Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract

When companies go through a merger or acquisition, most leaders obsess over financials and spreadsheets. But according to Jennifer Fondrevay—founder of Day1 Ready and author of Now What?—the real failure happens when leadership ignores people. In this episode of Leadership NOW, we explore what really drives post-acquisition chaos, the arrogance of deal-making, and why culture buddies and pre-mortems are essential to getting it right. If your company is planning a deal, this conversation is your human integration blueprint. More information about Jennifer Fondrevay at https://jenniferjfondrevay.com/ More information about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com/

Maureen Wiley Clough, seasoned technology leader and host of the podcast It Gets Late Early, joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss the overlooked yet costly issue of ageism in today’s workplaces. Clough highlights why age diversity isn’t simply an ethical responsibility but a strategic advantage. She dismantles harmful myths about older employees’ technological capability, cost, and adaptability, and provides actionable insights for leaders on cultivating meaningful intergenerational mentorship and organizational resilience. If your organization values inclusion, it’s time to start genuinely including older employees. More about Maureen Wiley Clough: https://www.itgetslateearly.com/ More about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com

Gary Officer, President and CEO of CWI Labs, joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss why organizations repeatedly overlook older workers—and why it's strategically and socially damaging. Officer explains how ageism impacts organizational productivity, innovation, and culture. He debunks common myths around older employees' technological skills, health care costs, and salary expectations, offering compelling insights and examples of successful intergenerational teams. This episode highlights why age inclusiveness isn't simply about fairness; it's a crucial competitive advantage. For more information about Gary A. Officer visit: https://www.cwilabs.org/ For more information about Dan Pontefract visit: https://www.danpontefract.com/

In this insightful episode of Leadership NOW, Dan sits down with entrepreneur and acclaimed author Faisal Hoque to discuss the transformative power—and hidden perils—of artificial intelligence. Drawing from his latest book, "TRANSCEND: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI," Faisal explores why the greatest leadership challenge today is balancing AI’s vast potential with human judgment, ethics, and dignity. Faisal and Dan dive deep into practical frameworks leaders can immediately use to guide AI ethically and strategically. From addressing algorithmic bias to maintaining authentic human connections in increasingly automated workplaces, they unpack why leadership in the AI age demands clarity, compassion, and purpose. Join this critical conversation to learn how to ensure your organization’s smartest technologies amplify human strengths rather than undermine them. For more about Faisal Hoque visit: https://faisalhoque.com/ For more about Dan Pontefract visit: https://www.danpontefract.com/

Rose Fass, founder of Fass Forward Consulting Group and former CTO at Xerox, joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss why organizations repeatedly overlook the crucial layer of middle management. Rose reveals the critical role of the "messy middle" in translating strategy into execution and why senior leaders must meaningfully engage rather than ignore these vital managers. She explains how genuine, unscripted conversations—not PowerPoint decks—lead to successful transformation, and underscores why wisdom and innovation have no age limit. It's a powerful conversation that challenges the status quo about middle managers and the real nature of leadership. More about Rose Fass at: https://www.fassforward.com/ More about Dan Pontefract at: https://www.danpontefract.com/

Rigid leadership is failing us—especially now. On this episode of Leadership NOW, Dan Pontefract speaks with bestselling author and leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry about his latest book, "Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence." Eikenberry argues persuasively that leaders trapped in habitual thinking or overly reliant on personality labels miss opportunities to adapt effectively in today’s complex world. He introduces the concept of “flexors”—leadership decisions that require intentional flexibility rather than automatic, comfort-driven reactions. In this lively conversation, Eikenberry outlines why flexibility is no longer optional, explains the practical skills and habits leaders must adopt, and offers clear advice to move beyond rigidity into intentional, adaptive leadership. For more about Kevin and his book, including a gift, visit: • https://www.kevineikenberry.com/flexible • https://www.kevineikenberry.com/gift More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com/

In this episode of Leadership NOW, we delve into the critical issue of knowledge loss within organizations. When seasoned employees retire or depart, they often take invaluable tacit knowledge with them—expertise that isn't documented in manuals or training materials.​ Join us as we explore the insights of Dr. Richard Clark, Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern California, who has dedicated his career to addressing this challenge through Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA). Dr. Clark discusses how CTA can uncover and preserve the hidden insights of workplace experts, ensuring that organizations retain and effectively transfer critical knowledge.​ Discover how integrating CTA with artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, can accelerate and enhance the process of capturing and disseminating expert knowledge. Learn practical steps to prioritize expertise mapping, leverage AI-driven CTA, and foster a culture of lifelong learning within your organization.​ Don't let essential knowledge slip away. Watch now to understand how to safeguard your organization's intellectual assets and maintain a competitive edge.​ More about Dr. Clark at https://rossier.usc.edu/faculty-research/directory/richard-clark More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com/

Learning and Development (L&D) teams are at a crossroads. Too many still operate as order takers, delivering training on request without questioning whether it’s the right solution. Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning and Development Officer at BDO Canada and author of "The Trusted Learning Advisor," believes this outdated mindset limits impact and credibility. In this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, Keating explains how L&D must evolve from transactional function to strategic business partner. He shares: 1) Why L&D professionals must stop taking orders and start diagnosing real business challenges 2) How the IDAD Model—Intake, Discovery, Analysis, and Decision—helps reframe training requests 3) Why empathy, active listening, and design thinking are the missing pieces in L&D’s strategy Keating outlines practical steps to move beyond outdated approaches and drive real business value. Watch now to learn how L&D professionals can build credibility, drive impact, and become true trusted learning advisors. More about Keith Keating: https://www.thetrustedlearningadvisor.com/ More about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/

The workforce is aging, but many leaders are still acting as if nothing has changed. On this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, CEO and author Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, a global expert on gender, generational shifts, and longevity, unpacks what organizations must do to stay ahead. She explains why age diversity is a leadership blind spot, how demographic shifts are reshaping talent strategies, and what wise leaders are doing to future-proof their organizations. Avivah challenges outdated assumptions about work, career longevity, and leadership. She explores the opportunities that come with longer, multi-stage careers—and why companies that fail to adapt will struggle to compete. More about Avivah Wittenberg-Cox: https://www.avivahwittenbergcox.com/ More about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/

In this blunt, zero-guests, and entertaining episode of Leadership NOW, Dan Pontefract unleashes his frustrations on the outdated practice of the annual performance review. He traces its historical roots, explains why it hurt engagement and innovation, and offers a better path forward. If you are tired of cramming twelve months of work into a single, awkward meeting, tune in for Dan’s pointed critique and practical alternatives that will save time, boost morale, and modernize how we measure performance.