Partnering Leadership

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

In this thought-provoking conversation, former nuclear submarine commander and bestselling author David Marquet returns to the Partnering Leadership podcast to discuss the core ideas behind his new book: Distancing: How Great Leaders Reframe to Make Better Decisions. Known globally for Turn the Ship Around, Marquet once again challenges traditional leadership assumptions—this time taking aim at a problem many leaders don’t realize they have: they’re too close to their decisions.Drawing from cognitive psychology, real-world leadership failures, and hard-earned lessons from the military to the boardroom, Marquet introduces a powerful framework he calls “distancing.” At its core: the idea that our best decisions often require us to stop thinking like ourselves. Whether it's asking, “What would my replacement do?” or considering how a future version of yourself might evaluate today’s choice, Marquet offers tactical ways leaders can gain clarity, reduce bias, and improve judgment under pressure.Host Mahan Tavakoli guides the conversation toward the real-world application of these ideas, especially for senior executives navigating complexity, volatility, and the weight of past decisions. Marquet’s insights are sharp, often counterintuitive, and supported by both research and field-tested leadership practices.Rather than offering platitudes or yet another leadership model, this conversation digs into the cognitive traps leaders fall into—and how to build the mental discipline to lead with more perspective and fewer blind spots. If you’re responsible for high-stakes decisions, leading through uncertainty, or shaping organizational strategy, this episode delivers the kind of clarity that shifts how you think about thinking.Actionable TakeawaysYou’ll learn why “being present” isn’t always good advice—and how it can narrow your thinking at the worst possible timeHear how one shift in language (“What would you do if you were me?”) led to better decisions from Marquet’s submarine crew—and how it applies to leadership teams todayDiscover why ego isn’t about arrogance—it’s about how your brain rewrites reality to protect your self-imageLearn the three dimensions of strategic distancing—and how each one can improve executive judgment under pressureHear how asking “What would my replacement do?” helped Intel’s Andy Grove overcome years of legacy inertiaFind out why most retrospectives fall flat—and how to reframe them so people tell the truth without getting defensiveLearn how stress shortens your mental lens—and what leaders can do to create space (not just speed) in decision-makingExplore why decision hygiene matters more in volatile times—and what most leaders get wrong about intuitionYou’ll learn why leadership isn’t a conceptual exercise—and why Marquet compares it to learning a new languageHear the low-stakes practice Marquet recommends for building real-world empowerment habits—starting at your next restaurant mealConnect with David MarquetDavid Marquet Website David Marquet LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

