Episode 197: Randy Brown, Executive Career Mentor at Butler University and Former Anthem Chief HR Officer

Show Description:

Randy Brown is an Executive Career Mentor & MBA Leadership Coach at Butler University. Before joining Butler, Randy gained 32+ years of experience as an HR professional, leader, Executive Vice President and Chief HR Officer role at Anthem, a Fortune 50 healthcare company. He also provided value in roles at RCA, GE, and Thomson.

In this interview, Randy discusses the key lessons learned from his corporate executive experience, including contributing to a healthy company culture, seeking enriching feedback from others, and how to maximize your experience at an organization. He also dives into many of the principles he instills in his undergraduate and MBA students, including job search tips, building a meaningful personal brand, finding your passions, and navigating today's job landscape in a digital age.

Show Highlights:

3:45-13:15: Randy dives into his educational/career background, including his mergers & acquisitions experience as the Chief HR Officer at Anthem.
13:15-23:15: Randy explains what all great company cultures share, lessons about pursuing a company that aligns with your values, and how you can initiate meaningful relationships with your boss or supervisor to maximize your experience at an organization.
23:15-31:15: Randy discusses his motivation to join Butler University as a career mentor and what he enjoys most about the job.
31:15-45:15: Randy offers career advice to those who are not sure about their top passions or skills, while giving his thoughts on gap years and the right ways to approach them.
45:15-56:15: Randy discusses how he guides college students who can't seem to figure it out, including advice on how to navigate a job search in a digital age.
56:15-1:11:45: Randy reflects on a past experience that has helped him in his current role, advice for professionals breaking into the HR field, and how to effectively approach a performance review with your boss.
1:11:45: Randy ends the show by explaining how he wants to be remembered when it's all said and done.