Experience Leader Devin Smith

Why do we have so many managers, but so few leaders? What does it even mean to be a leader? How do you become one? In this episode, I talk with Jennifer Borchardt, VP of Experience, Financial Services at Publicis Sapient about how to cross over into leadership. 

The episode begins with Jennifer reflecting on her journey and how her view of leadership has evolved over time. Jennifer has worked in various roles within the sector, most recently leading an experience practice for financial services at a large global digital transformation consultancy. Jennifer and Devin discuss the difference between management and leadership, with the consensus that the two roles involve different skills and mindsets. 

Jennifer emphasizes the importance of sharing a vision with a team and letting individuals figure out how to achieve it. Serious about mentorship, Jennifer shares her experience providing guidance to others in their careers, attributing her success to individuals who poured into her life and offered their insight and wisdom. The conversation concludes with Jennifer’s thoughts on humility, mentorship, meaning in work, and the importance of rest alongside labor.

00:00 Introduction to Leadership vs Management
00:08 The Importance of Vision in Leadership
00:54 Guest Introduction: Jennifer Borschart
02:44 Jennifer's Career Journey and Current Role
04:25 The Path to Leadership and Its Challenges
11:03 The Impact of Leadership on Personal Growth
12:09 The Intersection of Leadership and Personal Interests
15:23 The Role of Humility in Leadership
18:08 The Struggle Between Leadership and Management
27:19 The Role of Leadership in Financial Services
31:20 Taking Control of Your Life Through Financial Understanding
32:50 The Influence of Personal Background on Leadership
33:34 Is Adversity Necessary for Good Leadership?
37:24 The Importance of Rest and Reflection in Leadership
43:59 The Role of Mentorship in Leadership Development
48:43 The Impact of Intrinsic Motivation and Humility in Leadership
52:23 The Significance of Your Work and Its Impact on Others
56:14 Closing Thoughts on Leadership and Career Growth

Join other customer-obsessed product leaders by signing up for the Experience Leader Newsletter: https://www.devinwsmith.com/subscribe

A production of Outserve Group LLC. Visit [www.devinwsmith.com](http://www.devinwsmith.com/) for more.

#Entrepreneurship #ExperienceLeader #product #productstrategy #productmanagement #Jobstobedone
Connect with Devin
LinkedIn X: @devinwsmith Subscribe and Review
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never miss an episode. We'd also appreciate if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help us reach more people and create a bigger impact.

Show Notes
Episode Overview
In this episode, Chris Spiek, a luminary in the product development sector,me to discuss the transformative potential of the Jobs to be Done theory in business strategy. Chris shares his journey of collaborating with Apple to bring the innovative tap-to-pay feature to market, and how one feature born out of JTBD Research created a feature single-handedly responsible for 50% of company revenue. Tune in to hear the story.

