

The World Class Leaders Show: Master High-Stakes Leadership: Learn from Top CEOs and World-Renowned Leaders
Andrea Petrone
What does it take to lead with confidence in a world that’s constantly changing?
The World Class Leaders Podcast is your go-to resource for actionable strategies and real-world insights from top CEOs and world-renowned leaders.
Hosted by Andrea Petrone—Performance and Executive Coach to CEOs and Leadership Teams—this show dives deep into the challenges of executive leadership, from crisis management and team dynamics to navigating volatile markets and shaping a culture that drives execution.
Each week, Andrea and his guests share practical tools and inspiring stories to help you:
- Make bold, data-driven decisions—even when the stakes are high and the clock is ticking.
- Build teams that not only survive but thrive in the face of constant change.
- Navigate volatile markets with clarity, adaptability, and a competitive edge.
- Shape a culture that drives execution, turning vision into measurable results.
- Lead with unshakable confidence, even when the pressure feels overwhelming.
Featuring insights from leaders at companies like Microsoft, GE and Target, this podcast has helped thousands of executives transform their leadership approach.
Don’t miss these standout episodes:
- 158: How Prioritizing Culture Helped One CEO Lead a Powerful Transformation with Lindsley Ruth
- 062: The Six Mindsets of Extraordinary CEOs with Carolyn Dewar
- 054: Lorenzo Simonelli, CEO of Baker Hughes on Driving Change Through Uncertainty
Whether you’re a seasoned CEO, an aspiring executive, or a leader looking to level up, this podcast will give you the strategies and mindset shifts you need to excel in the boardroom and beyond.
Subscribe now and transform the way you lead. Follow Andrea on LinkedIn for exclusive leadership tips and behind-the-scenes insights.
The World Class Leaders Podcast is your go-to resource for actionable strategies and real-world insights from top CEOs and world-renowned leaders.
Hosted by Andrea Petrone—Performance and Executive Coach to CEOs and Leadership Teams—this show dives deep into the challenges of executive leadership, from crisis management and team dynamics to navigating volatile markets and shaping a culture that drives execution.
Each week, Andrea and his guests share practical tools and inspiring stories to help you:
- Make bold, data-driven decisions—even when the stakes are high and the clock is ticking.
- Build teams that not only survive but thrive in the face of constant change.
- Navigate volatile markets with clarity, adaptability, and a competitive edge.
- Shape a culture that drives execution, turning vision into measurable results.
- Lead with unshakable confidence, even when the pressure feels overwhelming.
Featuring insights from leaders at companies like Microsoft, GE and Target, this podcast has helped thousands of executives transform their leadership approach.
Don’t miss these standout episodes:
- 158: How Prioritizing Culture Helped One CEO Lead a Powerful Transformation with Lindsley Ruth
- 062: The Six Mindsets of Extraordinary CEOs with Carolyn Dewar
- 054: Lorenzo Simonelli, CEO of Baker Hughes on Driving Change Through Uncertainty
Whether you’re a seasoned CEO, an aspiring executive, or a leader looking to level up, this podcast will give you the strategies and mindset shifts you need to excel in the boardroom and beyond.
Subscribe now and transform the way you lead. Follow Andrea on LinkedIn for exclusive leadership tips and behind-the-scenes insights.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 2, 2023 • 40min
070: How to Embrace Diversity for Powerful Results with Renée McGowan
The modern workplace generally presents unique leadership challenges due to differing perspectives, cultures, and beliefs, and leading a diverse organization is about much more than simply acknowledging differences.
For episode 070 of my podcast, ‘The World Class Leaders Show’, I invited Renée McGowan, Chief Executive Officer, Marsh McLennan India, Middle East & Africa, to talk about how she embraces diversity and improves performance in the workplace.
She leads Mercer’s business across 15+ markets in this fast-growing, dynamic region, is also Chairperson of Mercer in Japan, and is Executive Director on Mercer boards in China and Hong Kong. In 2022, she was named one of Arabian Business’ 50 Inspiring Female Business Leaders. She is also a member of the MEA Business Group, Dubai Business Women Council, and Boardroom by EMIR.
By listening to this podcast episode, you will learn more about:
(02:52) What Has Been Renée’s Secret of Staying With the Same Organization for So Long?
(04:26) The Benefits of Leading a Diverse Workplace
(07:14 ) Mercer Company: What it Does, and Its Future?
(12:29) The Difference Between Skills and Roles in Organizations and How They Are Changing
(15:03) Three Areas of Focus to Have High & Sustainable Growth
(18:04) Renée’s Major Learning in Terms of Leadership
(20:24) How to Handle Uncertainty & Volatility That Exists in External Environment?
(25:04) How Great Leaders Stay on the Top of Changes
(27:37) Three Things Leaders Must Embody
(30:44) How Energy Can Have a Multiplier Effect
(33:33) Misconceptions About CEOs
(37:40) How Great Leaders Approach Decision Making
(41:06) How to Use Experience to Fuel Leadership
Links:
Website: https://www.latam.mercer.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneemcgowan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/renmcgowan
Let me know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone, or via email at Andrea@andreapetrone.com.
Like my show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform.
For more information on my work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website at https://www.andreapetrone.com
If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog here: https://www.andreapetrone.com/blog
Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy
Read the article related to this podcast: https://www.andreapetrone.com/How to Be a Great Leader in a Diverse Workplace with Renée McGowan/

