Best of MBS

Aicha Evans is the senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Intel Corporation and is driving Intel's long-term strategy to transform it from a PC-centered company to a data-centered company. In this episode, she explores why organizations need to constantly evolve. The identification of common goals can serve as a foundation for this change, and help the various parties tackle any challenges along the way.image

Brené Brown is the author of three #1 New York Times Bestsellers: Rising Strong, Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection.Brené tackles some juicy emotional issues: vulnerability, courage, authenticity and shame. I’m inviting you to share your favourite quip or insight from this podcast for your chance to receive a gift from me. To participate in our 300th-episode celebration, either comment below or tweet me @BoxofCrayons with the hashtag #GWP300. Over the next four weeks, we’ll be randomly selecting 10 participants and sending them a coupon for a free ebook version of The Coaching Habit.In this interview, we explore: Why good work is vulnerable work . . . and how vulnerability is the birthplace of creativity, love and joy. How Brené stepped away from soul-sucking work and blazed her own path. Creating connection and community: how a group called the Love Bombers profoundly changed Brené’s life.

Bill Carrier is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, a former army officer and a Rotary international ambassador scholar. He anchors his coaching work in extensive practical leadership experience and the firm belief that we're all part of something bigger than ourselves. In our conversation we start with the importance of character and strategy (and why character matters the most); how to be generous and still give direction and hold people accountable; the difference between empathy and multi-perspective; and how to set yourself up to perform at the highest level.

Ayse Birsel is a New York-based designer and the creator of Design the Life You Love. It’s the title of her book — and also refers to the coursework that teaches designers and non-designers how to create a meaningful life using her design process, Deconstruction: Reconstruction.In this interview, Ayse and I reflect on: Holism and the human scale of design. How design is inherently optimistic and increasingly collaborative. Why having a process matters for triggering imagination and channeling creativity.

Octavius is now the co-founder of one of the most interesting training companies in the world, as well as the author of three successful and excellent books – available almost everywhere in the world except, inexplicably, North America.But I first met him over a decade ago, when I joined a small change management consultancy and Octavius was one of the partners. Even then he had a certain flair and a willingness to buck the system, all with a terrific sense of humour.He’s been leading the Mind Gym for almost ten years now. In that time, it has become a global success and they have trained close to half a million people and worked in over 30 countries with every big name company you can think of. And what’s particularly cool for me is they’ve done it by changing the way coaching is sold and delivered, building courses that are delivered in 90 minute blocks.In this conversation we talk about: How the idea for Mind Gym was first conjured up, and how it fell flat in its first iteration Why challenging the orthodoxy is critical to success How to ignore advice your accountant gives you (if you don’t like it, that is) A powerful strategy for when you’re feeling down What the Rubicon has to do with Great Work

Let me introduce you to Caroline Webb. She is an executive coach, author and speaker who specializes in showing people how to use insights from behavioural science to improve their professional lives. Her book is called – you got it—How to Have a Good Day, and it's been published in 14 languages and more than 60 countries. In our conversation we discuss: the brain science of engagement; how to calm your brain when it’s feeling anxious; the power of labeling; and the power of connecting to what you’re uniquely good at.

Ruth Ann Harnisch is an activist, a philanthropist and a movie producer and has recently been described as the “the punk rock fairy godmother of feminism.” Tune into this lively conversation about the value of coaching, feminism, diversity and favourite questions.Neighborhoods are more than just property values and test scores. Garrett Bucks and MBS discuss how to fill your neighborhood with vitality and make it a truly great place. 

I spoke to Dan Coyle, author of The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born; It’s Grown; Here’s How, back in 2011. (If you haven’t read this book, you might want to pick up a copy. In it, Dan provides very specific ways that each of us can deepen our own level of talent — and with that, our success.)Since then, as the global talent war heats up and phrases like “the gig economy” emerge, learning and talent development have never been so relevant.In our interview we talk about: The neuroscience of talent, and why the secret lies in insulation. What deep practice is, and how it’s so different from the practice most of us do. How “ignition” is the engine that drives deep practice, and where you find the spark. Secrets of the master coaches.

Kerry Taylor is one of the world’s top financial bloggers. But she had another story to tell: the experience of surviving one of the most virulent forms of breast cancer. In this rare and precious conversation, we discuss that moment when you have the worst possible news confirmed; what it is you can actually control, and why that really matters; how to ensure the uncertainty of the future doesn’t steal away the joy of the present; and what Kerry learnt about her own tendency to perfectionism.

Dave Stachowiak is the host of the Coaching for Leaders podcast, a top-rated careers podcast on iTunes that's downloaded over 150,000 times every month. He's also the founder of the Coaching for Leaders Academy, an exclusive, year-long leadership development cohort for managers, executives and business owners who want to develop leadership excellence — and empower each other. In this episode, Dave explains how he helps leaders make great friends and creates the space for great conversation.