift from tactical expert to strategic decision-maker by mastering the financial fluency, commercial insight, and executive vision that drive enterprise growth.
This course examines the professional transition from technical expert to strategic executive within large organizations. It addresses the development of business acumen through lateral role changes and the cultivation of a broad operational understanding. The content highlights the dynamics of leading other leaders, the mechanics of organizational accountability, and the necessity of maintaining a strategic vision while managing complex problems. Emphasis is placed on the role of curiosity, mentorship networks, and ownership mindsets in driving long-term enterprise growth.
1 activity • 1 videos • duration: 1h 13m
Motivational & Leadership Speaker
Adam Mendler is a nationally recognized authority on leadership, renowned for his unique ability to deliver perspective-shifting insights shaped by interviewing more than 500 of America’s most successful leaders. The creator and host of the top-rated business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, Adam regularly elicits insights from America's top CEOs, founders, athletes, celebrities, and political and military leaders. A keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations, Adam has written extensively on business and leadership, having authored more than 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc., and HuffPost. A Los Angeles native and lifelong Angels fan, Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA, serves on the board of UCLA’s Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science program, is an emeritus member of USC’s Board of Governors, and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders.
Chair, President, and CEO at Principal Financial Group
Deanna D. Strable is Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Principal Financial Group. She became CEO in January 2025 and Chair in September 2025. She joined the company in 1990 as an actuary and rose through its insurance businesses. She was president of U.S. Insurance Solutions from 2015 and Chief Financial Officer from 2017 to 2024, then President and Chief Operating Officer. A small-town Iowan and first-generation college student, she studied at Northwestern University. She is known for her authentic leadership style, for founding Principal’s first women’s executive leadership group, and for mentoring young professionals. She serves on the Board of Directors of Simpson College and previously served on the United Way Worldwide Board of Trustees and chaired the board of LIMRA LOMA Global.
CEO of Headspace
Tom Pickett is the Chief Executive Officer of Headspace. Prior to Headspace, he served as the Chief Revenue Officer of DoorDash Inc., a publicly traded leading local commerce platform since March 2020. Prior to joining DoorDash, Mr. Pickett served as Chief Executive Officer of Ellation, a global direct-to-consumer digital media company from October 2014 to March 2020. From April 2004 to August 2014, Mr. Pickett served in various senior roles at Google, including roles involving general business operations, as Director of AdSense operations and as a member of the senior executive team of YouTube, most recently serving as Vice President of Content and Operations. Earlier in his career, Mr. Pickett served as an F/A-18 pilot in the U.S. Navy and was a “Top Gun” graduate. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, with honors, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
