In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli hosts Andrea Sampson, an expert in strategic storytelling and the co-founder of Talk Boutique. Andrea Sampson talks about the fascinating intersection of brain science and storytelling, emphasizing why humans are hardwired to respond to stories. As an experienced speaker's coach for TEDx Toronto and a thought leader in her own right, Andrea shares her journey from the advertising world to helping change-makers communicate their ideas effectively. Andrea highlights the critical role storytelling plays in leadership and organizational success. She explains how stories, unlike mere data, engage multiple parts of the brain, making messages more memorable and impactful. Leaders are often trained to prioritize facts and figures, but Andrea argues that integrating storytelling into their communication strategies can significantly enhance their influence and connection with their audience. Throughout the conversation, Andrea underscores the importance of starting with a clear strategic message before crafting the narrative. She shares practical insights on how leaders can identify and refine their core messages, ensuring that their stories are not only engaging but also aligned with their organizational goals. By drawing on examples from iconic brands like Apple and Disney, Andrea illustrates how a singular focus can drive brand consistency and loyalty. Moreover, Andrea addresses the challenge of vulnerability in leadership. She advocates for sharing stories from a place of scars rather than wounds, enabling leaders to convey authenticity and empathy without retraumatizing themselves or their audience.  Actionable Takeaways: Discover the Brain Science Behind Storytelling: Understand why humans are neurologically hardwired to respond to stories and how this can be leveraged in leadership.Engage Multiple Parts of the Brain: Learn how integrating sensory details into your narratives can make your messages more memorable.Start with a Strategic Message: Hear why it's crucial to begin with a clear idea before crafting your story to ensure alignment with your goals.Embrace Vulnerability: Find out how sharing stories from a place of scars rather than wounds can enhance authenticity and connection.Consistency is Key: Learn from iconic brands like Apple and Disney on the importance of maintaining a singular focus in your storytelling.The Role of Community in Thought Leadership: Understand the importance of building a supportive community to amplify your personal brand and core message.Overcome Storytelling Fears: Hear how leaders can overcome the fear of storytelling by refining their skills and embracing their unique experiences.Practical Storytelling Techniques: Discover actionable tips on how to use storytelling to deliver difficult messages and inspire your team.Connect with the Andrea Sampson:Talk Boutique Website Andrea Sampson LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Anders Indset, a renowned business philosopher, leadership thinker, and author of The Viking Code. As organizations navigate the rapid rise of AI, economic volatility, and shifting workforce dynamics, Indset challenges leaders to rethink how they lead, make decisions, and create value in a world that increasingly rewards speed over wisdom.Drawing on insights from The Viking Code and his broader work on leadership and philosophy, Indset explores why many leaders today are trapped in reaction mode—constantly responding to crises instead of shaping the future. He argues that leadership must evolve beyond traditional models of efficiency and optimization, as AI will always outperform humans in those areas. Instead, he makes a compelling case for leaders to cultivate deep thinking, creativity, and the ability to balance trust with friction—elements that AI cannot replicate.Indset also introduces the idea of a “Declaration of Interdependence,” where leadership is no longer about individual success but the ability to foster collaboration, challenge assumptions, and navigate uncertainty. He breaks down how leaders can create high-performance cultures that embrace both collective intelligence and individual growth, ensuring that organizations don’t just keep up but stay ahead in an era of transformation.Throughout the conversation, Indset and Tavakoli dive into how CEOs and senior executives can develop the mental models, frameworks, and mindset shifts needed to lead effectively in the years ahead. Actionable Takeaways:🔹 The Leadership Crisis: Why Most Executives Are Stuck in Reaction Mode – Hear why instant decision-making is overvalued, and why deep thinking and reflection are the new competitive edge.🔹 The Optimization Trap – Discover why chasing efficiency is a losing game for human leaders—and where real leadership value lies in an AI-driven world.🔹 Beyond Individualism: The Declaration of Interdependence – Learn why collaboration, trust, and friction are the key leadership forces shaping high-performing teams.🔹 The Future Won’t Wait—How Leaders Must Anticipate, Not React – Find out why leaders who think in scenarios and prepare for multiple futures will outlast those who rely on past strategies.🔹 Teaching People How to Think, Not What to Think – Explore how education and corporate training have failed to create adaptable leaders, and what needs to change.🔹 Trust + Friction = Innovation – Hear why leaders must create environments where disagreement is encouraged, rather than feared.🔹 How to Become an Uncatchable – Learn how elite leaders and organizations stay ahead by constantly learning, evolving, and thinking beyond their industry norms.🔹 Why Leaders Must Prioritize Meaning Over Metrics – Understand why purpose, culture, and human insight matter more than data-driven decision-making alone.Connect with Anders IndsetAnders Indset Website Anders Indset LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

