Partnering Leadership

In this thought-provoking episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with futurist and strategist Dr. Mark van Rijmenam to explore how leaders can thrive in an era defined by exponential change. Known for his sharp insights into emerging technologies and their impact on society, van Rijmenam shares a grounded yet urgent view of the transformation reshaping every aspect of our world—from business and education to governance and human interaction.Van Rijmenam argues that the shifts underway are not just technological but also ecological and geopolitical, converging into what he calls a “tsunami of change.” Unlike past revolutions that unfolded over centuries, today’s convergence of AI, robotics, blockchain, quantum computing, and biotechnology is remaking industries and organizations in mere years. He urges leaders to recognize the pace and scale of disruption and to evolve their thinking beyond the limits of linear strategy.Throughout the conversation, van Rijmenam challenges executives to rethink traditional leadership models. Short-term metrics and hierarchical control, he warns, are relics of a slower age. To lead effectively in exponential times, leaders must decentralize decision-making, empower teams to act with trust, and adopt a long-term mindset that includes future generations in their calculus of success. The future will belong to those who can combine adaptability with ethical awareness—who understand not only what technology can do but what it should do.This discussion also dives into the human dimensions of the digital revolution. From reimagining education and lifelong learning to confronting the erosion of trust in a world of deepfakes and misinformation, van Rijmenam calls for a new kind of leadership—one that cultivates critical thinking and moral courage as much as technical fluency. His perspective is both sobering and optimistic: chaos is inevitable, but it can also be a catalyst for renewal if leaders are willing to reimagine how organizations and societies operate.Whether you’re leading a global enterprise or a mission-driven organization, this episode will expand your view of what it means to lead in exponential times—and why the leaders of tomorrow must become what van Rijmenam calls “architects of the future,” building systems that serve humanity as much as innovation.Actionable TakeawaysYou’ll learn why Mark van Rijmenam believes this era of transformation is unlike any in history—and why leaders who mistake exponential change for incremental evolution risk falling behind fast.Hear how the convergence of multiple technologies—not just AI—is creating a ripple effect that is reshaping industries and leadership itself.Discover what it takes to move from linear to exponential thinking, and why our evolutionary wiring makes that shift so difficult.Explore the limits of short-termism and why CEOs must adopt a long-term perspective that considers future generations, not just next-quarter results.Find out why traditional education models are failing to prepare the next generation—and what leaders can do to foster critical thinking and lifelong learning inside their organizations.Learn how decentralized decision-making and empowered cultures build resilience in times of disruption—and what happens to companies that cling to control.Hear the story of how one company’s culture of challenge and trust prevented a multimillion-dollar fraud—and what it reveals about leadership in the age of 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

What if the greatest leadership blind spot isn’t about people at all, but about the space between them?In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jim Ferrell, renowned leadership thinker and author of You and We: The Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership. Known for co-authoring the international bestseller Leadership and Self-Deception, Ferrell’s latest work shifts the lens from managing individuals to managing the relationships that determine whether strategies succeed or fail.Ferrell explains why execution often falters not inside functions, but at the seams — the handoffs, dependencies, and connections that link people, teams, and departments. He challenges leaders to rethink the org chart: while boxes and reporting lines are visible, the real value is created or lost in the white space between them. CEOs and boards who fail to see and lead that space risk blind spots, stalled strategies, and underperformance.In the conversation, Ferrell outlines a framework of “levels of connectivity” that helps leaders diagnose whether relationships are dividing, subtracting, siloed, multiplying, or compounding results. He shares why leaders at the top often get the worst data, how systems and incentives frequently reinforce silos, and what it takes to truly lead at the relational level.Whether you lead a global enterprise, a nonprofit, or a government agency, Ferrell’s insights invite you to rethink what leadership demands today: not simply inspiring individuals, but intentionally managing the relational field that drives execution, culture, and long-term performance.Actionable TakeawaysHear why execution fails most often at the seams, not inside the silos—and what this means for how leaders should focus their attention.Learn how to spot the blind spot on your org chart and why the white space between boxes matters more than the boxes themselves.Discover Jim Ferrell’s “levels of connectivity” and how each level determines whether relationships subtract value, add value, or compound it.Find out why CEOs at the top often receive the worst data—and what kind of leadership it takes to cultivate candor and real feedback.Explore how system