Key Takeaways
Collaboration with Apple: Chris highlights the journey of developing the tap-to-pay feature, which promises to revolutionize payment systems for small business owners.Customer-Centric Approach: Chris underscores the necessity of shifting focus from the loudest voice in the room to the customer's needs and experiences.Implementing Jobs Theory: Begin with foundational knowledge acquired from resources like "Competing Against Luck", and learn the art of customer interviews to gather actionable insights.The Importance of the First Win: Secure an initial success story to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Jobs theory in your organization, fostering a culture of customer-centric innovation.
Quotes
"Every time you take a credit card payment, people say it's like, I can feel the money going into my checking account, which is pretty magical." - Chris Spiek describing the user experience of the tap-to-pay feature."How do you move the loudest voice out of the center of the conversation and the customer into the center of the conversation?" - Chris Spiek on adopting a customer-centric approach."You're going to have to take a leap of faith based on the findings and learn from the outcomes." - Chris Spiek on implementing the Jobs theory."All you got to do is get one win to prove to the rest of the organization that,  this is worth it." - Devin Smith on the significance of securing the first win.
Resources Mentioned
Competing Against Luck - A foundational book for understanding the Jobs theory.Rewired Group - Innovation Consulting and courses for mastering Jobs to Be Done Interviewing
Ways to Connect with Chris Spiek
Twitter - Follow Chris for more insights on product development and innovation.LinkedIn - Connect with Chris to stay updated on his latest ventures and collaborations.Connect with Devin
LinkedIn X: @devinwsmith Subscribe and Review
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never miss an episode. We'd also appreciate if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help us reach more people and create a bigger impact.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Horst Schulze, a visionary leader in the hotel industry. He shared his insights on the importance of purpose and belonging in the workplace, the role of leadership, and how his faith has influenced his approach to business and relationships.
Key Takeaways
The importance of purpose and belonging in the workplace: Mr. Schulze emphasizes that companies should hire people not just to fulfill a function, but to be part of a purpose and offer them a sense of belonging. He cites a large worker survey that found the number one thing employees value in their job is a sense of belonging.The role of leadership: Leaders need to have a strong sense of purpose themselves and be able to transfer that to their team. If leaders lack clarity or conviction, they cannot effectively inspire their team to strive for excellence.The power of service and relationships: Mr. Schulze argues that customer loyalty is built on trust, which is primarily established through relationships, not products. He believes that companies should focus on serving their customers well and building strong relationships with them.The vision of a leader: When Mr. Schulze started Ritz Carlton, his vision was to create the finest hotel company in the world. He carefully considered whether this purpose was good for all stakeholders - investors, employees, customers, society, and his community - and whether it was something that would be approved by God.Continuous improvement: Mr. Schulze believes in the importance of continuously striving for excellence, both in business and in personal life. This involves regularly asking yourself how you can do better in your work, relationships, and moral and ethical conduct.The influence of faith: Mr. Schulze's faith has greatly influenced his approach to business and relationships. He believes in loving and respecting all people, and sees his employees and customers as his neighbors. His faith has also given him a sense of purpose and conviction in his work.Resources
Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise by Horst SchulzeThe New Gold Standard: 5 Leadership Principles for Creating a Legendary Customer Experience Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company by Joseph MichelliArch and Tower PlusCapella Hotel GroupConnect with Horst Schulze
LinkedInTwitterConnect with Devin
LinkedIn X: @devinwsmith Subscribe and Review
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never miss an episode. We'd also appreciate if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help us reach more people and create a bigger impact.

In this episode of Experience Leader, Devin talks with legendary hotelier, co-founder of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, and founder of Capella Hotel Group, Horst Schulze. They talk about his remarkable story and how he creates the best hotels in the world. This is the first part of a two-part series that will get you fired up to pursue excellence in your life and work.
Enjoy the conversation.

Join other industry leaders by signing up for the Experience Leader Newsletter.

A production of Experience Leader LLC.
Links
Learn more about Horst Schulze
Learn more about host Devin Smith
Learn more about the Experience Leader Podcast
Connect with Devin
LinkedIn X: @devinwsmith Subscribe and Review
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never miss an episode. We'd also appreciate if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help us reach more people and create a bigger impact.

Some people just get the need for great CX because it’s a part of who they are, and it is definitely a part of Ashley Jones, CEO and Founder of Love Not Lost. 

Love Not Lost is a non-profit that provides portrait photography for people who have a terminally ill loved one so that they can capture memories together while they still can.

In this episode, Devin talks with Ashley about how she started Love Not Lost and the way the organization cares for donors, photographers, and benefactors.
Enjoy the conversation.

Join other industry leaders by signing up for the Experience Leader Newsletter.

A production of Experience Leader LLC.
Links
Learn more about Love Not Lost
Connect with Ashley Jones on LinkedIn
Learn more about host Devin Smith
Learn more about the Experience Leader Podcast
Connect with Devin
LinkedIn X: @devinwsmith Subscribe and Review
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never miss an episode. We'd also appreciate if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help us reach more people and create a bigger impact.

Have you ever encountered pure energy?  Devin comes close when he sits down with Nate Brown, Co-Founder of the CX Accelerator and Senior Director of CX at Arise.

Nate and Devin talk about their experience at CX Forums Experience Atlanta ‘23 and about why experience matters!
Enjoy the conversation.

Join other industry leaders by signing up for the Experience Leader Newsletter.

A production of Experience Leader LLC.
Links
Connect with Nate Brown on LinkedIN
Listen to the Experience Matters (Podcast) with Nate Brown
Learn more about hosts Devin Smith
Learn more about the Experience Leader Podcast
Connect with Devin
LinkedIn X: @devinwsmith Subscribe and Review
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never miss an episode. We'd also appreciate if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help us reach more people and create a bigger impact.