What separates truly exceptional leaders from the rest? According to Kurt Strovink, it’s not just strategy, execution, or decision-making—it’s the ability to lead from within. As a senior partner at McKinsey & Company and a global advisor to CEOs, Kurt has spent decades studying the patterns of the most successful executives. In his latest book, The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out, he reveals what the best leaders do differently and why self-awareness is at the core of transformative leadership.In this insightful conversation, Kurt unpacks the critical contradictions every CEO must navigate—balancing short-term and long-term priorities, managing gut instincts with data-driven analysis, and fostering trust while making tough calls. He also explores the human-centric aspects of leadership, showing why the most effective CEOs focus not just on financial performance but on culture, dissent, and psychological safety to drive long-term success.Mahan Tavakoli and Kurt also discuss practical frameworks for leadership development, including how CEOs can create cultures that encourage truth-telling, manage their energy instead of just their time, and make bold decisions that define their legacies. Drawing on insights from 500+ CEO forums and top leaders worldwide, Kurt shares the strategies that help executives avoid common pitfalls and unlock their full leadership potential.Actionable Takeaways from This EpisodeYou'll learn why leading others starts with leading yourself—and how the best CEOs develop self-awareness as a core leadership skill.Hear how top leaders institutionalize truth-telling and dissent within their organizations to avoid blind spots and drive better decision-making.Find out why managing energy is just as important as managing time—and how CEOs structure their schedules for peak performance.Discover how to make bold, differentiating moves early in your leadership tenure to set the tone for lasting impact.Learn why the most effective CEOs challenge their own organizations like an activist investor, forcing teams to rethink assumptions and drive transformation.Explore the power of leadership storytelling—how CEOs use analogies and language to shape culture and inspire action.Uncover strategies for navigating the inevitable contradictions of leadership—short-term vs. long-term, data vs. intuition, and control vs. delegation.Hear how great CEOs build leadership factories, ensuring a pipeline of strong leaders while avoiding the distractions of succession politics.Understand why the best leaders don’t just execute strategy—they create the conditions for others to thrive and innovate.Find out when it’s time to step away and transition leadership—and how great CEOs prepare for what’s next.Connect with Kurt StrovinkKurt Strovink LinkedIn Kurt Strovink McKinsey & Company The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Culture is often cited as a competitive advantage, yet many leaders fail to shape it with intention. In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Chris Dyer, a globally recognized company culture expert and the author of The Power of Company Culture. With years of hands-on experience advising leaders on how to build high-performance organizations, Chris shares why most leaders think they have a great culture—until cracks begin to show.Many executives believe culture is about mission statements, values, and engagement surveys—but Chris breaks down why it’s really about what leadership tolerates, ignores, and reinforces on a daily basis. Through sharp insights and real-world examples, he reveals the biggest blind spots CEOs and leadership teams have when it comes to culture and why those blind spots can lead to disengaged employees, stalled innovation, and underperformance.Rather than offering theoretical concepts, Chris lays out practical, high-impact shifts that any leader can implement—starting with transparency, accountability, and a relentless focus on amplifying what’s working instead of constantly fixing what’s broken. He also challenges leaders to rethink how they approach mistakes, talent retention, and performance management, emphasizing that protecting top performers is just as critical—if not more—than managing struggling employees.This conversation is packed with actionable leadership insights that go beyond culture as a buzzword and get into how leaders can build workplaces that drive engagement, innovation, and results. Whether you're leading a fast-growing company or steering an established organization through transformation, this episode will leave you with immediately applicable strategies to strengthen your leadership and build a culture that delivers.Actionable Takeaways from This Episode:The biggest culture myth leaders believe—and why it’s costing their organizations talent, engagement, and innovation.Why culture isn’t defined by what leaders say—but by what they tolerate, reinforce, and ignore.The 1% culture shift that compounds into massive organizational change—and why most leaders overlook it.How transparency can be a leadership superpower—and why withholding information creates disengaged teams.The accountability mistake that erodes culture—and what great leaders do differently.Why most organizations spend too much time fixing underperformers—and how to build a culture that protects and empowers top performers.The difference between a mistake and an error—and why knowing this distinction is essential for driving innovation.How the best cultures don’t happen by accident—and the leadership habits that create lasting impact.What leaders should focus on instead