In this episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast, I have the great pleasure of welcoming Gianpiero Petriglieri, one of the world’s leading voices in leadership development. A professor of Organizational Behavior at INSEAD, Gianpiero’s work bridges psychology, management, and education.

Trained first as a medical doctor and psychiatrist in Italy, he later reinvented himself as a leadership scholar and educator. His unique journey brings a rare depth to his teaching and research, which focus on how we lead, how we learn, and—most importantly—how we stay human in times of constant change.

We explore together:

His childhood influences and formative years in Sicily.
The lessons he carried from psychiatry into leadership education.
Why he believes leadership is not just about skills, but about “the inner work” of becoming yourself—on purpose.
How bravery, humility, and emotional courage are reshaping leadership today.
Why he describes leadership as “a kind of love”, and what that means for organizations navigating uncertainty and reinvention.

Gianpiero’s voice is poetic, deeply human, and a powerful reminder that leadership is not about perfection or performance—but about presence, purpose, and connection.

🎧 If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also like these episodes:

Amy Edmondson – How to fail well: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/how-to-fail-well-with-amy-edmondson
Mellody Hobson – Mastering Your Destiny: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/mastering-your-destiny-with-mellody-hobson
Reshma Saujani – The Power of Bravery: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/the-power-of-bravery-with-reshma-saujani

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