The Mark Divine Show

chevron_right

How To Be Bold And Courageous with Ranjay Gulati

whatshot 20 snips

Nov 11, 2025

Guest

Ranjay Gulati

Ranjay Gulati, a Harvard Business School professor and author of "Deep Purpose" and "How to Be Bold," dives into the essence of courage. He dispels Hollywood myths, emphasizing that courage is taking action despite fear. Ranjay shares compelling personal anecdotes, including a childhood story of his mother confronting danger, and discusses how to build a 'courage muscle.' He explores the distinction between boldness and recklessness, highlighting the importance of support networks while navigating uncertainty in today’s volatile world.

59:00

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Courage Means Acting Despite Fear

Courage is not the absence of fear but action taken despite fear.
Ranjay Gulati and Nelson Mandela both define courage as acting in the face of fear.

insights

INSIGHT

Training Builds The 'I Can' Mindset

Self-efficacy and domain knowledge let people act confidently in novel danger.
Captain Sullenberger said, "I knew I could do it," despite not training for a Hudson landing.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

A Mother’s Fear-Facing Slap

At 14, Ranjay watched his mother slap a gun-wielding developer who tried to bully her to sell land.
Her response taught him that feeling fear doesn't mean you must cower or do nothing.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Defining Courage as Action in the Face of Fear

01:00 • 4min

chevron_right

Ranjay's Background and Book Preview

04:42 • 22sec

chevron_right

How Do You Define Courage?

05:04 • 47sec

chevron_right

Training the Courage Muscle Through Practice

05:51 • 59sec

chevron_right

Self-Efficacy and the Can-Do Mindset

06:50 • 59sec

chevron_right

Acting Your Way Into Knowing: Captain Sullenberger

07:49 • 2min

chevron_right

VUCA, Hyperarousal, and the Courage Challenge

09:46 • 34sec

chevron_right

What Triggers Fear and How to Normalize It

10:20 • 2min

chevron_right

How Ordinary People Find Courage

12:44 • 3min

chevron_right

Personal Anecdote: When Ranjay's Mother Confronted a Gunman

15:56 • 3min

chevron_right

Removing Friction Between Thought and Action

19:21 • 1min

chevron_right

Calm, Comprehension, Conviction: The Three C's of Courage

20:30 • 1min

chevron_right

Comprehension Through OODA and Point-to Navigation

21:38 • 2min

chevron_right

Conviction Fuels Moral and Physical Courage

23:54 • 1min

chevron_right

Do You Need Conviction First or Can It Emerge?

25:02 • 2min

chevron_right

How VUCA Challenges Vision and the Need for Imagination

26:43 • 1min

chevron_right

Risk vs. Uncertainty and Acting to Learn

28:06 • 1min

chevron_right

Why Courage Is Essential in Disruptive Times

29:28 • 1min

chevron_right

Teaching Vertical Skills: Creativity, Intuition, Courage

30:33 • 1min

chevron_right

Courage Unlocks Other Virtues and Enables Change

32:01 • 50sec

chevron_right

What Human Skills Remain Valuable in an AI Era?

32:51 • 2min

chevron_right

Using AI to Amplify Teaching and Judgment

35:00 • 1min

chevron_right

Imagination Enables Breakthrough Innovation

36:08 • 5min

chevron_right

How Do We Resource Ourselves to Be Bold?