Jan 26, 2023 • 14min
069: The Impact of Ownership on Results
Ownership can be the core component of one's perception of leadership. It requires a strong sense of responsibility, bravery and commitment. It's one of the most critical factors that can either make or break you as a leader. But when do you start taking ownership? How does ownership affect the company's goals and vision?
In this episode of ‘The World Class Leaders Show,’ your host, Andrea Petrone, talks about the difference between accountability and ownership and why ownership is a game changer. He also gave three tips on how to implement ownership in your organization because it's the key to transforming an average organization into an extraordinary organization.
By listening to this podcast episode, you will learn more about:
(00:00) Are You a CEO Looking For Ways to Make a Bigger Impact in Your Business?
(03:05 ) The Difference Between Accountability and a Sense of Ownership
(04:56) The Power of Ownership
(07:55) Accountability as the Next Step
(09:50) Tip #1 : Have a Strong Sense of Purpose
( 11:41) Tip #2: Help Them to Believe in What Is Possible
(12:26) Tip #3: Encourage Them to Use a Very Different Language
Links:
Let me know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone, or via email at Andrea@andreapetrone.com.
Like my show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform.
For more information on my work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website at https://www.andreapetrone.com
If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog here: https://www.andreapetrone.com/blog
Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy

Jan 19, 2023 • 47min
068: Team Alignment To Burn Down Silos and Improve Performance with Mauro Ghilardi
Our ability to work together depends on one thing: TEAM'S SUCCESS
But team alignment isn't easy to achieve. Some members might have conflicting or competing priorities, while others might have misaligned goals and objectives or be stretched thin because of their workloads.
It can be difficult to get everyone to agree on common goals, but this is what makes teamwork possible. Leaders who want their teams to work together effectively need a clear picture of where everyone stands, and the same is true for businesses looking to get maximum results out of their diverse workforce.
For this episode of ‘The World Class Leaders Show’, I invited Mauro Ghilardi, Chief People and Transformation Officer of A2A. he shared the Importance of Aligning Individual, Team, and Organizational Goals for Success !
By listening to this podcast episode, you will learn more about:
(06:52) How Great Leaders Align Their Team
(08:26) Uncovering True Motivation
(15:34) How Great Leaders understand what motivates people
(19:34) Individual Motivation vs. Team Motivation
(21:30 ) How bold vision and goals help people to be motivated?
(25:14) How to Eliminate Organizational Silos
(31:02 ) Job Rotation Advantages And Disadvantages
(35:17) How to Protect Your Team From a Toxic Work Culture
(41:48) Ways Leaders Can Connect and Mobilize Team Members
(47:34) Mauro’s Keytakeaways in his career
Links:
Website: Andrea Petrone
LinkedIn: Andrea Petrone - Executive Coach & Performance Advisor
Twitter: Andrea Petrone (@ie_andrea)
Links Mentioned:
The Infinite Game - Simon Sinek
Let me know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone, or via email at Andrea@andreapetrone.com.
Like my show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform.
For more information on my work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website at https://www.andreapetrone.com
If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog here: https://www.andreapetrone.com/blog
Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy
Read the article related to this podcast: https://www.andreapetrone.com/Team Alignment To Burn Down Silos and Improve Performance with Mauro Ghilardi/

