Aman Kochar, CEO of Baker & Taylor and author, shares insights on navigating tough conversations at work. He emphasizes the importance of leaning into discomfort to foster a culture of feedback and growth. Aman discusses his journey as an underrepresented leader and the shift from being a change agent to enabler, highlighting the power of transparency. Personal storytelling and self-advocacy play crucial roles in building trust among teams. He reminds us that real change starts with real conversations, urging leaders to both give and seek feedback.
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The Meaning of a Name
Aman Kochar shares the meaning and cultural significance of his name, Amandeep, meaning "lamp of peace".
He discusses how he embraced his full name after years of shortening it for others' convenience.
insights INSIGHT
From Change Agent to Change Enabler
Kochar's leadership philosophy emphasizes enabling change rather than solely driving it.
He believes in empowering others and acting as a facilitator for growth.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Leadership Struggles and Growth
Kochar discusses his struggle with being the youngest person in management and initially ruffling feathers.
He transitioned from being a change agent to an appeaser, then to manipulative insincerity, before finding success with vulnerability.
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Radical Candor by Kim Scott offers a practical approach to management by emphasizing the importance of caring personally and challenging directly. The book argues that effective managers must find a balance between being empathetic and providing clear, honest feedback. Scott draws from her experiences at Google and Apple to provide actionable lessons on building strong relationships, giving feedback, and creating a collaborative work environment. The book introduces the concept of 'radical candor' as the sweet spot between obnoxious aggression and ruinous empathy, and provides tools and strategies for managers to implement this approach in their daily work[1][2][5].
Jeet& Fudge
Jeet& Fudge
Aman Kochar
Avoiding tough conversations? Lean in, speak up, and make them count.
Ever find yourself avoiding a tough conversation at work because, well…it’s just easier? We get it. But what if leaning into discomfort could actually make things better—for you, your team, and your company? In this episode, Kim and Amy sit down with Amandeep (Aman) Kochar, CEO of Baker & Taylor, to talk about how he uses Radical Candor to break down barriers, build trust, and create a culture where feedback fuels growth instead of fear. Aman gets real about his own struggles—navigating leadership as an underrepresented executive, learning to lead with vulnerability, and shifting from pushing change to making space for it. From leading a 200-year-old company through transformation to rethinking power dynamics in leadership, he lays out why transparency matters, how to handle resistance without backing down, and why the best leaders don’t just give feedback—they ask for it. The bottom line? Real change starts with real conversations. Ready to ditch the fear and lead with candor? Let’s go. Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.
(00:00:00) Introduction Kim and Amy welcome guest Amandeep (Aman) Kochar, CEO of Baker & Taylor. (00:00:58) The Meaning of a Name Aman shares how his name reflects identity and leadership. (00:07:23) Leading a 200-Year-Old Company The challenges of driving change in a legacy organization. (00:11:34) From Change Agent to Change Enabler Gaining trust, embracing vulnerability, and leading with impact. (00:18:27) Overcoming Resistance Tackling workplace culture shifts and rebuilding trust. (00:24:18) Creating Open Communication Implementing town halls and fostering transparency. (00:30:00) Empowering Employees Strategies for shifting decision-making power to frontline employees. (00:34:28) Rethinking Feedback Turning feedback into a tool for growth, not fear. (00:44:16) Repairing Relationships Overcoming negative perceptions and fostering collaboration. (00:47:15) Leadership & Self-Reflection Unlearning cultural conditioning and using self awareness to grow. (00:52:51) Filtering Feedback Separating identity from work-related feedback to focus on growth. (00:53:58) Radical Candor Tips Lessons on trust, feedback, and fostering change. (01:01:19) Conclusion
Radical Candor: Communication at Work 