I actually think I have been listening to 104.5 Chum FMs morning show for the last 40 years, enjoying Roger, Rick and Marilyn for the bulk of those years on my into-work commute.

My favourite memory though is work-related. When working at Compaq Canada, I had the opportunity to spend the day with an MLB Hall of Famer starting the day on the radio show making a donation to the Chum/City Christmas Wish and traveling around the city with him the rest of the day as he delivered a keynote for the town hall, and had lunch with top sales reps. Sounds glamorous right? It was realistically one of the worst days. The guy was awful to deal with but he was a big deal, and everyone, especially Marilyn knew how to handle a celebrity.

The start to the day was the celebrity walking into a holding room telling me the coffee I had brought was crap and that he was walking across the street to get something himself. I was in my early 30s and knew his name, but wasn’t a huge baseball fan. He was rude. Disappointed that the company was using his contract with them this way. Constantly reminded me of how much his autograph was worth and that he was weakening his value every time he provided a signature….which was one of the things he was asked to do…sign some baseballs for the charity along with a technology gift, inspire our high-performers, and sign posters after his keynote at the Town Hall.

Walking in to the recording studio at ChumFM, Marilyn watched his behaviour and gave me a supportive look. She asked if I wanted to join the celebrity on the show (of course I said no…this internal comms manager had no desire to be the company spokesperson)..and proceeded to brilliantly stroke his ego, ask him about the things she knew were important to him and managed a brilliant interview live on the air that made the company I represented, the celebrity and the radio station look really good. It was amazing seeing a pro in action.

I often say that working with leaders is not executive management but ego management. I spent that full day watching this celebrity turn on his charm in front of the right audience, and be miserable behind the scenes when he was with me in between command performances. It was a busy day.

In retrospective, I realized that he had a lot going on and there is a feeling of being used and treated like a product that doesn’t sit well with some leaders. That when they are with the supporting team behind performances, their rawness and realness is their down time.

I remember that day so clearly….how I wished the day would end; how amazed I was seeing the celebrity turn his charm on and off several times that day; and the support I received from the only other woman in the room during that morning show who used her skill to ensure everything ran smoothly.