When you run one of the top 50 restaurants in the world, your business is operating at near perfection. But in order to become the best, Will Guidara knew he’d have to redefine hospitality. Will is the former owner of Make it Nice, the hospitality group with restaurants covering the spectrum from fine dining to fast casual, including the acclaimed Eleven Madison Park, NoMad in New York, London, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and Davies and Brook at Claridge's hotel in London. Knowing his true passion lies in making people happy, Will opted to be unreasonable in his approach to service and hospitality, leading to Eleven Park Madison being named the best restaurant in the world in 2017 and the writing of his first book, Unreasonable Hospitality (Penguin Random House).  In this episode of Redefiners, Will discusses not only how to go above and beyond for customers, but how to inspire and support a team to do the same. Will’s unique perspective on hospitality can be applied across industries. From the benefits of starting at the bottom, to setting expectations for feedback, to building a culture of excellence, listen in as one of the restaurant industry’s great leaders shares his ascent to the top.    If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:    From Gillette to Jamba Juice: How to Lead Iconic Brands with Empathy, Purpose & Integrity  From Harvard to Hollywood: A Conversation with Debra Martin Chase  The Power of Art and the Art of Power with Henry Timms 

Like many of us, Svein Tore Holsether is a leader under pressure. Svein is CEO of Yara International, the world’s leading crop nutrition company with operations in more than 60 countries. Yara’s mission is to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet at the same time – no simple task given the current food and energy crises impacting Europe and other parts of the world.  In this episode, Svein shares how and why he radically reoriented Yara’s mission to make purpose and sustainability paramount in their ambition to grow a nature-positive food future. He talks about why trust is so critical when it comes to sustainability, climate change, and achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. And he also talks about the revenue opportunities that comes with sustainability and how it can be the driver of a business’s success. It’s a conversation about turning pressure into purpose and influence into action.  If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiner episodes:  Leadership Reimagined: Transformation Tips from Jim Hagemann Snabe   Daring to Build a More Sustainable World with Kate Brandt and Sophia Mendelsohn  Trust Your Gut: AXA’s Thomas Buberl Talks Transformation and Reinvention  Thriving Through Adversity: How WTO’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Solving Global Problems 

As 2022 comes to a close, we’re taking a look back on our conversations with some of the world’s most accomplished leaders – in business and beyond. Clarke Murphy and Nanaz Mohtashami revisit some of this season’s top insights on issues like sustainability, talent and the Great Resignation, leadership, DE&I, purpose, and technology and transformation. And to help you plan your next career move, you’ll get this season’s best career advice from leaders we all look up to. If the upside of a challenging year is the learnings that come with it, then 2022 was rife with lessons. Redefiners will return with more conversations in January 2023, so be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode!  In the meantime, check out all of our Redefiners episodes athttps://www.russellreynolds.com/redefiners. Happy holidays! 

According to our guest, The Carlyle Group co-founder and co-chairman, four-time author, and passionate philanthropist David Rubenstein, there are 13 common traits among the most iconic leaders. In this episode, David delves into these leadership traits, as well as his winding path from blue collar kid to lawyer to political insider to investment icon and bar-setting patriotic philanthropist. He shares his insights about all things investing – risk, reward, crypto, managing through a recession – and how investing your time can be just as valuable as investing your money. He talks about his love of history and what can it teach us on navigating today’s challenges. Whether you’re on a board now or headed that way, you’ll want to hear David’s simple rule of thumb on what it takes to be a successful board member. David Rubenstein has a lot to say – all of it indispensable.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiner episodes: · Break the Bias: Closing the Gender Wealth Gap with Sallie Krawcheck · Risk-taking and Dealmaking with Global MedTech Leader, Kevin Lobo · Power, Politics and Purpose: Leadership Lessons with Former PM of Australia Julia Gillard 

We’re stepping out of the boardroom and into the newsroom with our guest, broadcast journalist legend Lesley Stahl. Now in her 30th year on 60 Minutes, Lesley is renowned for her courage, intelligence, and interviewing prowess. She’ll share her two Redefiner moments—covering Watergate and surviving Covid—that significantly shaped her career, her life, and her priorities. In this episode, we’ll also talk with Lesley on broadcast news topics that have surprising parallels to business topics: how to prepare for and deal with tough conversations, and how Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts make both news and business organizations infinitely better. We’ll also talk about how technology is changing the way we get our news—not necessarily for the better—and how trust and truth in news are more essential and harder to come by than ever.  If you want to hear more conversations about DEI and purpose, you might enjoy these other Redefiners episodes:· From Harvard to Hollywood: A Conversation with Debra Martin Chase · Power,  Politics and Purpose: Leadership Lessons with Former PM of Australia Julia Gillard · From Gillette to Jamba Juice: How to Lead Iconic Brands with Empathy, Purpose & Integrity with James D. White 

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala thrives on challenge. As the first woman and first African to serve as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi is responsible for negotiating seemingly impossible deals on global finance, trade, sustainability, and social welfare. We talk with her about her sense of purpose, values, and her firm belief in the power of trade to lift developing countries out of poverty and help them to achieve economic growth and sustainable development. We’ll also discuss another key leadership attribute: courage – in Dr. Ngozi’s case, growing up in war-torn Nigeria, taking on some of the world’s most consequential roles in the public sector, and persevering in her cause even when her mother’s kidnappers demanded Dr. Ngozi resign. This is a conversation about resolve, duty, and embracing risk you won’t want to miss. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these other Redefiner episodes: · Bridging Cultures & Building Brands: Marketing CEO Emily Chang Masters Both · Power, Politics and Purpose: Leadership Lessons with Former PM of Australia Julia Gillard · Leadership for Good: FinTech Transformation in Asia   

