
Meet The Leader
In these one-on-one conversations, host Linda Lacina interviews the world's top leaders, change-makers and experts on the solutions they're building to tackle the world's biggest challenges, the habits they can’t work without, and their lessons learned, all from the World Economic Forum
Latest episodes

Apr 26, 2022 • 17min
Here's the career advice CEOs would give their younger selves
In this special compilation episode, leaders like Al Gore, Jack Ma and more share advice for those starting out in their careers - both the tips they swear by and what they’d tell a younger version of themselves. Excerpts are taken from past episodes of Meet The Leader as well as the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting and feature tips from top execs and CEOs from Boston Consulting Group, Morgan Stanley and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 6, 2022 • 36min
KKR’s Pete Stavros: This change could build billions in wealth for working families
Pete Stavros of private equity firm KKR channeled a lifelong interest in bridging wealth gaps to found Ownership Works, a non-profit making it easier for companies to share ownership with employees. When done right, the approach can not only strengthen businesses and build engagement, it could create billions in wealth for working families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 18, 2022 • 26min
IRC's David Miliband: Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis - and ‘the age of impunity’
David Miliband, CEO of International Rescue Committee, talks to Meet The Leader about the Ukraine humanitarian crisis, how aid organizations are keeping pace with an unprecedented flow of displaced people - and how the Russian invasion must end abuses of power and an 'age of impunity.' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 16, 2022 • 37min
Philanthropist James Chen: Risk and the pivot that unlocked progress for poor vision
James Chen has dedicated nearly two decades to making vision care accessible and affordable. Tackling this issue hasn’t been easy, but drove home for him the importance of an entrepreneur’s mindset and domain expertise to help philanthropists like himself both reveal and back the game-changing ideas that will have the biggest impact. He talked to Meet the Leader about resilience, collaboration, founding the education campaign Clearly, and the critical pivot that unlocked key progress after years of work (leading to the first-ever UN resolution on vision last July). He also delivered an important message about ‘moonshot philanthropy’ - and the special magic that can come when philanthropists take on risk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 2, 2022 • 42min
Al Gore on effective leadership skills, climate action and the ‘tipping point’ ahead
The Nobel laureate and former US Vice President understands the key role policy makers will play in climate action. That’s why he’s been helping to train thousands around the world through the organization he founded, the Climate Reality Project, educating grassroots leaders and empowering them with the practical skills they need to drive change in their communities and help policy makers speed solutions for the environment. In this episode, Gore shares why he’s optimistic for change, how he’s evolved as a leader and communicator, the strategy he can’t work without and the advice he’d give to a younger self. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 18, 2022 • 37min
Vattenfall’s CEO Anna Borg: How this energy leader makes change happen
Borg is the first-ever female CEO for this European energy company - a firm committed to fossil-free living in a generation. Phasing out fossil fuels will reshape industry and lead to historic milestones and unique collaborations (such as the joint-project that developed the world’s first fossil-free steel last year). Not moving fast enough, however, can lead to ‘devastating’ risks for business and the planet. She explains what’s needed to scale new technologies. She also shares the frameworks and questions she and her team use to weigh big decisions and to drive transformation while staying competitive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 4, 2022 • 27min
Keep tech skills sharp in 2022: AWS training chief Maureen Lonergan
Cloud computing needs exploded after COVID-19 emerged but worker skills aren't keeping pace. In this episode, the VP of Training and Certification at Amazon Web Services discusses the sought-after digital skills workers must train for now to prepare for future needs. She explains how AWS is scaling training to millions through a range of free programs and platforms and how simple routines used by her and her team can help you sharpen your skills now and in the years ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 14, 2021 • 32min
15 leaders share books that inspired and changed them
This special compilation episode collects the top business and leadership books recommended by Meet The Leader guests -- people like Boston Consulting Group's Rich Lesser, Bank of America's Brian Moynihan, organizational psychologist John Amaechi, IBM Research's Dario Gil, and more. These recommendations changed how their readers -- CEOS, founders, ambassadors -- think, work and lead. Find classics for the problem solver in your life as you complete your holiday shopping. And as you get ready to tackle your own big goals in 2022, find surprising reads that will inspire, challenge and strengthen you in the year ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 30, 2021 • 18min
Wipro’s Thierry Delaporte: Connecting as a remote CEO during COVID-19
Starting remote as CEO during COVID-19 meant reshaping the firm’s operations -- and building trust with thousands -- mostly over Zoom. In fact, it was more than a year before Thierry Delaporte could meet many of his teams in person thanks to travel restrictions. Delaporte talked to Meet The Leader about starting in Paris as a remote CEO and Managing Director for this India-headquartered company (with staff around the world) and how he focused his communication to build connections and help simplify the company’s operations. He also explained how a favorite hobby -- sailing -- prepared him to navigate COVID's uncertainty and how those lessons could help any leader. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 17, 2021 • 19min
Top Leaders Barack Obama, Elizabeth Wathuti and more: Habits for climate action
In this special episode inspired by the COP26 summit, Meet The Leader compiles the habits and mindsets top leaders say we’ll need to stay on track to meet climate goals, such as: accepting imperfect compromises, forging partnerships, building leadership incentives and more. This episode includes insights from top global leaders (Barack Obama, Christiana Figueres), climate activists (Elizabeth Wathuti) and top C-Suite leaders (Vattenfall’s CEO Anna Borg; Yara’s CEO Svein Holsether; Russell Reynolds’ CEO Clarke Murphy; CEO Mahendra Singhi Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited and IKEA’s CDO Barbara Martin Coppola). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.