Jan 12, 2023 • 23min
067: The Five Biggest Insights I Learned from Great Leaders
You Can Achieve Your Success
But in order to do that, one of the best things that I can offer to you today is maybe sharing some reflection and observation that I had in the last couple of weeks during holidays. Based on all the conversation that actually I had in 2022 with all amazing guests that are invited on the show, I found interesting that most of them shared very similar approach to leadership, to success, to personal development.
For this episode of ‘The World Class Leaders Show’, one of the best things that I can do today as a starting, is share with you what I identified essentially five main similar patterns when I interviewed my guest and see whether they resonate with you, but most importantly, whether they might be important or helpful for you right now to unlock your potential and also making sure that you have some sort of guidelines or principles that you can use for 2023 to achieve the level of success that you certainly have in mind.
By listening to this podcast episode, you will learn more about:
(05:16) Lesson #1: Great leaders don't have regrets about their past.
(08:02 ) Lesson #2: They have been able to adapt and pivot many times during their career.
(11:20) Lesson #3:Success is proportionate to the quality and support received by their team.
(13:28) Lesson #4: Great leaders don't complain about circumstances around them.
(16:01) Lesson #5: Great leaders spent a lot of time understanding themselves.
Links:
Let me know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone, or via email at Andrea@andreapetrone.com.
Like my show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform.
For more information on my work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website at https://www.andreapetrone.com
If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog here: https://www.andreapetrone.com/blog
Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30
Read the article related to this podcast: https://www.andreapetrone.com/the-five-biggest…om-great-leaders/

Jan 5, 2023 • 42min
066: 3 Things That Set Successful Organizations Apart with Michael Mlynarski, CEO of QualityMinds
Self-Centered, Arrogant, Distant, Spoiled, and Driven.
We've all seen news stories about unethical CEOs.
But do a few rotten leaders affect the reputation of the other leaders?
For this episode of ‘The World Class Leaders Show’, I invited Michael Mlynarski, Founder & CEO of QualityMinds.
Michael Mlynarski shared the biggest myths employees believe about CEO jobs. Here are some details that might help you rethink your image of what those people do all day—and also some tips on how to make your organization successful in its own unique way!
By listening to this podcast episode, you will learn more about:
(01:33) The Drive Behind Founding Companies
(04:57) What does QualityMinds do?
(08:30) How can QualityMinds support other Companies?
(14:42) The Key for Organizations Success
(20:39) To become a CEO: The Secret of Michael's Transition
(26:59) The Root of Complexity in Operations
(28:56 ) The Future of QualityMinds
(32:12) Things People Don't Know about CEOs
(35:55) Getting to Know Michael More
Links:
Website: https://qualityminds.com/
LinkedIn: Michael Mlynarski
Twitter: Michael Mlynarski (@MichalMM)
Links Mentioned:
The Big Five for Life by John Strelecky
Let me know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone, or via email at Andrea@andreapetrone.com.
Like my show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform.
For more information on my work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website at https://www.andreapetrone.com
If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog here: https://www.andreapetrone.com/blog
Need more? Book a 30 min call here:https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30
Read the article related to this podcast: https://www.andreapetrone.com/3-things-that-set-successful-organizations-apart-with-michael-mlynarski-ceo-of-qualityminds-2/

Dec 22, 2022 • 34min
065: Haytham Kaddoura, CEO of Smartstream on Company Turnaround
For today’s episode, we want to repurpose one of the best episodes of the last 12 months. My interview with Haytham Kaddoura, CEO of SmartStream Technologies, a global company leader in financial transaction management solutions.
In this episode, we discussed how you could drive a successful turnaround by covering some interesting topics like:
Regardless of your position, you need to be accessible to your people.
The importance of creating a culture where people can take risks.
Factors that will affect your turnaround in your workplace.
Tips to enable your team to be successful from home.
“When you love what you are doing you get to apply the “Let’s build it together” mindset which will eventually become the norm and be invested in the successful transition.”
To connect with Haytham Kaddoura, you can connect with him on Linkedin:
www.linkedin.com/in/haytham
If you would like to get more information about Andrea’s work, go to:
www.andreapetrone.com
Subscribe to the weekly insight via email at:
https://www.andreapetrone.com/blog/
To connect with Andrea on Social Media:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ie_andrea
Read the article related to this podcast: https://www.andreapetrone.com/how-to-lead-a-company-turnaround-to-success/

