Redefiners

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   

Annastiina Hintsa, CEO of Hintsa Performance, has transitioned from strategy consulting to advocating for holistic health and sustainable high performance, aiding everyone from Formula One drivers to CEOs. In this captivating discussion, she shares her personal journey of overcoming burnout and the crucial link between well-being and performance. The conversation highlights the importance of empathy in the workplace, resilience strategies during crises, and the need to optimize rather than maximize performance to foster a supportive organizational culture.

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 

Emily Chang is a master bridge builder – and it’s made her a wildly successful leader in the US and in Asia. As the CEO of McCann Worldgroup China, she bridges US and Chinese cultures to establish brands that are thriving, global, and remarkably agile. We’ll talk about the differences between the two markets, and how brands can succeed in the notoriously challenging Chinese market. We’ll also talk about another kind of bridge—between people—and how Emily literally opens her home to those in need and how that led her to the concept of social legacy, the topic of her bestselling book Spare Room. We’ll also talk about capacity and how to take control of your time – perhaps the most valuable commodity of all. There’s a lot to learn from this leader who, prior to McCann, was a top exec at Starbucks China, InterContinental Hotels Group China, Procter & Gamble, and Apple.       BIO:Having catalyzed a turnaround for McCann Worldgroup China in just over a year, Emily Chang is a true changemaker whose drive for O+O branded experiences and cross-cultural team leadership have delivered record-high results for the agency.  Emily has always positioned creativity and innovation at the center of her business strategy, even in her first two decades leading client-side businesses. So, when she joined McCann Worldgroup China as CEO in Sep 2020, Emily was thrilled to help brands deliver delightful, integrated customer experiences that earn a meaningful role in people’s lives. When working as the CMO for Starbucks China, Emily was responsible for marketing, sales, loyalty, customer engagement, and the digital ecosystem (ecommerce, loyalty, payments, partnerships). Her teams tripled digital tender across stores, helped open the Starbucks Shanghai Roastery, and launched the brand’s delivery program.  Before joining Starbucks, Emily was Chief Commercial Officer for InterContinental Hotels Group, Greater China, where she led all commercial functions across Greater China. Looking after 320+ hotels and a team of 5,200 Sales & Marketing members, Emily spearheaded the market share turnaround of six hotel brands and the contribution mix of three loyalty programs. She also invested in new BI and Digital capabilities and differentiated the group with a focus on Branded Guest Experiences. Prior to IHG, Emily worked for a combined 15 years at Procter & Gamble and Apple.   As a champion of DE&I, she is committed to creating a positive culture of belonging at work and in fact, sees Conscious Inclusion as a core business strategy. Emily injects a ‘positive spirit’ in the workplace, prioritizing wellness, fun and active engagement. Among other significant improvements, McCann has seen “I see opportunity for potential growth” increase +88% and “My well-being is cared for” improve +70% over the last three bi-annual surveys.     In 2022, Emily was awarded “Women To Watch Greater China” by Campaign Asia, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the marketing & advertising industry. She also contributes time to support the industry’s development by delivering lectures like at Tsinghua University, AmCham, and FBIF, and judging awards like New York Festivals AME Awards. Emily sits on the board of SOS Children’s Villages and recently published a best-selling book called “The Spare Room,” also the topic of her first TEDx Talk. She enjoys spending time with Minki, her husband of 22 years, Laini, her thirteen-year-old daughter, Holly Berry their rescue dog, and Scarlett the pygmy hedgehog. 

As we arrive at the halfway point in Redefiners Season 2, it’s a good time to take a look back at the key takeaways and insights from our conversations so far. We’ve learned a lot from the guests who have joined the podcast this season – dynamic, change-making leaders from a wide array of industries. In this episode, host Clarke Murphy takes us through some memorable highlights on critical topics facing leaders across economies around the world. Culture, sustainability, DE&I, the evolution of boards, tech transformation, and more. The insights in this episode are invaluable, the takeaways are actionable, and the conversations are up-close and candid.     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 to redefiners@russellreynolds.com. Don’t miss your opportunity to get your questions answered by an expert.    If you want to hear more from one of our Redefiners guests, you can listen to any episode from Season 1 or 2 at https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/redefiners-overview.