The World Class Leaders Show: Master High-Stakes Leadership: Learn from Top CEOs and World-Renowned Leaders

Andrea interviews Lisa Rosenthal, CEO of defense and intelligence consulting firm Mayvin. Starting from just a concept scribbled on a napkin, Lisa grew Mayvin from zero to $90 million in revenue with 500 employees in just over 10 years. She shares her journey of entrepreneurship, overcoming challenges, and leading with integrity. Lisa offers insights on topics like company culture, work-life balance, making tough decisions, and always putting people first.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Starting a successful business takes drive, integrity, and surrounding yourself with the right people who share your values and work ethic. Don't let inexperience hold you back if you have a strong mission-driven purpose. Work-life integration is more realistic than work-life balance. Be present wherever you are, and don't feel guilty about shifting priorities day to day. Hire carefully, fire quickly. Keeping someone who is no longer a good fit for the company culture hurts you and them. Have the courage to make needed changes. As a leader you will have to work with individuals who have had very different life experiences, it’s important to tailor your narrative and decisions to suit multiple generations. Communicating with your leaders is key, they can’t implement change or address things they do not know about. Leading means making tough calls that won't always please everyone. Stay focused on the greater good while still showing that you care about people. Listen to employees and keep communication open. Provide training budgets, meaningful mental health support, and show you care in tangible ways. Foster a growth mindset in your team. Believe abilities can be developed with effort. Surround yourself with people smarter than you. BEST MOMENTS "I quickly discovered that supporting The U. S. government, as well as now NATO and NATO countries, was my calling." "The struggle is constant. And you want to put people over profits, but at what point does it end? How do you do the right thing all the time?" "Careful to hire quick to fire. You have to know when the person is no longer right for your stage in your company or that stage in your life." “We’re [CEOs] doing the best we can with what we have” "I'd like to have a life. Please don't call me at 10 o'clock at night. I enjoy spending time with my significant other." “You know how to get ahead, you work for it” VALUABLE RESOURCES Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favourite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE GUEST Lisa Rosenthal is the CEO and co-founder of Mayvin. Through her focus on innovation in corporate culture and strategic leadership, Mayvin has achieved significant growth by penetrating new and emerging markets through a diversified client base CONUS and OCONUS supporting the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Justice.  Prior to starting Mayvin, she provided analytic, management, and operations support to DoD, DoE, the Intelligence Community, etc. etc.  Now, she hires the best and the brightest to serve national security interests at home and abroad. ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies.

There is more pressure than ever being put on CEOs in the world right now, from the financial crisis to the explosion of AI application in the workforce, it’s not easy. In this episode, Andrea talks about changing your mindset to help you deal with these challenges and offers some practical tips on what you can do to manage being a CEO in one of the most difficult periods in history. KEY TAKEAWAYS Being a CEO today is very different to the past, many CEOs aren’t hopeful for the future. Recent surveys reflect that CEOs are under intense scrutiny from employees and boards and many of them are struggling with this pressure. Some believe we need to reevaluate the role of a CEO in these modern and demanding times. If leaders and CEOs can challenge their own mindsets, particularly around perceived complexity, they will be able to tackle the many difficulties presented to them as a modern CEO. Challenge what you perceive as a fact, it may just be your perception and that means it can be changed. BEST MOMENTS "We’re really going to talk about the future of a CEO” “Being a CEO during these times, is not maybe viewed in the same way” “2023 is a nightmare for even the toughest leader” “It’s about changing your mindset in order to get a different possibility in your mind” “Most of the things you perceive as a fact are just interpretations” VALUABLE RESOURCES Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favourite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies.