41:00 • 1min

chevron_right

The Four Types of Support That Boost Courage

42:21 • 1min

chevron_right

Keeping a Support Squad Aligned to Your Vision

43:50 • 40sec

chevron_right

Practical Strategies to Tame Fear and Take Action

44:30 • 31sec

chevron_right

Fueling Action: Rational Calculus vs. Interpretive Meaning

45:02 • 2min

chevron_right

Courage Is Accessible; Inaction Breeds Regret

47:10 • 3min

chevron_right

Learning Courage Through Practice: Knowing, Doing, Being

49:56 • 50sec

chevron_right

Collective Courage and Company Performance in Down Markets

50:47 • 3min

chevron_right

Distinguishing Bold from Reckless Decisions

53:47 • 2min

chevron_right

Playing Offense: Cultural DNA of Action and Agility

55:52 • 51sec

chevron_right

How to Access Ranjay's Book and Newsletter

56:43 • 1min

chevron_right

Book Release Details and Where to Reach Ranjay

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

How to Be Bold

Ranjay Gulati

#10838

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Deep Purpose

Ranjay Gulati

In 'Deep Purpose', Ranjay Gulati argues that a deeper engagement with purpose can transform businesses, enhancing performance while delivering meaningful social benefits. He explores how leaders can integrate purpose into every aspect of their organization, fostering autonomy, collaboration, and a culture that aligns personal and corporate goals. The book offers insights from successful purpose-driven companies like Patagonia and Unilever, demonstrating how purpose can drive growth and innovation.

#353

• Mentioned in 60 episodes

Only the paranoid survive

Andrew S. Grove

In 'Only the Paranoid Survive', Andrew S. Grove discusses the concept of 'Strategic Inflection Points' – moments when the balance of forces shifts significantly, requiring businesses to adapt rapidly to survive. Grove draws from his experiences at Intel, including the transition from memory chips to microprocessors and the handling of the Pentium flaw, to illustrate how these inflection points can be managed to emerge stronger. The book emphasizes the importance of constant vigilance, experimentation, and decisive leadership in navigating these critical moments of change.

In this insightful episode of The Mark Divine Show, Mark is joined by Ranjay Gulati, a renowned Harvard Business School professor and influential business thinker. Together, they explore the true meaning of courage, debunking Hollywood stereotypes and discussing insights from significant figures like Nelson Mandela and Steve Jobs. Ranjay shares his research on courage in business and leadership, and delves into his experiences from his new book, 'How to Be Bold'. The conversation touches on personal stories, historic examples, and practical strategies to develop courage in the face of uncertainty. Don't miss this compelling discussion!

Key Takeaways:

What courage really is (and isn’t)
How fear, uncertainty, and volatility can sharpen—not shrink—your leadership
Why imagination and conviction are critical in today’s VUCA world
How to build a “courage muscle” through training and community
The difference between boldness and recklessness—and how to stay grounded in both business and life

Inspirational Quote:

“Courage is the willingness to take bold, risky action to serve a purpose that you perceive to be worthy, usually in the face of an abiding fear.” - Ranjay Gulati

Sponsors and Promotions:

Unlock your full potential and lead with courage, clarity, and purpose—join the Unbeatable Foundations Tribe and master the Five Mountains to become truly unbeatable in life and leadership.

Join for free for 7 days: Unbeatable Foundations Tribe

Qualia

Feel in your prime WAY longer than you ever thought possible, try Qualia Senolytic up to 50% off right now at qualialife.com/divine15, and code DIVINE15 at checkout for an extra 15% off. Backed by a 100 day money back guarantee.

Indeed

With Indeed Sponsored Jobs you only pay for results. No monthly subscriptions, no long-term contracts, just a boost whenever you need to find quality talent fast. Get a $75 JOB CREDIT to help get your job the premium status it deserves at Indeed.com/DIVINE.

BUBS Naturals:

I use BUBS Naturals Collagen Peptides, MCT Oil, and Electrolytes daily for focus, recovery, and hydration—all built on a mission to honor a fallen Navy SEAL. Use code UNBEATABLE for 20% off any one time purchase or subscription at www.bubsnaturals.com

Guest Links:

Website: https://ranjaygulati.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranjaygulati/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjay-gulati/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RanjayGulati

Mark Links:

Website: https://unbeatableleader.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@markdivineofficial/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markdivineofficial

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdivine/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markdivineofficial/

Subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/@markdivineofficial for more inspiring conversations on leadership, growth, and impact.