of “fixing” culture—and how to measure real progress.A simple but powerful reflection every CEO and executive team should ask themselves about their culture.Connect with Chris DyerChris Dyer Website Chris Dyer LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Steve Cadigan, renowned talent strategist, leadership advisor, and author of the acclaimed book Workquake. Steve brings decades of experience shaping talent strategies for some of the most innovative companies in the world, including Cisco, Electronic Arts, and LinkedIn, where he played a pivotal role as the company’s first Chief HR Officer during its meteoric rise.Steve Cadigan explores the seismic shifts reshaping the workplace, from the unprecedented power shift toward employees to the increasing necessity for organizations to embrace agility in a high-turnover world. In a lively and insightful conversation, he challenges traditional leadership paradigms, emphasizing the importance of rethinking outdated systems designed for a workforce that no longer exists. Whether it's hiring for potential, fostering cultures of continuous learning, or preparing for the impacts of AI, Steve delivers actionable strategies for CEOs and senior executives navigating the future of work.As the world moves at an accelerating pace, Steve highlights the critical need for organizations to adapt to the realities of shorter employee tenure and heightened workforce expectations. He shares stories and examples from his extensive career to illustrate how leaders can position their organizations to thrive by creating environments where people want to stay—not because they have to, but because they’re inspired to.Actionable Takeaways"You'll learn why the war for talent is over—and why talent has already won." Hear Steve Cadigan explain how the power dynamic has shifted to employees and what leaders must do to create an environment where people want to stay."Discover why long-term employee tenure is a thing of the past." Explore how leaders can move away from outdated systems and embrace agile workforce strategies for a high-turnover reality."Hear how to attract top talent without relying on higher salaries or perks." Learn why building a culture of meaningful work and belonging is the ultimate competitive advantage in today’s job market."Find out why hiring for potential beats hiring for experience." Steve shares why adaptability and learning velocity are more valuable than traditional resumes in a fast-changing world."Explore how leaders can thrive in high-turnover environments." Steve reveals strategies used by innovative companies like Google and Tesla to foster creativity and innovation despite short employee tenures."Learn how to build alumni networks that amplify your brand." Discover why staying connected with former employees is a powerful strategy for recruitment, collaboration, and long-term success."Uncover the true role of AI in reshaping work." Hear why AI should be used to enhance jobs and unlock human creativity rather than simply cutting costs and headcount."Get actionable insights on fostering learning ecosystems." Steve discusses how organizations can invest in continuous learning to remain competitive and retain talent."Understand the importance of rewriting job descriptions for today’s workforce." Learn how to craft roles that inspire candidates and reflect the dynamic realities of modern work."Discover why culture is the most powerful recruiting tool you have." Steve emphasizes the importance of creating workplaces where people feelConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

John Livesay, The Pitch Whisperer and author of best-selling books, including Better Selling Through Storytelling and The Sale is In the Tale, joins Mahan Tavakoli on the Partnering Leadership podcast to share his insights on storytelling for leaders. In the conversation, John Livesay shares practical techniques to craft compelling stories that motivate teams, win business, and drive change.  Additionally, John provides memorable examples and easy-to-apply storytelling frameworks, including the 3Cs model and four-part story structure. Storytelling Takeaways from This Episode:- Telling your origin story and values-in-action stories to establish trust - Structuring pitches around client-focused stories, not just facts- Using analogies and vulnerability to smoothly guide teams through change- Capturing relatable stories from your team to build connection and brand loyalty- Applying the "5-5-5" model to reframe challenges and build resilience rapidly- Practicing consistently to hone your skills as a persuasive communicator  Connect with John Livesay John Livesay WebsiteJohn Livesay on LinkedInThe Sale is In the Tale on Amazon Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this insightful episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli welcomes James Lawrence, a seasoned entrepreneur, leadership expert, and the driving force behind Happy Companies. With a dynamic career that includes founding multiple successful businesses, James has developed a passion for blending behavioral science, leadership, and innovative technology to create stronger, more aligned organizations. As the co-creator of Happy Companies, an AI-powered coaching platform, James shares his expertise on democratizing leadership development, creating meaningful manager-employee relationships, and building cultures where people and productivity thrive.In this engaging conversation, James reflects on the critical role of emotional intelligence in leadership and why he believes the relationship between a manager and their employee is the single most important factor in an organization’s success. He also shares personal leadership lessons, revealing the mistakes he made