Xavier Williams
CEO of American Virtual Cloud Technologies, Asks: Does The Content You Read Expand Your Thinking?
Corporate Competitor Podcast Episode 9
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Xavier Williams, who played college basketball at Edinboro University, was with AT&T for 30 years. Today he serves as CEO of American Virtual Cloud Technologies and leads with the motto: “Culture trumps strategy.” In this episode, you will get a behind-the-scenes look into how Xavier took one of the country’s lowest-ranking AT&T branches, and turned it into the fourth-best within two and half years, without changing a single team member. Xavier reveals steps you can implement today to spur growth and camaraderie. Doing the work from 8 to 5 is expected, but it takes a true Corporate Competitor to prepare and expand your knowledge from 5 to 8. Leaders are learners, and Xavier Williams is the perfect example.
You will learn:
- 4:00 Why culture trumps strategy when you’re trying to build a winning team.
- 8:30 How competing against teammates can make you better.
- 12:00 The importance of balanced leadership.
- 16:00 Ways you can condition your mind and body to get ahead of the game.
- 24:30 How to set effective and achievable goals.
You will learn:
- 6:00 How easy it is to cut corners in practice and why you’ll suffer as a result.
- 8:00 How to emphasize the power or “we” on your team.
- 11:00 How living and working in Japan in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster taught Lane that caring was the universal language of respected leaders.
- 15:00 The level of employee interaction required to achieve success.
- 18:30 The difference between being accountable and responsible.
- 27:00 How to identify a meaningful friend or mentor.
Resources:
- Connect with Xavier Williams on LinkedIn
- The Xavier and Tina Williams Summer Youth Business Academy brings young men and women from high schools in Pennsylvania and across the United States to the Edinboro University campus for five days of workshops, activities and networking events designed to introduce them to the field of business.
- Using live and virtual presentations, Don shares the habits of great teams learned from legendary team-builders.
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Greg Brenneman
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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Simon Sinek
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Beth Brooke
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
Rick Hendrick
“We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
Bill George
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
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Special thanks to Dave Moore, Lauren Hafner, Samantha Clark, and the Florida State University Internship Program for consistently supporting our research team.
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