design and incentives can quietly sabotage collaboration even among well-intentioned people.Understand how mapping connections across teams can reveal hidden risks and opportunities for acceleration.Learn practical moves senior leaders can make to strengthen critical relationships across teams, functions, and business units.Hear how leaders can build an organization where success is shared and compounded, rather than siloed and slowed.Connect with Jim FerrellJim Ferrell LinkedIn You and We Withiii Leadership 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 Benjamin Tasker, an AI learning strategist who has applied artificial intelligence to solve real-world challenges in healthcare and education. From predicting cancer risks in rural communities to improving student success rates through early intervention, Tasker has firsthand experience showing leaders how to harness AI for measurable impact.In their conversation, Tasker pulls back the curtain on what executives need to know before chasing the latest AI headlines. He challenges the idea that AI itself is the solution, underscoring that without clean, reliable data, even the most advanced systems will fail — and fail in ways that can damage trust, reputation, and long-term value.The discussion goes beyond the hype to explore the dual responsibility leaders face today: mastering the technical fundamentals that make AI work, while doubling down on the human skills that will differentiate leaders in an AI-enabled world. Tasker shares why empathy, communication, and decision-making under uncertainty will become more—not less—important as AI takes over more of the knowledge work inside organizations.Mahan and Ben also look ahead to the risks on the horizon, including what Tasker calls an inevitable “shock event” in AI — a moment that will test organizational resilience, stakeholder trust, and leadership credibility. The episode is packed with insights for CEOs and senior executives navigating AI’s potential and its pitfalls, making it essential listening for leaders committed to staying ahead in a rapidly shifting environment.Actionable TakeawaysHear why jumping into AI without a clear data strategy can undermine your entire initiative — and what leaders must fix first.Learn how Tasker helped predict cancer risk factors using AI and what that example reveals about solving complex organizational challenges.Discover why clean, structured, and trustworthy data is the true competitive advantage in AI adoption.Understand the balance between building AI-related technical skills and strengthening human leadership capabilities.Find out which human skills will define leadership success as AI becomes more deeply embedded in decision-making.Get Tasker’s take on the “AI shock” that could change public trust overnight and how leaders should prepare for it.Hear how universities and organizations need to shift from time-based credentialing to competency-based skill validation.Learn the steps Tasker recommends for creating a personal and organizational learning plan to stay ahead in the AI era.Connect with Benjamin TaskerBenjamin Tasker Website  Benjamin Tasker LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

What happens when the playbook for leadership no longer applies? In this thought-provoking conversation, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by futurist Steve Fisher and behavioral scientist Ja-Nae Duane, co-authors of Super Shifts: Transforming How We Live, Learn, and Work in the Age of Intelligence. With decades of experience in executive foresight, systems thinking, and organizational transformation, the duo brings clarity and urgency to what senior leaders must confront in this new era.Rather than relying on trend-chasing or tech hype, Fisher and Duane challenge leaders to understand the structural shifts reshaping leadership, work, and society. From AI-driven augmentation to generational drift and collapsing institutional trust, the conversation explores how exponential change is converging across systems—and why most organizations are woefully unprepared.What makes this episode stand out is its strategic lens on real leadership adaptation. The guests don’t just talk about what’s coming—they focus on how executives should respond. They offer a framework for leadership in the age of intelligence and make a powerful case for why foresight, anti-fragility, and systemic thinking aren’t optional—they’re now prerequisites.You’ll walk away from this episode with a deeper understanding of the nine “super shifts” shaping the future—and a sharpened sense of what your organization and leadership team must start doing now. If you’re serious about designing future-ready strategy and building adaptive leadership capability, this episode is essential listening.Actionable TakeawaysYou'll learn why your past leadership success patterns could now be liabilities—and what to do about itHear how to build anti-fragility into your team’s mindset, especially during uncertainty and disruptionYou'll explore the five traits of future-fit leadership, and why adaptability matters more than controlDiscover how to integrate AI not just as a tool—but as a collaborative force inside your teamHear why scenario planning must evolve into “spectrum foresight”—and how the best leaders are already using itYou'll be challenged to rethink your assumptions about leadership structure, generational norms, and centralized powerLearn what “the paralysis of the present” means—and how it silently stalls innovation at the highest levelsSee how real leaders are designing for flexibility at the system level—not just reacting to tech shiftsExplore ways to confront fear inside your organization—and turn it into a driver for