Berta Aldrich - Winning the Talent Shift

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BERTA ALDRICH

Copyright © 2021 by Berta Aldrich. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Published simultaneously in Canada.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750–8400, fax (978) 646–8600, or on the Web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748–6011, fax (201) 748–6008, or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available:

ISBN 9781119768715 (Hardcover)

ISBN 9781119768517 (ePDF)

ISBN 9781119768722 (ePub)

Cover Design: Wiley

Dedicated toMike, Aaron & Lauren

For Women, high performers and true leaders everywhere

When I was asked to take the helm at Nutrisystem as CEO, the first two things I tackled, in what would eventually be described as a remarkable corporate turnaround, were improving the culture and ensuring that the right people were in the right seats. Diverse perspectives and voices were critical to me as we set forth a vision and strategy and rolled up our sleeves for the hard work necessary to transform the company.

Without a doubt, my biggest success factor as CEO was assembling my executive team and the deliberate way in which we worked together. The team consisted of several superstars I inherited, newcomers I brought in from my network, a diverse mix of accomplished men and women, and several individuals who had left the company years before and whom I was able to entice back. We were a team that was aligned in both mission and passion, plus we valued the uniqueness of thought and debate that each of us brought to the conversation. We encouraged our teams to challenge underlying assumptions and the status quo. We asked people to step out of their comfort zone, we stayed open to a new way of doing things, and we empowered everyone throughout the organization to share his or her voice.

We operated with candor, avoided politics, set high standards for integrity and performance, and held people accountable. Alignment with our cultural values was something we talked about extensively, both internally and with candidates, as we morphed from looking for those who would be a good cultural fit to those who could culturally enhance us.

In short, selecting the right people for your leadership roles and embracing diversity is critical for every organization. I found it equally important to establish accountability in upholding a culture that promotes the right behavior and doesn't turn a blind eye to cultural erosion. As a board member and as an executive, these are the things that we have to get right, as we've seen way too many companies become Wall Street Journal headlines for failing to do so.

That is why this book is so important and worth a read. There are barriers in today's workplace and this book candidly illuminates them. As executives, we cannot ignore that they happen. It's our role to create environments in which our people can succeed – for themselves, for our companies, and for our shareholders. It's time for a shift. …

Dawn Zier

August 2020

It's funny how life sets you on one path and you end up somewhere else. In looking back, this book came to fruition because of the generosity, encouragement, and investment of time of family, friends, and acquaintances.

I originally set out to fulfill a dream of writing a book for our daughter, Lauren, to give to her upon her college graduation. She was attending college to pursue a marketing degree and I, as a mom and as someone who had a lifelong career in business, wanted to give her the gift that no one else could – my workplace and life wisdom. Even more, I wanted to pass along to her the collective wisdom of not only my own experiences, but those of the thousands I had mentored, taught, or helped along their journey.

Through a series of events, it became clear that the contents of the book could help more people, and Winning the Talent Shift was born. I am a true believer that no one can go through this life alone and it takes people who are willing to help and encourage others to bring your vision, passion, and purpose to life.

To my family: Mike, Aaron, and Lauren. Mike, my best friend and partner in life, the one who makes me laugh and challenges me intellectually: this would not have happened without supporting my extra time outside the formal workplace. Thank you for trusting in me, for your undying support, and for going on this crazy journey together. Aaron, for your unapologetic approach to doing what you were meant to do in life and pursuing it; for your integrity, brilliance, and sense of duty to others, including this great country. You exhibit all that is right, ethically, morally, and in faith, and you stand by your core beliefs with passion. You inspire me each and every day. And to Lauren, thank you for agreeing to share your very personal gift with the goal of wanting anyone who is talented, smart, and driven to be able to achieve their dream, as you will also achieve yours. You are my inspiration and drive to make the workplace a better place for incredible talent like you. May you always carry the confidence, grace, and grit you exhibit today forward into the workplace and life.