early in his career and how he transformed his approach to focus on individual team members’ unique strengths and motivations. From adapting leadership styles to investing in your people, James delivers a treasure trove of actionable insights for senior executives seeking to build lasting organizational impact.James also delves into the power of technology in leadership, explaining how Happy Companies leverages AI to provide real-time, personalized coaching for every employee in an organization. He challenges traditional notions of coaching as exclusive to senior leaders and instead advocates for a holistic approach that empowers every individual to grow. Throughout the episode, James shares practical advice and thought-provoking perspectives that will inspire leaders to rethink how they build and lead their teams.Actionable TakeawaysHear why the manager-employee relationship is the most critical driver of engagement, satisfaction, and organizational success—and how to strengthen it.Discover the fatal leadership mistake of assuming everyone works and thrives like you do, and learn how to adapt your approach to individual team members.Explore how James transformed his leadership style by understanding what truly motivates his team—and how you can do the same.Learn how to assess whether you have the right people on your team and in the right roles by focusing on motivation, capability, and alignment.Hear how AI is democratizing coaching, making leadership development accessible to every employee—not just senior executives.Find out why traditional approaches to coaching fail to scale and how Happy Companies bridges the gap with real-time, personalized insights.Understand why building a people-first culture is the key to long-term organizational success and how leaders can invest in their team without overcomplicating processes.Hear James’s thoughts on adapting to the new workforce mindset and why flexibility, autonomy, and trust are essential for today’s leaders.Learn why personal growth and development are ultimately the responsibility of the individual—and how leaders can foster that ownership within their teams.Uncover James’s practical advice for tackling leadership challenges, from remote work dynamics to aligning organizational culture with technology adoption.Connect with James LawrenceHappy Companies James Lawrence LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this compelling episode of Partnering Leadership, host Mahan Tavakoli dives into a fascinating conversation with Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter, authors of Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future. As leaders at Stanford's d.school, Scott and Carissa bring a wealth of expertise on design thinking, adaptability, and systems thinking that is uniquely relevant for CEOs and senior executives facing today’s complex challenges. Their insights are a timely reminder of the importance of embracing curiosity, imperfection, and collaboration to lead effectively in a fast-changing world.Throughout the conversation, Scott and Carissa reveal how design principles can transform the way leaders think, act, and guide their teams. They delve into practical strategies for noticing what others might miss, addressing systemic challenges, and preparing for uncertainty. Their unique perspectives on shaping leadership in turbulent times challenge conventional approaches and inspire listeners to adopt new mindsets that drive innovation and adaptability.As the conversation unfolds, Scott and Carissa explore topics like “shape-shifting” leadership, balancing confidence with curiosity, and harnessing discomfort as a powerful design tool. They share practical advice and real-world examples, making the conversation rich with actionable insights. Whether you’re looking to improve your team’s creativity, foster systems thinking, or simply become a more intentional leader, this episode offers ideas and strategies you can apply immediately.Actionable Takeaways:Hear how curiosity—not certainty—can redefine leadership confidence and lead to more adaptable and innovative decision-making.Discover why “noticing the unseen” is a critical skill for leaders, and learn how to develop this often-overlooked ability.Find out how to use shape-shifting leadership techniques to adapt your style to different situations and inspire your team in new ways.Learn why embracing imperfection is essential in complex systems and how leaders can balance risk with resilience.Hear Scott’s take on how lowering cognitive load for your team can unlock creativity and drive better problem-solving.Unpack the surprising role of emotions in leadership decision-making and how acknowledging emotional triggers can lead to better choices.Explore Carissa’s approach to leveraging discomfort as a design tool to find hidden opportunities and innovate in uncertain environments.Find out why focusing on multiple perspectives, or “many Norths,” can help leaders tackle today’s messy, interconnected challenges.Discover how to make time for reflection and intentional noticing in an always-on, fast-paced work environment—and why it pays off exponentially.Understand how to prepare your organization for the ripple effects of change by designing for healing and adaptability.Connect with Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter:Stanford d. School Website Scott Doorley LinkedIn Carissa Carter LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli engages in a powerful conversation with Lior Arussy, renowned author, speaker, and expert in organizational transformation and customer experience. Lior is the author of the thought-provoking book Dare to Author: Take Charge of the Narrative of Your Life. In this episode, he brings his compelling insights