learning and growthUnderstand why leaders who wait for certainty are falling behind—and what it takes to move without a mapConnect with Ja-Nae Duane and Steve FisherSuper Shifts Book Website Ja-Nae Duane LinkedIn Steve Fisher LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Most executives still chase superstar hires, assuming great individuals will automatically form great teams. In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Dr. Vanessa Druskat brings research depth and field-tested experience to make a different case. She is the author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest and a leading voice on how team norms drive performance. Her central claim is practical and testable. Outperformance comes from a clear system of team norms that reliably produce trust, candor, and real debate.Druskat explains why experienced leadership teams underdeliver even with strong résumés. Status and power dominate airtime. Quiet voices go unheard. The organization leaves talent on the table. Her work shows that ordinary teams become extraordinary when leaders codify the right norms, invite every voice, and convert distributed knowledge into better decisions.The episode organizes Team Emotional Intelligence into three buckets you can put to work fast. First, Belonging. People feel known, valued, and supported. Second, Learning Together. The team reviews what is working and what is not, and every voice participates in the analysis. Third, Outside In. The team seeks ideas and pressure tests beyond the group, including customers and friendly skeptics. Druskat ties these norms to psychological safety and faster, higher quality decisions, with concrete examples like 60-second check-ins, round-robins on live decisions, and five-minute debriefs.For time-pressed CEOs, the playbook is efficient. Start with an all-voices baseline to gauge current norms. Leaders often see a rosier picture than the team. Then pilot small behaviors in leadership meetings. Shift time from presenting to exchanging information and deciding. Add a short debrief after key moments. Druskat shares examples from executive teams and clinical settings where simple routines quickly lifted collaboration and results.She closes by tackling a stubborn myth. Hiring matters, but interactions matter more. Teams with average talent and superior norms outperform star teams with poor interactions. If your board expects speed, quality decisions, and execution, engineer the team’s operating system, not just its org chart.Actionable TakeawaysYou’ll learn a practical definition of Team Emotional Intelligence that senior leaders can measure and manage, not a feel-good idea.Hear how to use three buckets of norms to raise decision quality and execution speed. Belonging. Learning together. Outside in.You’ll learn a quick baseline method that surfaces blind spots by including every voice, not only senior voices.Hear how to convert meetings into decision labs. Less presenting to impress, more exchanging information and deciding.You’ll learn why five-minute debriefs after key moments create rapid learning without adding meeting bloat.Hear how to invite customers, operators, or a friendly skeptic to improve strategy accuracy and foresight.You’ll learn why teams that include every voice unlock more talent than teams focused on individual star power.Connect with Vanessa DruskatVanessa Druskat Website Vanessa Drustkat LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

What makes a great CEO today won’t be enough tomorrow. In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Carolyn Dewar, McKinsey Senior Partner and coauthor of A CEO for All Seasons—a practical, research-backed roadmap for leaders navigating the full arc of CEO leadership. Building on her global work advising top executives and the success of her previous bestseller CEO Excellence, Carolyn offers a candid, timely, and deeply strategic perspective on how CEOs can lead—and let go—with clarity, discipline, and impact.Carolyn and Mahan explore the four leadership “seasons” every CEO moves through: preparation, early tenure, sustained performance, and exit. But what sets this conversation apart is its real-world focus on what actually trips up leaders—misjudged transitions, misplaced confidence, and the false comfort of past success. This isn’t theoretical leadership advice—it’s practical insight shaped by years of advising CEOs and boards during high-stakes moments.What emerges is a compelling case for fit over familiarity, foresight over reaction, and reinvention over complacency. Carolyn makes it clear that the best CEOs aren't simply great strategists—they're great at timing, sequencing, and knowing when to shift or step aside. She shares stories of leaders who planned their exits with grace and those who stayed too long—and why boards often get it wrong.If you're a CEO, board member, or senior leader shaping the next phase of your organization, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership longevity and legacy. You’ll walk away with practical framing for making bold decisions and managing change—not just within your business, but within yourself.Actionable Takeaways• Hear how to recognize the brief “unfreezing moment” that gives new CEOs a rare chance to reshape direction, expectations, and ambition • Learn why even the most successful CEOs must reinvent themselves—or risk becoming the barrier to future growth • Discover why the best succession plans start in a CEO’s first year, not their last • You’ll learn how boards often default to “more of the same”—and why that mindset leads to costly misalignment • Explore Carolyn’s take on what only the CEO can and should do—and how over-functioning CEOs damage execution • Hear how some leaders design in tension—reverse mentors, red teams, bold advisors—to avoid echo chambers • Learn how to approach succession planning not as a person to pick, but as work to define • Find out what CEOs should leave behind in their final year—and what mistakes lock in poor transitions • You'll hear examples of how great CEOs sustain performance through S-curves while preparing for what’s next • Gain perspective on how Carolyn sees AI as a CEO’s partner, not a proxy for real leadershipConnect with Carolyn Dewar:A CEO for All Seasons Carolyn Dewar 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