Last year, Andrea interviewed Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, in one of his best episodes of 2022. They discussed the exciting energy transition happening in the industry and Lorenzo's perspective on navigating this change as a leader. Lorenzo stressed the need to pivot quickly, fail fast, and learn in order to adapt to constant change. He shared insights on building diverse teams, focusing on culture, effective communication, and empowering others. Lorenzo also advised aspiring leaders on self-awareness, taking feedback, and managing ambiguity. KEY TAKEAWAYS Energy is going through an exciting transition period that requires collaboration between stakeholders. Having a clear and easy-to-communicate strategy is key, but changing behaviours and culture is harder. Leaders must role model desired behaviours and make bold decisions to mobilise change. Pivoting quickly and failing fast is critical to adapting to constant change. Quiet, focused time is important for leaders to think strategically. Surround yourself with a diverse team willing to challenge you. BEST MOMENTS "It's a great time to be in energy. There is a fundamental tectonic shift and transformation occurring." "If you're going to be a good leader today, change is constant and actually looking at ambiguity as a strength." "The role of being a leader is more challenging today because of all the externalities that are happening." "No matter how confident you are...you will need a team that is with you, supporting you and aligned with you." VALUABLE RESOURCES Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favourite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies. Our guest this week: Lorenzo Simonelli is Chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes (NASDAQ:BKR). Baker Hughes is an energy technology company that combines innovation, expertise and scale to provide solutions for energy and industrial customers worldwide. Simonelli was named Chairman of the Board in October 2017 and has been President and CEO since the Company’s creation in 2017, where he oversaw the successful merger of GE Oil & Gas with Baker Hughes Inc. Since 2013, he served as President and CEO of GE Oil & Gas. Previously, Simonelli served as President and CEO of GE Transportation, a global transportation leader in the rail, mining, marine and energy storage industries. During his five-year tenure, he expanded and diversified GE Transportation by focusing on advanced technology manufacturing, intelligent control systems, and a diverse approach to new propulsion solutions. He has also served as CFO Americas for GE Consumer & Industrial, as well as General Manager, Product Management for GE Appliances, Lighting, Electrical Distribution and Motors. Simonelli joined GE’s Financial Management Program in 1994, where he worked on assignments in GE International, GE Shared Services, GE Oil & Gas, and Consolidated Financial Insurance. He currently serves on the Board of Iveco Group N.V. He served on the Board of C3.ai, Inc. from 2020-2021 and on the Board of CNH Industrial N.V. from 2019-2021. Originally from Tuscany, Italy, Simonelli is a Business & Economics Graduate from Cardiff University in South Wales. He is married and resides in Houston.  

Andrea shares the three key areas where balance is critical to your performance and skill as a leader. If you want to be as effective as possible and successfully lead then you need to learn how to confidently and competently do these three things. KEY TAKEAWAYS  Strong leaders learn how to confidently walk ‘the fine line’ in decision-making. You need to get the balance right between transparency and confidentiality, learning when it’s appropriate to share information. Where you are able to be transparent, you should always be so. Autonomy allows your team to think creatively and can be a great motivator but it’s essential you still offer the right level of guidance to your employees. Flexibility creates a positive work culture but you still need to drive standards within your team as a leader. BEST MOMENTS “Shall I intervene, should I make a. decision here, that’s always a question that leaders ask themselves” “Granting autonomy allows individuals tap into their creativity and motivation” “A balanced leader really understands when to be flexible and when to enforce accountability to drive results” VALUABLE RESOURCES Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies.

Andrea interviews Ollie Craddock, CEO of employee listening platform Runway, on this episode of World Class Leader Show. Ollie shares his experience leading multiple companies and how he helped grow Mind Tools to 20 million users. He explains how Rungway captures real-time employee feedback to help leaders understand problems and resistance to change. The continuous feedback loop provides psychological safety for employees to contribute ideas and accelerate decision-making. Ollie and Andrea discuss how technology like Rungway can enable culture change but still requires leaders to also role model openness. KEY TAKEAWAYS Rungway gathers ongoing employee feedback so leaders can address issues quickly before they become crises. It provides visibility into problems leaders may not see from the top floor. Leaders responding authentically to employee concerns builds psychological safety and fuels more participation. Vulnerable leadership creates a flywheel effect. Technology like Rungway enables culture change but isn't the complete solution. Senior leaders must role model openness and transparency for it to work. During major change, communicating the vision and involving employees in the journey is critical but challenging with remote/hybrid work. CEOs don't have all the answers. Good CEOs admit they don't know and empower teams to find solutions. Anonymity helps underrepresented groups feel safe speaking up. Overlooking their input means missing ideas and not hearing the full employee voice. BEST MOMENTS "If the senior team responds to that in a really human way, very quickly with the right tone, and that's where we help...that creates this kind of flywheel effect." "I don't think we'll ever return to the full, full-time in the office. I think that world is gone." "I would challenge any senior person who said they know everything because you don't." "Colleagues of color are three times more likely to post anonymously." VALUABLE RESOURCES Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE GUEST Ollie Lingwood Craddock https://www.linkedin.com/in/craddocko?originalSubdomain=uk ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies.