to life, challenging leaders to rethink how they approach storytelling, organizational change, and leadership in an era of rapid disruption.Lior shares his journey of discovering the power of stories—not just in shaping customer experiences but in transforming individual and organizational mindsets. Drawing on decades of working with global companies, he unpacks why so many people resist change, how leaders can overcome that resistance, and why the ability to craft and evolve personal and organizational narratives is critical for thriving in uncertainty.Listeners will be inspired by Lior's insights on how leaders can empower their teams to embrace change without feeling judged, how to separate purpose from tools to drive transformation, and why storytelling is no longer a nice-to-have skill but a necessity for effective leadership. His approach combines practical frameworks with deeply human insights, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking to unlock their team’s potential and elevate their leadership impact.From redefining leadership as navigating the unknown to exploring how gratitude fuels resilience and innovation, this conversation is rich with actionable ideas. Actionable Takeaways:You’ll learn why storytelling is not just a communication tool but a leadership necessity in driving transformation and engagement.Hear how to overcome resistance to change by reframing it as evolution rather than judgment of past efforts.Discover why separating purpose from tools can help you and your team embrace innovation with less fear and more confidence.Gain insights into why victimhood is a choice—and how to rise to the higher version of yourself as a leader.Learn the surprising connection between gratitude and resilience, and how embracing gratitude can fuel your team’s energy for change.Understand why the leadership practices you inherited 30 years ago may no longer serve you in today’s fast-paced, dynamic workplace.Explore the concept of cultural readiness and why leaders must take responsibility for their organization’s capacity to adapt and thrive.Find out why perfectionism paralyzes teams—and how to give your people permission to experiment and innovate.Hear why the biggest companies miss the biggest trends and how to avoid the ‘best practices trap.’Learn how to author your own leadership story and turn past successes and failures into tools for future growth.Connect with the Lior ArussyLior Arussy Website Lior Arussy LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this insightful episode of Partnering Leadership, host Mahan Tavakoli welcomes back world-renowned futurist, best-selling author, and innovation expert Daniel Burrus. Known for his groundbreaking book The Anticipatory Organization, Daniel has spent decades helping leaders navigate transformative change by teaching them to anticipate disruptions and turn them into opportunities. As the author of numerous reports on hard trends and future technologies, including his latest on the hard trends shaping 2025 and beyond, Daniel offers a unique blend of clarity, practicality, and vision for leaders striving to stay ahead in a fast-changing world.Daniel begins by distinguishing between two types of trends—hard trends, which are future certainties, and soft trends, which are based on assumptions. This crucial framework empowers leaders to confidently identify opportunities and mitigate risks. Through compelling examples, Daniel explains how focusing on hard trends enables organizations to shift from reactive crisis management to proactive opportunity management, transforming challenges into competitive advantages.The conversation also dives into the productivity revolution fueled by generative AI, digital twins, and other technological advancements that are reshaping industries at exponential speeds. Daniel shares how leaders can harness these tools—not as overwhelming innovations but as accessible enablers of growth and transformation. His actionable insights will help listeners uncover opportunities, refine focus, and elevate their organizations’ relevance in a time of disruption.Finally, Daniel challenges leaders to embrace the mindset of a positive disruptor. With a sharp focus on innovation, clarity in decision-making, and the courage to lead transformations and he emphasizes the importance of becoming an anticipatory leader. Actionable Takeaways:Hear how distinguishing between hard and soft trends can revolutionize your strategic planning by revealing certainties and shaping possibilities.Learn why focusing on one area of transformation can unlock hidden opportunities and drive exponential results.Discover how generative AI is driving a productivity revolution—and what leaders must do to harness its potential for their teams.Explore the power of digital twins in testing, predicting, and solving problems before they happen, saving time and resources.Find out why waiting for your competitors to disrupt you is a recipe for failure—and how to proactively disrupt yourself.Hear Daniel’s framework for refining overwhelming choices into actionable opportunities with maximum impact.Learn how to combine trends like AI, robotics, and augmented reality to create transformative solutions for your organization.Gain insight into why the boundaries between industries are breaking down—and how leaders can leverage cross-industry innovation.Discover the leadership mindset required to move from reactive agility to anticipatory decision-making in a time of exponential change.Understand how augmented thinking—where AI enhances human cognition—will shape the future of leadership and decision-making.Connect with the Daniel Burrus:Daniel Burrus Website Daniel Burrus LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website