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with David Gardner—legendary investor, co-founder of The Motley Fool, and author of Rule Breaker Investing. Over the past three decades, David has not only beaten the market—he’s reshaped how long-term investing is understood and practiced.David’s track record is extraordinary:He recommended Amazon in 1997 (up 86,000% since)Tesla in 2012 (up 80,000%)Netflix in 2004 (up 937,000%)And NVIDIA in 2005 (up a staggering 1.2 million percent)But what’s even more compelling is how he did it—and how those principles translate far beyond investing. David shares a deeply thoughtful approach to decision-making, pattern recognition, and long-term conviction that applies to business leaders, not just individual investors.The conversation ranges from why “indexing is the new active,” to how embracing joy, optimism, and curiosity has made him a better investor, entrepreneur, and human being. For CEOs and leaders navigating uncertainty, David’s blend of rigor, irreverence, and wisdom offers valuable takeaways on strategy, innovation, and leadership mindset.Whether you’re responsible for growing an organization or stewarding your own portfolio, this is a rare chance to learn from someone who’s played the long game—successfully, repeatedly, and with purpose.Actionable Takeaways Hear why most people invest backward—and how a “Rule Breaker” mindset flips the script.Learn the six traits David looks for in exponential companies—and how those same traits show up in standout leaders and teams.See why long-term thinking is the ultimate competitive moat—for investors and CEOs alike.Explore how optimism, when grounded in conviction, becomes a leadership advantage—not a liability.Understand how joy and playfulness build trust, culture, and long-term performance.Hear how David picked Amazon, Tesla, Netflix, and NVIDIA early—and why the key wasn’t spreadsheets, but belief in innovation and people.Discover why bold action beats cautious consensus—and how to reframe fear of failure into fuel for success.Get a behind-the-scenes look at how The Motley Fool disrupted financial services—and what it taught David about culture, mission, and momentum.Why the best investors and leaders ignore the crowd—and how to strengthen your internal compass.Connect with David GardnerDavid Garnder LinkedIn David Gardner X Rule Breaker Investing: How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World Rule Breaker Investing Podcast Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this compelling episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by one of the most sought-after advisors to Fortune 100 CEOs and boards—Ram Charan. Named “the most influential consultant alive” by Fortune, Charan draws on decades of boardroom experience and over 30 books—Execution, What the CEO Wants You to Know, The Amazon Management System, and more—to offer a timely and provocative leadership lens.As the global environment becomes permanently uncertain, Charan urges leaders to stop relying on outdated models of strategy and execution. Instead, he argues, CEOs must build adaptive systems—grounded in real-time data, rapid decision-making, and leadership accountability. And if you're still thinking of AI as a support tool rather than a core business model, you may already be falling behind.Throughout the conversation, Charan shares why execution—not strategy decks—is the true differentiator of high-performing organizations. He explains how to identify and elevate the top 2% of talent that drive exponential value. And he doesn’t shy away from calling out boards that repeatedly miss critical cues in CEO succession and pivot capability.This episode is essential listening for CEOs, senior executives, and board leaders who want a sharper edge in today’s environment. If you’re ready to rethink how your organization operates—and leads—in real time, Ram Charan offers a clear-eyed, actionable framework that cuts through the noise.Actionable Takeaways:Hear why Ram Charan believes uncertainty is now the default—and what that means for how leaders must think and act.Learn why strategy without execution is useless, and what it takes to lead execution at the pace of change.Discover how AI is becoming a business model, not just a technology platform—and what CEOs must do to embrace this shift.You'll learn how to identify and invest in your top 2% of talent—those who drive outsized returns in an AI-powered world.Hear how to build real-time execution systems that outperform lagging, traditional performance reviews.Explore why CEO succession often fails—and what boards consistently overlook in evaluating pivot capability.Gain insight into why fast feedback loops and live dashboards are now essential for senior teams and boards alike.Hear how Ram Charan thinks about amplifying imagination through AI, and why efficiency alone isn’t enough.Understand the behaviors that distinguish leaders who “get it” when it comes to execution, talent, and transformation.Connect with Ram CharanRam Charan Website Ram Charan LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website