Colin Mutchler’s career has been anything but a straight path. Out of Duke his parents hoped he’d be a consultant, but instead he pursued his passions. Hobbies (musician, improv performer and more) battle for time with entrepreneurial business ventures. Colin says even in college he had a hard time considering the traditional career path. He’d think to himself, “This is weird, people just want you to get a job, get married, have kids, retire and die. That doesn’t sound interesting as a life.” He talks with his former professor and friend Tony Brown about choosing the road less traveled, how he’s making it work, and why he has no regrets.

At the Table with Tony is a series of conversations with Tony Brown, professor emeritus at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Tony is facing significant health challenges, and he is clear about his 2025 priorities. In addition to prioritizing his wife, Teddie, and his family, nurturing a generative, “grow together” friendship community that creates benefits for others is an important 2025 aspiration. At the Table with Tony helps him do that. As always, Tony is joined at the table by Duke senior, Penelope North. This is the final episode of Season 1. Season 2 will premiere in the fall of 2025.

Todd Sears took Tony Brown’s class at Duke in 1998. After graduation, Todd turned his attention to building community and belonging wherever he was. At Merrill Lynch he was the first openly gay financial advisor, and he created a team focused on serving the LGBTQ+ community – a first in the nation. Today, Todd is the founder and CEO of Out Leadership. Todd has found success helping companies see the importance of fostering connections among employees. “It’s about getting the right people, the right mix, and making them feel like they’re part of a community,” he says, that’s how you get the best out of people. Tony Brown agrees, saying genuine human relationships power both our professional and personal lives. “Pay attention to these things, reflect on them and act on them,” he says.

At the Table with Tony is a series of conversations with Tony Brown, professor emeritus at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Tony is facing significant health challenges, and he is clear about his 2025 priorities. In addition to prioritizing his wife, Teddie, and his family, nurturing a generative, “grow together” friendship community that creates benefits for others is an important 2025 aspiration. At the Table with Tony helps him do that. As always, Tony is joined at the table by Duke senior, Penelope North.

What does it take to land a dream job? In this episode, Wendy Kuran talks about pausing to take stock, discovering she wanted something new, and landing in a place that surprised even her - China. Wendy says she was ready to take a leadership role at Duke Kunshan, because she had made “good dots” in her career -- meaning she tried to make her actions purposeful and was serious about making the most of each opportunity. Tony Brown says the path to a dream job is a series of single steps that lead in the right direction. “Be confident that there’s another step forward,” he says. “You don’t have to see all the steps; you need to know your values.”

At the Table with Tony is a series of conversations with Tony Brown, professor emeritus at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Tony is facing significant health challenges, and he is clear about his 2025 priorities. In addition to prioritizing his wife, Teddie, and his family, nurturing a generative, “grow together” friendship community that creates benefits for others is an important 2025 aspiration. At the Table with Tony helps him do that. As always, Tony is joined at the table by Duke senior, Penelope North.

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