Mike Burness, a seasoned leader known for his roles in multinational corporations, private equity entities, and family-owned companies, shares his journey from starting his career unexpectedly at Campbell's Soup Company to various leadership positions, highlighting the importance of adapting and learning in each role. He discusses the transformation and management of quality product safety, regulatory affairs, bioterrorism, business continuity, and crisis management into competitive advantages. The conversation delves into the critical role of quality and regulatory professionals in creating value within organizations and the necessity of a competency model for career development in technical fields. Burness emphasizes the importance of understanding the business side of quality assurance and proactively addressing potential risks and challenges.

Episode Highlights:

02:09 Mike's Career Path: From Campbell's Soup to Private Equity

07:29 The Power of Saying 'Yes' to Opportunities

20:01 Leveraging AI in Quality and Food Safety

30:21 Developing a Competency Model for Quality Professionals

Mike Burness brings extensive leadership experience from multinational corporations, private equity-held firms, and family-owned businesses. His forte lies in leveraging functional areas for competitive advantage, connecting quality, product safety, regulatory affairs, and crisis management to overarching company strategy. Beginning at Campbell Soup Company, Mike progressed through executive roles at PepsiCo, Chiquita Brands International, Godiva Chocolatier, and most recently, Arxada. Committed to people-centric business growth and cultural transformation, Mike's passion fuels his career. He's a distinguished member of the American Society for Quality, holding multiple certifications, and contributes to the boards of Quality Magazine and Seton Hall University for Transformation in Leadership. A New Jersey native, Mike earned a Biology degree from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from the University of Bridgeport.

You can connect with Mike in the following ways:

Website: www.lyonsmagnus.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-burness-%F0%9F%92%AD-847b118/

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