How do you build a career and a leadership style rooted in people, culture, and curiosity? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Jim Fielding, former CEO of Claire’s, President of Disney Stores Worldwide, and President of 20th Century Fox Consumer Products. Jim is also the author of All Pride, No Ego and host of the Jim Fielding & Friends podcast.

With over 40 years of experience across retail, media, and entertainment, Jim shares lessons on adapting to revolutions in retail, leading teams through change, and why the future of business is all about human connection.

• Why the “future of retail” is really about people

• How to lead change when everyone adapts differently

• Why long-term planning beats “90 day transformations”

• How leaders can balance confidence and humility (All Pride, No Ego)

• Why culture, not money, is the key to attracting top talent

Jim reflects on his career journey from department stores and catalogs to e-commerce, omnichannel, and experiential retail. He explains how consumer behavior has changed over decades and how leaders must constantly adapt to new shopping patterns.

“The word now is omnichannel… you have to be omnipresent in people’s lives, both physical and digital.” – Jim Fielding

For today’s brands, that means meeting customers everywhere: in stores, online, and increasingly, through social commerce on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

One of Jim’s most impactful insights is his train analogy for change management. Some people jump aboard immediately, others wait for the first-class car, and some hesitate on the platform. As a leader, your role is to communicate, respect different adoption speeds, and bring people along without judgment.

He stresses the importance of long-term planning and over-communication, noting that adult learners often need to hear something 10–14 times before it fully lands.

In his book All Pride, No Ego, Jim emphasizes that ego is not inherently bad — it must be controlled and used wisely. He argues that today’s leaders need humility, vulnerability, and the courage to admit when they don’t have all the answers.

“Leadership today is harder than ever. To succeed, you need to be self-aware, surround yourself with strong people, and create safe environments where teams thrive.” – Jim Fielding

Jim shares that attracting and retaining top talent is less about money and more about culture, environment, and feeling respected. During his time at Disney, Fox, and Claire’s, he saw firsthand how competitive the market was for talent. The leaders who created supportive environments always had an advantage.

“If I create a great work environment where people feel respected and trusted, they’ll bring their best. That’s how you attract and keep the brightest talent.” – Jim Fielding

Want to learn how to align your leadership team and create a culture that supports long-term strategy?

Explore our strategy execution course Learn more about working with SME Strategy

Jim Fielding is a visionary leader with decades of experience leading global brands including Disney, Claire’s, 20th Century Fox, and DreamWorks. He is the author of All Pride, No Ego, host of the Jim Fielding & Friends podcast, and a keynote speaker and consultant helping organizations build human-centered strategies.

Learn more about Jim Connect with Jim on LinkedIn Follow Jim on Instagram: @HiJimFielding

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams around the world create alignment, implement successful strategies, and drive results.

Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn

More from our online courses: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

Contact our team: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

Podcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com/

How do you build teams that truly work together instead of falling into dysfunction? In this Strategy and Leadership podcast, Dr. Colin M. Fisher—Associate Professor of Organizations and Innovation at UCL School of Management and author of The Collective Edge—shares two decades of research on group dynamics, creativity, and collaboration. Drawing from both his academic career and his background as a professional jazz musician, Colin reveals the science behind effective teamwork, why groups take on “a life of their own,” and how leaders can unlock their team’s hidden potential.

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan:

https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

► Learn more about our courses:

https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

In this podcast, you will learn:

☑️ Why groups are more than the sum of their parts.

☑️ How the first meeting sets lasting team norms.

☑️ The dangers of groupthink—and how to prevent it.

☑️ Why leaders must balance over-engaging vs. under-engaging teams.

☑️ Practical steps to structure tasks, roles, and communication effectively.

This video is for:

▶️CEOs and executives looking to improve collaboration.

▶️Team leaders struggling with alignment and accountability.

▶️Managers navigating group conflict or lack of clarity.

▶️Anyone interested in the science of high-performing teams.

About the Guest:

Dr. Colin M. Fisher is one of the foremost experts on group dynamics. A former professional jazz trumpet player turned academic, he is Associate Professor at University College London’s School of Management, where he teaches leadership, creativity, and organizational behavior. His forthcoming book, The Collective Edge (Penguin Random House / Simon & Schuster), explores how to unlock the secret power of groups. Colin’s work has been published in leading journals and featured in outlets such as BBC, NPR, Forbes, and Harvard Business Review. He has also provided lectures and workshops to organizations worldwide, including IDEO, P&G, NHS, and BP.

🔗 Learn more about Colin: https://colinmfisher.com

🔗 Connect with Colin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmfisher/

About the Host:

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience in strategy, he helps leadership teams around the world create alignment, implement successful strategies, and drive results.

🔗 Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/

About SME Strategy:

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in helping organizations develop and implement strategic plans. We facilitate conversations around strategic direction so leaders can focus their energy on what drives results.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

Helpful Resources & Contact:

📘 More from our online courses: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

📩 Contact our team: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

🎧 Podcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com/

Subscribe for More:

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How do you lead nonprofits like businesses while staying true to your mission? In this episode, Andy Price, CEO & Scout Executive of the Grand Canyon Council, shares lessons from over 30 years in nonprofit leadership. He reveals how to inspire volunteers, measure real impact, and turn around organizations in crisis.

Watch the full conversation to learn strategies for aligning passion with purpose while driving sustainable growth.

► Work with us to facilitate your strategic plan: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

► Learn more about our courses: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

In this podcast, you will learn:

☑️ Why passion is the foundation of sustainable leadership.

☑️ The unique challenge of leading volunteers versus employees.

☑️ How nonprofits can operate like businesses with “dividends to society.”

☑️ The importance of measuring outcomes, not just inputs.

☑️ How to execute a turnaround during an organizational crisis.

This video is for:

▶️ CEOs and executives leading mission-driven organizations.

▶️ Nonprofit leaders navigating growth and transformation.

▶️ Business leaders looking to align impact with strategy.

▶️ Anyone seeking to balance passion, purpose, and performance.

About the Guest:

Andy Price is the CEO and Scout Executive of the Grand Canyon Council of Scouting America. With more than 30 years of experience, he has led five local councils across three states, serving hundreds of thousands of youth. Andy has guided organizations through existential crises, implemented strategic turnarounds, and championed the belief that nonprofits must operate with the same discipline as businesses—while delivering dividends to society.

🔗 Learn more about the Grand Canyon Council: https://www.scoutingaz.org/

🔗 Learn more about Scouting America: https://www.scouting.org

About the Host:

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14+ years of experience in strategy work, he holds a BBA and is a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). Based in Vancouver, Canada, Anthony helps leadership teams around the world create and implement successful strategic plans.

🔗 Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy:

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in helping organizations develop and implement strategic plans. We facilitate conversations around strategic direction so leaders can focus their energy on what drives results.

Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net/strategic-planning-facilitator

Helpful Resources & Contact:

▶️ More from our online courses: https://courses.smestrategy.net/

▶️ Contact our team: https://www.smestrategy.net/contact

▶️ Podcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com/

Subscribe for More:

Get weekly videos on strategy, leadership, and implementation.

Subscribe so you never miss an update on how to grow your organization.

Subscribe Now 🙏 / https://www.youtube.com/@SMEStrategyINC

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