Dec 15, 2022 • 48min
064: Iggy Domagalski, CEO of Wajax on Leading with Trust
I still remember my first real leadership experience.
I was in Egypt and was asked to lead a team of 150 people. Before that, I led a group of 5.
This was a giant leap.
I enjoyed it despite the challenge but I remember how many things I needed to learn and change to be ready for the new journey.
Something similar happened to Iggy Domagalski - President and CEO of a Canadian-based company, Wajax, that serves major Canadian industries as one of the nation’s leading industrial products and services providers for over 160 years.
When I interviewed recently on ‘The World Class Leaders Show”, Iggy sharted his approach when it comes to leadership and the giant leap took from running a much smaller company to being at the top of a major business - starting with people as the backbone.
By listening to this podcast episode, you will learn more about:
Lead by putting your people first
It all starts with trust from the top
Why consensus is not always an option
Make time for what is really important
What Iggy learned as a CEO
Book mentioned by Iggy (The Happiness Advantage): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happiness-Advantage-Principles-Psychology-Performance/dp/0753539470/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1671044048&sr=8-1
More about Iggy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iggydomagalski/
Let me know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone, or via email at Andrea@andreapetrone.com.
Like my show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform.
For more information on my work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website at https://www.andreapetrone.com/.
Read the article related to this podcast: https://www.andreapetrone.com/iggy-domagalski-ceo-of-wajax-on-leading-with-trust-article/

Dec 8, 2022 • 15min
063: Five reasons why creating a bold vision will transform your company
Creating a bold vision is not what many CEOs do.
Many leaders play conventional by either creating a fluffy vision to hang on the wall or by not finding the courage to aspire to what looks impossible in the present.
They're stuck in their own perspectives that limit them to think bigger. To achieve the impossible.
On the other hand, some (very few though) leaders go beyond what looks possible right now. They see a different future for their companies. And they are committed, and they stand for bringing that future into the current existence.
In this episode, I share five reasons why creating a new future for the business should be at the top of any CEO's priority.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts or reading your comments about this episode at:
Email: andrea@andreapetrone.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone/
Want to get a score on your leadership level? Take the free assessment today at: https://www.andreapetrone.com/assessment/
If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog here: https://www.andreapetrone.com/blog
Need more? Book a 30min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy
Read the article related to this podcast: https://www.andreapetrone.com/how-to-build-a-bold-vision-for-your-company-article/

Dec 1, 2022 • 47min
062: The Six Mindsets of Extraordinary CEOs with Carolyn Dewar
What separates successful CEOs from average CEOs is not what many people think.
It’s not much about their experience, skills, or abilities.
It comes down to their mindsets.
For episode 062 of my podcast, ‘The World Class Leaders Show’, I invited Carolyn Dewar, Senior Partner in McKinsey & Company’s San Francisco office.
Carolyn co-leads McKinsey & Company’s CEO and Board Excellence practice, partnering with many Fortune 100 CEOs to maximize their effectiveness. She is also the co-author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling book, ‘CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets that Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest’.
By listening to this podcast episode, you will learn more about:
Being bold for the future
Find the people that fit
There’s no “I” with great CEOs
Make the board part of your success story
Ask yourself “Why?”
Doing only what you can do
Let me know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone, or via email at Andrea@andreapetrone.com.
Like my show? Please leaver or write a review on your favorite podcast platform.
For more information on my work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website at https://www.andreapetrone.com/.
Read the article related to this podcast: https://www.andreapetrone.com/the-six-mindsets-of-extraordinary-ceos-with-carolyn-dewar-article/

Nov 24, 2022 • 59min
061: My Journey to Building Confidence, Taking Risks and Making an Impact
What is your attitude towards risk and ambition?
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to be interviewed by Noi Ha Nguyen at the #InsightsSharing Show where I shared my journey, life principles, and insights I learned in the last 20+ years working with leaders.
I thought you might like this to get to know a little bit more about me but more importantly, to get my perspective on things like risk, courage, ambition, urgency, beliefs.
In particular, I share:
The importance and the curse of being ambitious
My approach to career development and risk-taking
How to find your epiphany to make an impact on your future
How risk-averse people can change their attitude
How to change our limiting beliefs
It comes down to self-awareness
The misconception about CEOs
What CEOs are struggling with right now
I look forward to hearing your thoughts or reading your comments about this episode at:
Email: andrea@andreapetrone.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone/
Want to get a score on your leadership level? Take the free assessment today at: https://www.andreapetrone.com/assessment/
If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog here: https://www.andreapetrone.com/blog
Need more? Book a 30min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy
Read the article related to this podcast: https://www.andreapetrone.com/my-journey-to-building-confidence-taking-risks-and-making-an-impact-article/