

Leadership Next
Fortune
Something big is happening in the world of business. CEOs increasingly say their jobs have become less about giving orders, more about inspiring, motivating, setting a north star. They are taking the lead on big issues like climate change, worker retraining, and diversity and inclusion. They are under pressure from employees, customers and investors not just to turn a profit, but to prove they are doing good in the world. And in the process, they are fundamentally redefining the relationship between business and society. Join Fortune Executive Editorial Director Diane Brady and Editorial Director Kristin Stoller as they engage global leaders on the insights, experiences and issues you need to know.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 18, 2025 • 34min
How CEO Zak Brown Turned Around McLaren Racing | Leadership Next
McLaren Racing’s Formula 1 team was in a period of decline and suffering record-low sponsorship revenue before Zak Brown took over as CEO.
Shortly before McLaren's second consecutive win at the Constructors’ Championship, Brown sat down for an interview with Fortune’s Diane Brady and Kristin Stoller. He shared how he was able to turn around the culture at McLaren with a “no-blame” policy and his approach to managing the fastest racing drivers in the world.

Nov 11, 2025 • 39min
JLL CEO Christian Ulbrich on Smart Buildings, AI and Global Housing Challenges | Leadership Next
JLL’s Global CEO and President Christian Ulbrich sat down with Fortune’s Diane Brady and Kristin Stoller to discuss global housing affordability challenges, Zohran Mamdani’s victory, and the relationship between governments and developers.On this week’s episode of Leadership Next, Ulbrich also gives his predictions about the future real estate trends.“You enter a building and a camera will detect you. The building will know where you are, what you are using, where you spend your time. Everything will be measured, and that can be scary…” JLL CEO Christian Ulbrich says. “…But on the other hand, it is very beneficiary, because we will be able to operate those buildings at a much lower cost level.”

Nov 4, 2025 • 33min
Kecia Steelman on ULTA’s Global Expansion and Her Dream Collab | Leadership Next
ULTA Beauty, the largest beauty retailer in the United States, will open its first Middle East store in Kuwait later this week.
The company has been on a trajectory of global expansion since its international debut earlier this year, with the opening of the first stores in Mexico and the major acquisition of the leading British beauty retailer SpaceNK.
CEO Kecia Steelman sat down with Fortune’s Diane Brady and Kristin Stoller to discuss what her first months as CEO have been like, her leadership style, and how social media has charted the way for doing business overseas.

Oct 28, 2025 • 31min
Brené Brown on Leadership During Times of Uncertainty
Author and researcher Brené Brown sat down with Diane Brady and Kristin Stoller at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit to discuss leadership and power during times of uncertainty, political turmoil and fear. Brown emphasized the importance of businesses having mission clarity for every employee, human work over AI “slop,” and making decisions in the space between stimulus and response.

Oct 21, 2025 • 35min
Wendell Weeks on Risk, Resilience & Reinvention at Corning
Wendell Weeks, Chairman and CEO of Corning Incorporated, joins Diane and Kristin to reflect on leading one of America’s oldest innovators through constant reinvention. Weeks shares rare stories from his partnerships with visionaries like Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos, revealing lessons on collaboration, and what it takes to build a company designed to last the next 150 years. He also discusses Corning’s pivotal role in the iPhone’s creation, its quiet influence across industries from solar to AI, and why true leadership begins with followership.

10 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 33min
Eric Glyman on Ramp’s Rocket Growth, AI-Powered Finance, and Redefining Corporate Finance
Eric Glyman, Cofounder and CEO of Ramp, dives into the fintech's meteoric rise to over $1 billion in revenue. He shares how Ramp flips the corporate card model by helping clients spend less, not more. The conversation highlights the integration of AI in automating finance tasks like receipt matching, saving companies billions and millions of hours. Glyman also discusses the urgent, fast-paced culture at Ramp, the evolving role of AI in finance work, and how customer-centric metrics drive their success.

Oct 7, 2025 • 33min
How Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert Leads with Purpose
Diane and Kristin sit with Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert to discuss how he's redefining what it means to lead a global brand with values at its core. In this candid interview, Gellert discusses Patagonia’s bold financial restructuring, its decision to give away company profits to fight climate change, and why advocacy is essential to making a powerful impact as a company.

Sep 30, 2025 • 35min
Lyft CEO David Risher on comebacks, customer obsession and moonlighting as a Lyft driver
In this episode, Diane and Kristin sit down with Lyft CEO David Risher to explore his leadership philosophy, deeply rooted in firsthand experience and an unwavering commitment to customer experience. David shares insights on the future of ride sharing, his dedication to delivering exceptional service for both riders and drivers, and the journey that shaped his path to leadership.

Sep 23, 2025 • 33min
Breaking Ground and Glass Ceilings: Sheryl Palmer’s Mission to Humanize Homebuilding
Sheryl Palmer, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Morrison, joins Leadership Next to share her journey from McDonald’s crew member to the first—and still only—woman leading a publicly traded home builder. In this live episode recorded in Scottsdale, Palmer opens up about leading through the housing crash, the challenges of going public, and what it takes to grow a billion-dollar business without losing its soul. She reflects on navigating the post-2008 crisis, standing up to private equity, and building a culture rooted in empathy and impact. Palmer also unpacks how Taylor Morrison is tackling housing affordability through innovation and policy, why she believes “love the customer” is more than a slogan, and how CEOs today must balance public scrutiny with purpose-driven leadership.

Aug 26, 2025 • 54min
From Meme Stocks to Financial Futures: Vlad Tenev’s Vision for Robinhood
Vlad Tenev, CEO and cofounder of Robinhood, joins Leadership Next to discuss his evolution as a leader, from weathering the GameStop firestorm to reshaping the platform into a full-spectrum financial services provider. Tenev reflects on how Robinhood disrupted Wall Street giants, the leadership lessons he learned under pressure, and why he sees AI as both a labor market disruptor and a catalyst for wider retail investing. He also opens up about navigating viral misinformation, the power of financial education, and how memecoins and tokenized assets could transform capital markets.


