Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract

Step into a world where innovation meets execution in the latest episode of Leadership NOW with my guest Steve Blank, the architect behind the Lean Startup revolution. We're dissecting the nuances of what it takes to blend day-to-day operations with the art of innovation, unearthing insights from the startup sphere that big businesses need to hear, and unpacking the transformative role of leadership in an ever-evolving business environment. This isn't just a chat; it's an expedition into the heart of entrepreneurial thinking. Tune in for this enriching dialogue and explore more in the accompanying Forbes article, where we delve deeper into the strategies shaping the future of leadership. It's an episode filled with thought-provoking ideas and actionable wisdom you won't want to miss. Steve Blank is a founding member at the Gordian Knot Center, an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University, and Senior Fellow for Innovation at Columbia University. Steve consults for the National Security establishment on innovation methods, processes, policies, and doctrine. He created the curriculum for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps. At Stanford he co-created the Department of Defense Hacking for Defense and Department of State Hacking for Diplomacy curriculums. Steve arrived in Silicon Valley in 1978, at the very beginning of the startup boom, founded or was part of eight ventures. His book The Four Steps to the Epiphany is credited with launching the Lean Startup movement and which touted the principle that startups must operate differently from big companies to be successful. His follow-on book The Startup Owner’s Manual described a process for turning ideas into scale and his Harvard Business Review cover story redefined how large organizations can innovate at speed. In sum, Steve has changed how startups are built; how entrepreneurship is taught; how science is commercialized, and how companies and the government innovate. He has been described as the Father of Modern Entrepreneurship. Find out more about Steve at www.steveblank.com

Dr. Alexander (Alex) Osterwalder, founder & CEO of Strategyzer, is one of the world’s most influential strategy and innovation experts. A leading author, entrepreneur, and in-demand speaker, his work has changed the way established companies do business and how new ventures get started. In this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, Alex lays out his nfluential ideas on modern business models, emphasizing the need for innovative strategies and a shift away from traditional business thinking. Continuously ranked in the top 50 management thinkers worldwide by Thinkers50 and a visiting professor at IMD, Osterwalder is known for simplifying the strategy development process and turning complex concepts into digestible visual models. Together with Yves Pigneur, he invented the Business Model Canvas, Value Proposition Canvas, and Business Portfolio Map – practical tools that are trusted by millions of business practitioners from leading global companies, including Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Mastercard, Sony, Fujitsu, 3M, Intel, Roche, Colgate-Palmolive, and many more. Strategyzer is an innovation powerhouse, providing online courses, applications, and technology-enabled services to help organizations effectively and systematically manage strategy, growth, and transformation. Osterwalder’s books include the international bestseller «Business Model Generation», «Value Proposition Design», «Testing Business Ideas», «High-Impact Tools for Teams» and «The Invincible Company,» A frequent and popular keynote speaker, Osterwalder travels the world discussing his ideas and strategies at Fortune 500 companies, premiere innovation conferences, and leading universities. He holds a doctorate from HEC Lausanne/Switzerland and is a founding member of The Constellation, a global not-for-profit organization connecting local responses to global issues around the world.

Liz Wiseman is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to top organizations worldwide. She wrote the New York Times bestsellers Multipliers, The Multiplier Effect, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers Rookie Smarts and Impact Players. In this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, Liz shares several leadership tips and insights based on her books and research. It is a sprightly and deeply informative discussion. Liz is the CEO of the Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. Some of her recent clients include Apple, AT&T, Disney, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Salesforce, Tesla, and X. Liz has received the top achievement award for leadership from Thinkers50. She has also been consistently named one of the world’s leading 50 management thinkers in its bi-annual ranking. Liz has conducted significant research in leadership and talent development. She writes for Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and various other business and leadership journals and is a frequent guest lecturer at Brigham Young University and Stanford University. She is a former executive at Oracle, where she worked as the Vice President of Oracle University and the global leader for Human Resource Development. Liz holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in organizational behaviour from Brigham Young University.