What if the “panic habits” leaders default to are the very things burning out their best people? In this Partnering Leadership episode, Mita Mallick—author of The Devil Emails at Midnight—joins Mahan to unpack practical ways senior leaders can replace performative urgency with clear operating rules that people can trust. You will hear why bad bosses are made, not born, and how pressure from markets, role models, and personal crises can turn ordinary leaders into micromanagers.Mita gets specific about power dynamics. A 4:30 a.m. email from the CEO trains teams to jump, even when the intent is “no rush.” She explains how to set explicit after-hours rules and model them yourself. The goal is to stop the 4 a.m. back-and-forth and restore predictable rhythms for high-stakes work.Calendars signal culture. Mita argues for a deliberate meeting cleanse, real breaks, and protected one-on-ones. You will hear why “we are not AI agents,” why canceling a meeting can be the kindest move you make this week, and how simple touch points create loyalty.Leaders also get a playbook for honest feedback. Mita shares how to create safety, why alumni calls six to twelve months after someone leaves yield the most actionable insight, and how a short journaling habit helps you see patterns in your own behavior before they damage trust.Finally, Mita challenges a core assumption: most work is not life or death. Treating it that way creates burnout. She closes with a frank read on the broken employee–employer contract and a likely shift toward more consultant-style work, which makes clarity, expectations, and operating rules even more important for CEOs and boards.Actionable TakeawaysYou will learn how to set a clear after-hours rule that stops the 4 a.m. reply spiral, including what “urgent” actually means in your context.Hear how to replace micromanagement with outcomes and guardrails when life outside work feels out of control.You will learn why your calendar is your culture, and how a simple meeting cleanse reveals time for deep work and real one-on-ones.Hear how to protect one-on-ones without turning them into therapy. Mita shares a practical cadence and a simple check-in script that builds connection.You will learn a low-cost feedback system: invite coaching, thank in the moment, follow up with changes, and never hunt “who said what.”Hear how to get clearer truth with alumni calls six to twelve months after exit interviews, when the emotion is gone and facts are usable.You will learn to write simple hybrid rules that reduce proximity bias and make global teams feel fair and seen.Hear how to reset leader expectations about urgency and burnout, starting with this line: “Most of our work is not life or death.”You will learn why culture becomes the worst behavior you tolerate and how to intervene when disengagement starts to spiral.Hear how to prepare for a future with looser roles and project-based deployment, and why clarity and operating rules will be your retention edge.Connect with Mita MallickMita Mallick LinkedIn The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Ann Hiatt, Leadership Strategist & Consultant and Author of the book Bet on Yourself. Ann Hiatt shared the many lessons she learned while working alongside the world's top tech CEOs—Google's Eric Schmidt, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Yahoo's Marissa Meyer. In addition to the story of her reinvention, Ann Hiatt shared common practices and approaches of these and other top-performing leaders.    Some highlights:- Ann Hiatt on how she ended up working at Amazon and supporting Jeff Bezos- How Ann Hiatt handled the crisis when the helicopter she booked for Jeff Bezos ended up crashing- The leadership models, habits, thought processes Ann Hiatt learned from working closely with Jezz Bezos and Eric Schmidt- Ann Hiatt on how to hire people who are value-aligned and a good culture fit for your company- Why you should and how you can Bet on Yourself.  Also mentioned in this episode:-Jeff Bezos, Founder and Executive Chairman of Amazon-Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google-Andy Jassy, President and CEO of Amazon-John Doerr, Venture Capitalist at Kleiner Perkins, an early investor in companies including Amazon & Google, and OKR advocate  Book Recommendations:Bet on Yourself by Ann HiattMeasure What Matters by John Doerr Connect with Ann Hiatt:Bet on Yourself WebsiteAnn Hiatt on LinkedInAnn Hiatt on TwitterAnn Hiatt on InstagramAnn Hiatt on Facebook Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Justin Evans, an accomplished executive with experience at Microsoft, NBCUniversal, and Paramount, discusses the strategic power of data as a leadership tool. He emphasizes the importance of integrating data into decision-making without needing to be a data scientist. Evans shares innovative stories, such as using data to combat senior loneliness and unlocking growth through unused operational data. He advocates for a mindset shift, urging leaders to embrace data for purpose-driven impact, highlighting its role in shaping a more informed and innovative organizational culture.

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership.While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking.I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author.Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas.Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference.—MahanTrust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. CoveyCEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik MalhotraSimple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy ConleyLeading Change – John KotterHow to Lead – David RubensteinPrediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua GansThe Performance Paradox – Eduardo BriceñoHow Minds Change – David McRaneyHuman + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul SmithTurn the Ship Around! – L. David MarquetMagic Words – Jonah Berger"I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books."  Naval RavikantConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership.While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking.I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author.Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas.Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference.—MahanTrust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. CoveyCEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik MalhotraSimple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy ConleyLeading Change – John KotterHow to Lead – David RubensteinPrediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua GansThe Performance Paradox – Eduardo BriceñoHow Minds Change – David McRaneyHuman + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul SmithTurn the Ship Around! – L. David MarquetMagic Words – Jonah Berger"I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books."  Naval RavikantConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership.While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking.I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author.Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas.Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference.—MahanTrust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. CoveyCEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik MalhotraSimple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy ConleyLeading Change – John KotterHow to Lead – David RubensteinPrediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua GansThe Performance Paradox – Eduardo BriceñoHow Minds Change – David McRaneyHuman + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul SmithTurn the Ship Around! – L. David MarquetMagic Words – Jonah Berger"I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books."  Naval RavikantConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website