Gail McGovern’s career spans leading a $26 billion business unit at AT&T, presiding over Fidelity Personal Investments, and teaching at Harvard Business School, before answering what she might call the most important call of her career. She joined the American Red Cross in 2008 when the organization needed stabilizing leadership, and she never wavered in her conviction that doing the right thing is non-negotiable—even when it’s costly or second-guessed. Through earthquakes, hurricanes, and a global pandemic, her compass stayed true to delivering the best for people in need and in her organization, demonstrating a commitment to her instincts, her integrity and her determination. Tune in for a conversation that delves into rebuilding a legacy institution from the inside out and what it takes to lead with heart when there’s no margin for error. Take home lessons on what transformative leadership looks like in times of crisis and how to translate ambition into purpose that endures.

About the Guest

Gail J. McGovern assumed the role of Chair of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross on July 1, 2024, after serving as the organization’s president and CEO for more than 16 years. As Chair, Gail leads the Board in its governance and oversight of Red Cross operations.

During her tenure as president and CEO, McGovern helped to transform the venerable American institution into a 21st Century emergency response and blood services organization. Her transformational initiatives led to improved financial stability and expanded the reach of lifesaving Red Cross services. She also oversaw the organization’s response to multiple high-profile disasters across the country and around the world and initiated extensive modernization projects – including an overhaul of Red Cross IT systems and the growth of the organization’s leadership in social media and mobile technologies.

Prior to joining the Red Cross, McGovern was a faculty member at the Harvard Business School and earlier had served as president of Fidelity Personal Investments, a unit of Fidelity Investments. She was also executive vice president at AT&T for the Consumer Markets Division, the company’s largest business unit, and was responsible for its $26 billion residential long-distance service.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from Columbia University. In May 2026, McGovern received an honorary doctorate from Johns Hopkins University.

McGovern is currently a member of the board of trustees for Johns Hopkins Medicine. She also serves on the board of directors of DTE Energy.

McGovern was recognized by Fortune magazine in 2000 and 2001 as one of the top 50 most powerful women in corporate America.

Links in this Episode

American Red Cross

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“The five or six people that you spend the most time with, that’s who you’ll become. And our time is so limited.”

Steve White, President and Special Counsel to the CEO of Comcast Cable, joins Off the Rak to discuss what it means to have an Uncompromising approach to life, the importance of having a positive influence on those we lead and what it means to have road-dog relationships.

About the Guest

Steven A. White grew up as the son of a fiercely determined and hard-working single mother. His family moved often in the hopes of creating a better life and future. From Florida to Georgia and eventually Indiana, Steve was influenced by his mother’s strong will and work ethic. It was her incredible resolve that led him to be the first in his family to pursue a college education at Indiana University and a successful career in sales, marketing, and general management.

As President of Comcast’s West Division for eleven years, Steve White created a culture defined by Working Together To Win Together. Driven by continuous learning, radical responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Comcast’s West Division became a pacesetter by delivering industry-leading results. Steve White was responsible for all Comcast Cable operations in the Western U.S., leading nearly thirty thousand employees, serving almost ten million customers, and driving annual revenue of nearly $18 billion.

Steve launched his Comcast career in 1996 as Regional Vice President, invigorated by a successful tenure at Colgate-Palmolive where he managed the overall toothbrush business to register a 430% net sales increase. A commitment to his why and the influence of mentors enabled him to demonstrate consistent growth for his teams and divisions, which led to increasing leadership responsibilities.

Today, Steve applies that same winning philosophy to his new post as President, Special Counsel to the CEO of Comcast.

Giving back and paying it forward are two of Steve White’s life values. He has lived in Denver for more than 10 years and has seen the community grow and change at an incredible pace. Steve appreciates how Denver is an innovative leader in media, culture, and education, and he enjoys supporting organizations that make up Denver’s vibrant community.

He champions causes related to family and education, such as the Denver Scholarship Fund. He partnered with the University of Denver as an Executive in Residence and provided academic enrichment for the Daniels College of Business. Steve also speaks to various professional groups helping others along their journey to professional and personal success.

Steve serves on the board of directors for Hormel Foods and W.W. Grainger. He spent time as an executive in residence for the University of Denver. Having experienced his own success thanks to the advice of key mentors, Steve now offers guidance to others in support of businesses across the country.

After stepping down as President of Comcast’s West Division, Steve White has turned his attention to speaking and writing. He sincerely believes that all of us are meant to share our stories for the benefit of others. Steve’s message merges his passions for business, family, and philanthropy to deliver an enlightening and meaningful message to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. He speaks locally to different Denver-based organizations and nationally to Fortune 500 companies.

To complement his keynote speaking, Steve White is authoring a new book titled, Uncompromising: How an Unwavering Commitment to Your Why Leads to an Impactful Life and a Lasting Legacy. This book explores the defining – often heart-wrenching – moments on Steve’s path from the housing projects to president of Comcast West and how he positively made a difference in his life and for those around him. He hopes that his readers will reflect on the book’s seven pathways and seek out ways to make a difference for others.

Uncompromising was published March 2022.

Links in this Episode

Learn more at stevewhitespeaks.com

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Two decades-plus in the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner means hard-won insights many leaders can learn from: how to stay committed to the truth, find purpose, and build systems that last. In this candid chat, international forensics expert Barbara Butcher shares the high-stakes realities of being a death investigator, the ethical conflicts she navigates, and the crisis moments like 9/11 that tested her leadership. We explore how her investigative mindset (stay curious, rely on evidence, and remain open to learning) teams with humility, accountability, and gratitude. As only the second woman hired in her role as a death investigator in Manhattan, she reflects on surviving in a field where politics, gender, and pressure collide. And through it all, she explains how her work now — writing, consulting, and advocacy — is helping others understand both the science and the human cost of bringing closure to victims’ families.

About the Guest

Barbara Butcher is a former New York City Chief Medical Examiner, investigative leader, and author whose career unfolded at the intersection of science, service, and humanity. Over more than two decades at the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner, she led teams responsible for some of the city’s most complex and high-stakes death investigations—work that demanded clarity under pressure, ethical resolve, and deep respect for human dignity.

Beyond individual cases, Barbara played a key role in shaping systems. She helped lead agency strategy, inter-agency coordination, and training initiatives, including the creation of a federally funded Forensic Sciences Training Program designed to strengthen standards and prepare the next generation of death-investigation professionals nationwide. Her leadership was tested most profoundly during moments of national crisis, including oversight of recovery efforts following September 11, where steadiness, accountability, and humanity mattered as much as expertise.

Throughout her leadership journey, Barbara became known for cultivating resilient cultures in environments where decisions carry lasting consequences. She credits much of her leadership philosophy to an investigative mindset—staying curious, grounded in evidence, and open to learning—paired with humility, accountability, and gratitude. These principles shaped not only how she led teams but also how she navigated loss, adversity, and professional transition.After leaving public office, Barbara carried those lessons forward through storytelling, consulting, and advocacy. She is the author of What the Dead Know, a candid memoir that explores trauma, recovery, and purpose while illuminating the humanity behind forensic work and the lived experiences of first responders. Today, she continues to influence the field through teaching, advising, and media—modeling leadership as an ongoing practice rooted in service, curiosity, and the courage to evolve.

Links in this Episode

Official website: https://www.barbarabutcherofficial.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butcher.barbara

X: https://x.com/OCMEForensics

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraButcherOfficialPage/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraButcherOfficial

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