Dan Pontefract is the host of Leadership NOW. Sure. But he's also an award-winning author. His latest book, "Work-Life Bloom: How to Nurture a Team That Flourishes" shakes up corporate culture by tackling sacred cows like employee engagement, work-life balance, and 'bring your best selves to work.' So, Dan decided to interview Dan about the book. Check out this special episode of Leadership NOW where Dan asks Dan the following questions, aided by the help of ChatGPT, the AI tool that digested the book and surfaced five very unique questions to ask Dan: • Challenging Conventional Wisdom: "'Work-Life Bloom' seems to challenge the traditional notion of work-life balance and employee engagement. What common myths or misconceptions about both of these concepts are you aiming to debunk with this book?" • Critique of Corporate Culture: "In your experience and research, where do most organizations fall short in fostering a culture that truly supports its team members? Can you give an example of a particularly toxic trend you've observed?" • Personal Sacrifices for Success: "Have you ever found yourself sacrificing personal happiness or well-being for career success? How did these experiences shape your perspective in 'Work-Life Bloom'?" • The Dark Side of Leadership: "You've seen various leadership styles throughout your career. What are some of the darker aspects of leadership that can affect the workplace, and how does your book address these?" • Controversial Advice: "Is there any advice in 'Work-Life Bloom' that you think might be controversial or counterintuitive to traditional business thinking? Why did you choose to include it?" • The Pandemic's Impact: "How has the pandemic altered your views on the concepts of work and life? Does 'Work-Life Bloom' tackle any uncomfortable truths that the pandemic has exposed in the workplace?" • Future Predictions and Warnings: "Looking ahead, what are some potential pitfalls or dangers you foresee if companies and leaders fail to embrace the principles of Work-Life Bloom?"

Gianpiero Petriglieri is Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD. His award-winning research and teaching focus on what it means, and what it takes, to become a leader. He is particularly concerned with leading well in the age of “nomadic professionalism,” in which people have deep bonds to work but loose affiliations to organisations. In this conversation with Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW, Gianpiero discusses at length the need (and wish) for leadership to be an art. Building on two decades of experience studying and working with executives and companies around the world, he has refined a unique approach to experiential leadership development that aims to deepen and accelerate the development of individual leaders, as well as to broaden and strengthen leadership communities within and across organisations. At INSEAD, Gianpiero directs the Management Acceleration Programme, the school’s flagship executive programme for emerging leaders, and chairs the initiative for Learning innovation and Teaching Excellence. He also designs and directs customized leadership development programmes for multinationals in a variety of industries. He speaks widely on how to develop and exercise leadership in fast-changing, uncertain, and diverse workplaces. Gianpiero has chaired the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on new models of leadership and has been named one of the 50 most influential management thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. He has held Visiting Professor positions at the Harvard Business School, and at Copenhagen Business School. Prior to joining INSEAD, he contributed to executive programs and to the MBA at IMD and trained as a medical doctor and psychiatrist. More about Gianpiero at https://gpetriglieri.com/ including his essays, research, and other wonderful goodies. More about Dan at https://www.danpontefract.com

Stephen “Shed” Shedletzky — or “Shed” to his friends — helps leaders make it safe and worth it for people to speak up. He supports humble leaders — those who know they are both a part of the problems they experience and the solutions they can create — as they put their people and purpose first. A sought-after speaker, coach, and advisor, Shed has led hundreds of keynote presentations, workshops, and leadership development programs around the world. As a thought leader on psychological safety in the workplace, he supports leaders and organizations in all industries where human beings work. He is the author of Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up (October 2023). After years on a corporate track, Shed was introduced to and inspired by the work of Simon Sinek and, soon after meeting him, became the fourth person to join his team. For more than a decade, Shed has contributed at Simon Sinek, Inc., where, as Chief of Staff and Head of Brand Experience, Training & Development, he headed a global team of speakers and facilitators. Shed continues to speak and facilitate with Simon Sinek helping to create a more inspired, safe, and fulfilled world. Shed graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business with a focus on leadership, communication, and strategy. He also received his coaching certification from The Co-Active Training Institute. He lives in Toronto with his wife and two young children. More about Stephen and Speak-Up Culture at https://www.shedinspires.com/SUCB More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com