Having to fire people is one of the most difficult things a leader has to do but it's inevitable. In this episode, Andrea shares some better techniques to use when you need to terminate someone's employment, whilst having the minimal impact on their well-being and life. KEY TAKEAWAYS Every leader has the responsibility to fire people, even if they care about them. The consequence of firing is the same but how you do it is what shows your true leadership style and whether you care about people. Prepare people for bad news. Make sure your team are aware of financial difficulties that might impact them. Show empathy and show compassion when you are firing someone. Be proactively supportive of those you fire, with references, recommendations and introductions. BEST MOMENTS "Any organisation, any leader needs to face the current reality of getting rid of people” “If you care about people firing really kills you as a leader” “Firing is 100% predictable” “People can expect the worst so they can prepare a plan b earlier” “People are not a by-product of results, people are people” VALUABLE RESOURCES Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies.

 It may come as a surprise to learn that many CEOs suffer from imposter syndrome. In this episode, Andrea talks about this topic and the 4 main factors that contribute to the feelings of imposter syndrome and reveals a game-changing solution if you are feeling this way. KEY TAKEAWAYS CEOs have a large amount of responsibility but often no one to confide in or seek support from. Excessive standards for yourself, particularly around being professional can be detrimental to self-esteem and provoke feelings of inadequacy. CEOs and leaders can overly rely on external validation as they are held accountable for so much and spend a lot of time receiving feedback. Comparison and self-doubt can build up to create imposter syndrome. BEST MOMENTS "They might feel as if they don’t deserve their success” “The future self is the result of your thoughts” “You are better than the circumstances, you are better than what you see right now” VALUABLE RESOURCES Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies.

Andrea is joined by Alain Bejjani, former CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Group, an international diversified conglomerate with ventures in shopping mall ownership and operation, hotel ownership and operation, retail stores, leisure and entertainment centers, and mixed-use residential communities, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates with operations in the Middle East and Africa. He served as CEO from February 2015 until January 2023. Alain shares his stories and learnings from his 8-year tenure as a CEO including revealing how he rallied teams through disruptive change and unprecedented crises. Listen in to this episode to learn how to drive digital innovation, empower your people, adapt in turbulent times, and align business with purpose. Alain distils profound lessons on authentic leadership, cultivating organizational culture, and finding opportunities amidst challenge! KEY TAKEAWAYS Communicate a compelling vision and create a burning platform to drive change even when times are good. Invest early in digital capabilities and customer experience to future-proof your business. Build an empowering, people-first culture that gives ownership and purpose. Stay resilient by focusing on progress over perfection. Walk the talk - tough decisions on people and resources show your commitment. Lead authentically; don't put on a mask at work. Merge your personal and professional values. BEST MOMENTS "Rejection and failure are part of the entrepreneurial journey; persist through the no’s to get to the yes." "If Plan A doesn't work, the alphabet has 25 more letters. Stay persistent." "The way we lead our company is just as important as what our company does." "A crisis represents opportunity hidden in the challenge. Seize the chance to make changes not possible in normal times." VALUABLE RESOURCES The Big Leap Leaders Eat Last Principles by Ray Dalio Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE GUEST  Alain Bejjani is a Lebanese business executive. He was the CEO of the Majid Al Futtaim Group, an international diversified conglomerate with ventures in shopping mall ownership and operation, hotel ownership and operation, retail stores, leisure and entertainment centers, and mixed-use residential communities, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates with operations in the Middle East and Africa. He served as CEO from February 2015 until January 2023. Bejjani was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1973. He studied law at the University of Paris XII Val de Marne and the Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. In 2006, he joined the Majid Al Futtaim Group, where he held a number of senior positions. In 2014, he was appointed Chief Corporate Development Officer and Brand Officer. In 2015, he was appointed CEO. As CEO, Bejjani oversaw the growth of the Majid Al Futtaim Group into a global leader in the retail, leisure, and hospitality sectors. He also led the company's expansion into new markets, such as India and China. In 2023, he was replaced as CEO by Ahmed Galal Ismail. Bejjani is a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on the Future of Retail. He is also a board member of several companies, including the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies.      

