Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week, I'm honored to have a fellow Thinker50 on the show with me. Ranjay Gulati is a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. His pioneering work focuses on unlocking organizational and individual potential, embracing courage, nurturing purpose-driven leaders, driving growth, and transforming businesses. He is a management scholar and he holds a PhD from Harvard University and a Master's degree from MIT. He is the author of Deep Purpose, which was published in 2022. And now he has a new book out called How to Be Bold.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone who wants to live and lead with more courage, even in the presence of fear.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…have you ever wondered why some people seem naturally fearless while others freeze up in the face of uncertainty? Believe it or not, courage isn't something you're born with. It's something anybody can learn. In this episode, Ranjay draws on research and stories from his new book to share practical ways anyone can build support systems that strengthen courage and reframe fear as a signal for growth, not retreat.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Fear comes from uncertainty and a loss of control, which is a very normal, human feeling.
You can "act your way into knowing" by taking small, deliberate steps forward.
Support networks (moral, emotional, and informational) help you move through fear.
The key to courage is purpose. It gives fear direction and meaning.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Ranjay's reminder that courage is a decision and not a personality trait. You don't have to wait to "feel ready" before taking action. The act of moving forward, even one small step at a time, is what builds boldness.

Running Time: 29:41

Find Tiffani Online:

Find Ranjay Online:

Ranjay's Book:

How to Be Bold with Ranjay Gulati