As the VP of Execution and Transformation in the Office of the CEO at VMWare, Joel Neeb led the operating model transformation with stellar results. In this episode, Joel and Deidre talk about better alignment between CEOs and CHROs and the power of managers in the middle to unlock strategy achievement. (Joel is now Chief Transformation and Business Operations Officer at 8x8)
Joel Neeb is a fighter-pilot-turned-transformation leader who drove VMware's cultural and operating model shift as VP of Execution and Transformation in the Office of the CEO. He launched a company-wide OKR program and Leadership Cohort for 40,000 employees, accelerating the pivot from enterprise software sales to SaaS/subscription while rolling out the AI roadmap and strategy.
Drawing from 14 years as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, he instilled mission alignment and high-stakes execution—rallying senior leaders on shared vision amid rapid change.
Before VMware, as CEO of Afterburner, he coached global orgs with elite military pros (pilots, SEALs, Rangers) on breakthrough performance, blending strategic vision with hands-on ops.
Deidre Paknad has founded and led three tech startups, acquired companies and been acquired, and led a high-growth business as an executive at IBM for several years; this affords her a unique perspective on using both speed and scale to drive growth. In her role as CEO at WorkBoard, she works with senior leadership teams at some of the world’s largest companies to clarify, align, and drive strategic priorities with greater speed and agility. She is a frequent speaker on Outcome Mindset™ and tapping into ambition.
Deidre has over a dozen patents and has twice been inducted into the Smithsonian Institution for innovation. Goldman Sachs named her one of the 100 most intriguing entrepreneurs of 2019. Deidre hosts The OKR Podcast, which focuses on accelerating outcomes and fostering an outcomes culture.