Andrea has spent much of his life working away from home as a leader, a decision he does not regret and in this episode he reveals how transformative it was for both his career and himself as an individual. Andrea shares his personal experiences of living away from home and talks about the mindset and methods that he discovered through living this more nomadic lifestyle. Living abroad has been a gift to him, but the lessons are very useful for anyone who is managing a change or a transition in his/her career. Changing the place to work sometimes is as hard as changing the place to work. In this episode, he explores the impact of culture on work life and performance and gives advice on how we can adapt better in a country and a culture that is different to our own.   Eight Tips to Working Internationally Spend time learning about the country and the differences in culture, particularly in a work environment. Don’t take things for granted, ask for clarification on anything you are unsure on. Invest in your communication skills: It’s not simply about language but tone and body language too. Fitting in is an expectation from others. Adapt but stay true to your values. Don’t recreate your own country in your new ‘home’ make sure you build relationships and habits that are different to your home. Never forget your origins; your past, your friends, your country Be prepared to feel lonely. BEST MOMENTS “I spent 50% of my life living away from home” “There is no book or guideline to fitting into another culture” “It's better that you ask twice, not just assume” “What are you willing to sacrifice to have an experience that is transformational?” VALUABLE RESOURCES Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies.

Incredibly, female CEOs are still rare, so listen to this inspiring chat between Andrea and the illustrious CEO Cristina Scocchia. Hear how Cristina went from humble beginnings to leading major international companies through pivotal turnarounds including Proctor & Gamble, L'Oréal, Kiko Milano and now illycaffè. Cristina shares her unique leadership style, thoughts on diversity, and insights into achieving work-life balance as a mother and top executive. You’ll be motivated by Cristina’s passion for business ethics and commitment to building sustainable, purpose-driven brands.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Leadership means taking responsibility and caring for your people first. True leaders make tough decisions rationally, even under pressure, and communicate empathetically.   To grow a brand, win consumers' minds with functional benefits and their hearts with emotional benefits. Tell an authentic brand story that resonates. Seeking continuous improvement is positive. Complacency and status quo thinking limit growth. Challenge yourself and your team to get better daily. Meritocracy is key. Judge people based on talent and potential, not gender or background. Give everyone equal opportunities to prove their abilities. BEST MOMENTS "Leadership doesn't mean power. Leadership means responsibility. You need to care about your people first, and then you need to care about everything else after." "If you want to grow, you need to win consumers' minds and hearts. You need to talk to their minds with functional benefits and their hearts with emotional benefits." "I always see the glass half empty. I want to improve, but I don't enjoy what I achieve. If I could advise my 20-year-old self, I'd say ‘Appreciate and celebrate every success'". "Meritocracy is key. We need to evaluate people and give opportunities based on skills and talents, regardless of gender, background, or other factors." VALUABLE RESOURCES Like the show? Please leave or write a review on your favorite podcast platform! Let Andrea know your thoughts or share your comments via LinkedIn or via email For more information on Andrea’s work and access to other valuable resources, please visit the website    If you don’t want to miss any episode and receive the full article in your inbox, subscribe today to our blog Need more? Book a 30 min call here: https://calendly.com/andreapetrone/strategy-call-30. ABOUT THE GUEST  After graduating with full marks in Management of International Firms at Luigi Bocconi University, Cristina Scocchia completed a PhD in Business Administration at the University of Torino.  She started her career at Procter&Gamble, where since 1997 she held positions of increasing responsibility working on mature and emerging markets until she was appointed in 2012 as Cosmetics International Operations Division leader, with the responsibility of supervising the brands in her portfolio in over 70 countries throughout the world.  From 2014 to 2017, she served as Chief Executive Officer of L’Oréal Italia and she led the return to growth of the company in a challenging economic environment.  From July 2017 to December 2021, she acted as Chief Executive Officer of KIKO, a leading make up company that she has led to a successful turnaround thanks to a business plan based on product innovation, digital transformation and geographical expansion in Asia and the Middle East. Since January 2022 she is Chief Executive Officer of illycaffè.  Speaker and lecturer in many national and international conventions and conferences related to enterprise development, leadership, diversity and sustainability, Dr. Scocchia is also a member of the Board of Directors of EssilorLuxottica and Fincantieri of which she is also Chairman of the Nomination Committee. In June 2019 she was awarded the Legion d'Honneur. In 2022, Forbes and Fortune included her in the prestigious ranking of the most influential female leaders. ABOUT THE HOST My name is Andrea Petrone. I'm a Human Performance and Leadership Advisor, Executive Coach and International Speaker. I help leaders and their teams to change their mindsets and master their leadership capabilities so they can achieve extraordinary performance. I've been in the corporate world for more than 20 years working globally - in 6 countries and 3 continents - for medium-large companies.