Description: You wouldn’t think falling down a flight of stairs would be a moment that would redefine a career trajectory, but it did for our guest Annastiina Hintsa. The event forced her to realize that she was officially in a state of burnout and it opened her eyes to the link between wellbeing and sustainable performance. Now, as CEO of Hintsa Performance, Annastiina helps the likes of Formula 1 drivers and Fortune 500 C-Suiters find that holistic sweet spot in order to operate at peak levels and avoid burnout. In this episode of Redefiners, we talk with her about optimizing performance rather than maximizing it, and how to make behavioral changes that lead to sustained performance. It’s a must-listen for leaders who want to inspire a culture of resiliency and healthy stamina in their own organizations. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these other Redefiners episodes: · Bridging Cultures & Building Brands: Marketing CEO Emily Chang Masters Both · Power, Politics and Purpose: Leadership Lessons with Former PM of Australia Julia Gillard · Trends and Takeaways: A Mid-Season Review with Clarke Murphy 

Whether he’s leading from the C Suite, chairing a board, or authoring books on leadership, our guest Jim Hagemann Snabe is revered across industries as a master of transformation. In this insights-filled episode, Jim shares his refreshing and trailblazing leadership model that has enabled him to deftly lead transformation and change at SAP and at 100+ year old companies, Siemens and Maersk.  We’ll discuss Jim’s views on reinventing from a position of strength, culture change and navigating an unpredictable future. We’ll also hear about his redefining moment in India that most deeply informed his perspective on leadership: to use leadership to help progress some of the world’s problems all while running a smart business. It’s been his mantra ever since. At a time when sustainable leadership is more critical than ever, Jim explains how it’s as good for the balance sheet as it is the environment, employees and the world. This episode will leave you inspired, energized, and emboldened to dream big and unlock potential for both your organization and you.  This episode also includes a special offer for listeners to submit questions to Russell Reynolds Associates consultants on leadership, career development, joining a board, or other topics. If you have a question, send it toredefiners@russellreynolds.com. Don’t miss your opportunity to get your questions answered by an expert.   If you liked this episode, check out these other Redefiners episodes: · Trust Your Gut: AXA’s Thomas Buberl Talks Transformation and Reinvention · From Corruption to Transformation: The Rebirth of a Global Conglomerate with Joe Kaeser· From Gillette to Jamba Juice: How to Lead Iconic Brands with Empathy, Purpose & Integrity 

Sustainability has quickly risen to the top of corporate agendas, as shareholders, investors, employees, policy makers, and other stakeholders demand action. We talk with two passionate leaders – Kate Brandt, Chief Sustainability Officer at Google and Sophia Mendelsohn, Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of ESG at Cognizant – about how they embed sustainability into their organizations’ core business strategy. They’ll share how they’ve mastered the role of “CEO whisperer” to drive top-down change and connect sustainability initiatives to their company’s business, products and supply chain. We’ll talk about why it’s critical to shift our thinking from how to reduce our business impact on climate change to how to reduce climate change's impact on our business. And for those interested in becoming a CSO, Kate and Sophia share their career advice on how to navigate the often-undefined path to the role.   If you’d like to learn more about Sustainable Leadership, check out Redefiners host Clarke Murphy’s new book, Sustainable Leadership: Lessons of Vision, Courage, and Grit from the CEOs Who Dared to Build a Better World. The book is a complete blueprint for infusing sustainability across business strategy, all while growing your bottom line. Drawing on the stories of 35+ CEOs at world-leading companies, including Adidas, Heineken, Duke Energy, Natura &Co, Maersk, Mahindra Steel, and Salesforce, veteran leadership expert Clarke shows how sustainability action is within reach of every business executive. Perfect for CEOs and boards across industries, Sustainable Leadership is also a can’t miss book for sustainability experts, entrepreneurs, and next-generation leaders looking to make sense of the latest—and most profitable—sustainability strategies. Order your copy here.  To hear more from other global leaders on sustainability, you might also enjoy these Redefiner episodes:  Trust Your Gut: AXA’s Thomas Buberl Talks Transformation and Reinvention  Leadership Reimagined: Transformation Tips from Jim Hagemann Snabe  Digital Transformation and the Power of Listening and with Microsoft’s Jacky Wright 

Nowadays, every business has either become or is becoming a digital business. And it’s not all about technology. Creating the right culture and environment are critical keys to success. Our guest Jacky Wright is a digital transformation mastermind who led the tech evolution in both the private and public sectors, including leadership roles at BP, GE, Microsoft and the British government’s tax department. One of her superpowers—one we should all adopt in this fast-changing world filled with uncertainty—is adaptability. We talk with Jacky about how she embraces change, innovates with agility, and leads by listening. She talks about sustainability and how technology can play a role. And we discuss issues facing boards, including managing risk, digitalization and cyber security, and corporate responsibilities as it relates to social good. To hear more from leaders on digital transformation and adapting to change, you might also enjoy these Redefiners episodes:  · Trust Your Gut: AXA’s Thomas Buberl Talks Transformation and Reinvention · Risk-taking and Dealmaking with Global MedTech Leader, Kevin Lobo · Carlyle Group CEO: You may not like change, but you're going to like  obsolescence even less