Josh Bernoff is an expert on how business books can propel thinkers to prominence. Book projects on which he collaborated have generated more than $20 million for their authors. Josh’s most recent book is "Build a Better Business Book: How to Plan, Write, and Promote a Book That Matters." He is also the author of "Writing Without Bullshit: Boost Your Career by Saying What You Mean" and the co-author of "Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies." He has authored, coauthored, or ghostwritten an additional eight business books. Josh works closely with nonfiction authors as an advisor, coach, editor, or ghostwriter. He has collaborated on more than 45 nonfiction books. He was formerly Senior Vice President, Idea Development at Forrester, where he spent 20 years analyzing technology and business. Prior to Forrester, Josh spent 14 years in start-up companies in the Boston area. Josh has a mathematics degree from The Pennsylvania State University and studied mathematics in the Ph.D. program at MIT. He lives with his wife, an artist, in Portland, Maine. More about Josh and his new book at https://bernoff.com/books More about Dan Pontefract and his work at https://www.danpontefract.com/

Chester Elton has spent two decades helping some of the world’s most successful businesses engage their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values. He joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW and shares his insights on the current state of leadership and culture. Dubbed the “Apostle of Appreciation” by Canada’s Globe and Mail, “creative and refreshing‚” by the New York Times, and a “must read for modern managers” by CNN. Elton is co-author of multiple award-winning New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling leadership books including All In, The Carrot Principle, The Best Team Wins, and Anxiety at Work. His books have been translated in more than 30 languages and have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. Elton has appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, CBS 60 Minutes, and is often quoted in Fast Company, Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal. He is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s #MG100 Global Coaches, member of Fast Company Impact Council, and he serves as a board member for Camp Corral, a non-profit for the children of wounded and fallen military heroes. Elton also serves as a leadership consultant to firms such as American Express, AT&T, Avis Budget Group, and Procter & Gamble. And, of course, he is the co-founder of the Culture Works with partner Adrian Gostick. For more than 20 years, The Culture Works® has helped organizations of all sizes create workplaces where employees are engaged, enabled, and energized through their books, speaking, coaching, and courses that focus on the employee experience. More about Chester Elton at https://chesterelton.com/ More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com

Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract is pleased to invite Michael Bungay Stanier – MBS – but not that MBS – back to the show, the first two-time guest. Michael helps people know they’re awesome and they’re doing great. He’s perhaps best known for his book “The Coaching Habit,” which is the best-selling book on coaching this century. His recent books include “How to Begin,” which helps people find the clarity and courage to start something thrilling, important and daunting; and “The Advice Trap” – tame your inner Advice Monster so you can be more coach-like. MBS drops by the show to discuss his latest book, “How to Work with (Almost) Anyone,” which pretty much does what it says on the label. But wait, there’s more. Michael founded Box of Crayons in 2002, a learning and development company that has trained hundreds of thousands of managers to be more coach-like in organizations from Microsoft to Gucci. He left Australia about 30 years ago to be a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University … where, as he claims, his only significant achievement was falling in love with a Canadian … which is why he now lives in Toronto. More about Leadership NOW and Dan Pontefract at http://www.danpontefract.com More about "How to Work with (Almost) Anyone" and MBS at http://www.bestpossiblerelationship.com

CB Bowman: Known as the Courage Consultant, CB is the host of the very popular "Courage: To Leap & Lead" podcast, and is the CEO of the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches. CB is a global "Certified Master Corporate Executive Coach" with experience working in marketing, coaching, and branding. CB join Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract to discuss her latest book, “Courage: to Leap and to Lead.” CB strongly believes that master-level corporate executive coaches have to be “enterprise-wide business partners™" with their clients, yes, full of courage. She is formerly head of branding for ready-to-eat cereals for General Foods. She was responsible for the visual impact of Post Cereals for iconic brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats, Golden Crisps, and Pebbles. CB was also responsible for their classic brands including Post Shredded Wheat, Grape Nuts, Shake N' Bake and Raisin Bran, and won several awards for product marketing and branding. Named one of the Power List of the Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership by Leadershum; Top 50 coaches in the world by Thinkers50; and Global Gurus also named her as one of the top 15 experts in branding. More about Dan Pontefract and Leadership NOW at https://www.danpontefract.com More about CB Bowman at https://courage-consulting.com/