Partnering Leadership
Mahan Tavakoli
Partnering Leadership is a top global podcast designed to help CEOs and senior leaders navigate the complexities of leadership, strategy, culture, and innovation. Hosted by Mahan Tavakoli—a seasoned leadership advisor with over 25 years of experience and recognized as a top thought leader in management—the podcast brings you real-world insights and practical advice to drive meaningful results.Mahan’s experience as a trusted advisor shapes each discussion, driving deeper insights that challenge conventional thinking and uncover innovative approaches. Drawing from his extensive advisory background, Mahan dives into candid conversations with purpose-driven CEOs and global thought leaders, exploring how they overcame their biggest challenges and achieved transformative success. Each episode provides actionable strategies, real-world examples, and proven approaches to help you navigate change, align teams, and drive lasting impact.Hear directly from top experts such as Ram Charan, Ken Blanchard, John Kotter, Stephen M.R. Covey, Hal Elrod, Carmine Gallo, Daniel Burrus, Garry Ridge, Jacob Morgan, Emily Field, Jonah Berger, Barbara Kellerman, Rich Diviney, Andrea Sampson, Ajay Agrawal, Dave Ulrich, Jerry Colonna, Renee Cummings, Brian Johnson, Warren Berger, Gustavo Razzetti, Azeem Azhar, David McRaney, Tim Clark, Jim Detert, Gary Bolles, Greg Satell, Robert Wolcott, Alden Mills, Minter Dial, Greg Wooldridge, Pete Steinberg, Joseph Fuller, Paul Roetzer, Whitney Johnson, Ron Adner, Bob Johansen, Leidy Klotz, Paul Smith, Louis Rosenberg, Rob Sadow, Dan Turchin, Steve Robinson, Park Howell, Mark Crowley, Maz Jobrani, LaTonya Wilkins, Rob Cross, Aiden McCullen, Eduardo Briceno, Jan Rutherford, Stephen Wunker, Charlene Li, Jon Levy, Anu Gupta, John Rossman, David Marquet, Tamsen Webster, Jack Phillips, Vanessa Bohns, Patrick McGinnis, Hakeem Oluseyi, Ed Hess, and Carolyn Dewar as well as renowned leaders like David Rubenstein, Jean Case, Tony Pierce, Linda Rabbitt, Paul Daugherty, Richard Bynum, John Veihmeyer, Howard Ross, Bill Novelli, Tien Wong, Stephanie Linnartz, Chuck Robb, Doug Dennerline, Charlene Drew Jarvis, Robert Rosenberg, Diane Hoskins, Deidre Paknad, David Gardner, and Marty Rodgers, and many more!Their insights, paired with Mahan's expertise, equip you to tackle complex challenges, foster a high-performance culture, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving world.Listen today to gain the tools, perspectives, and proven strategies that can transform your leadership journey. Available on all major podcast platforms or visit https://partneringleadership.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 10, 2023 • 40min
285 Leading with Empathy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence with Minter Dial | Partnering Leadership AI Global Thought Leader
Get ready for a fascinating conversation on artificial empathy and putting more heart into business and AI. In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Minter Dial, award-winning author and renowned international keynote speaker, shares insights from the significantly expanded and modified edition of his award-winning book Heartificial Empathy, 2nd Edition: Putting Heart into Business and Artificial Intelligence. In the conversation, Minter reflects on essential developments in artificial intelligence and the new context post-pandemic of the future of work. He shares why empathy can be a competitive advantage, how to cultivate it authentically in your organization, and the right mindset for leveraging AI. Minter Dial goes on to explain the evolution of AI and the rise of generative AI. He discusses the need for empathy in our lives and workplaces and how empathy and ethics must be intertwined in AI systems. You'll hear unique perspectives on how reading fiction develops empathy muscles and Minter's illuminating experience bonding with an empathetic AI named JJ.If you want to foster more meaningful connections and inject heart into your leadership and business, this episode is for you!Actionable TakeawaysHear how generative AI like ChatGPT reflects humanity based on the data we provide it.Learn why Minter focuses on embedding cognitive empathy versus emotional empathy in AI systems. Understand the difference between the deliverer and receiver of empathy.Discover how reading fiction helps build empathy by seeing through someone else's eyes. Find out why Minter believes we must get back to more human interactions versus purely digital relationships.Connect with Minter DialMinter Dial Website Minter Dial LinkedIn Heartificial Empathy: Putting Heart into Business and Artificial Intelligence Additional ConversationsLeading Through The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence with Professor Ajay Agrawal Exploring AI's Impact on Business with Paul Daugherty: Accenture CTO & Co-author of Radically Human: How New Technology Is Transforming Business and Shaping Our Future Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Oct 5, 2023 • 42min
284 Thursday Refresh with Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley: Simple Truths of Leadership, How to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley. Ken is the founder of the Ken Blanchard Companies and has co-authored more than 65 books on leadership, including all-time classics such as The One Minute Manager and Who Moved My Cheese, each with over 20 million copies sold. In this conversation, Ken Blanchard is joined by Randy Conley, Vice President of global professional services for the Ken Blanchard Companies. The discussion focuses on the leadership lessons from Ken Blancard and Randy Conley's latest book: Simple Truths of Leadership: 52 Ways to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust, which he co-wrote with Randy Conley. Ken and Randy share how to apply the leadership principles to build trust and become the kind of leader others would want to follow. Some Highlights:- Ken Blanchard on the impact of his upbringing on his leadership thinking and approach- Randy Conley on models for servant leadership- The importance of humility in leadership- Randy Conley on the complexity of leadership and the need to focus on fundamental principles- Ken Blanchard on how to build on your team's desire to contribute - Randy Conley on authenticity and its importance to servant leadership - Ken Blanchard on why "love" powers leadership- Randy Conley on extending trust - How leaders can encourage feedback from their teams- The ABCD model of trust - Ken Blanchard's breakdown of the servant leadership mindset- Putting situational leadership into practice- Ken Blanchard on having the reflective self versus the task-oriented self - Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley on the future of work Also mentioned in this episode:- Jim Collins, Level 5 Leadership- Garry O. Ridge, Chairman of the Board and chief executive officer of the WD-40 Company- Dale Carnegie, author- Rick Tate, author Books Mentioned:- Simple Truths of Leadership: 52 Ways to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust by Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley- The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson- The Power of Ethical Management by Ken Blanchard & Norman Vincent Peale- 10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times: Coaching Your Team Through Immense Change and Challenge by Ken Blanchard and Zig Ziglar- Everyone's a Coach by Ken Blanchard and Don Shula Connect with Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley:Ken Blanchard Official WebsiteRandy Conley’s BlogThe Ken Blanchard Companies on LinkedInThe Ken Blanchard on FacebookConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Oct 3, 2023 • 38min
283 Seeking Connection in a Divided World: Belonging, Bias, and Building Inclusive Cultures with Howard Ross | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, host Mahan Tavakoli reconnects with his longtime friend Howard Ross, renowned thought leader and author of the acclaimed books Our Search for Belonging: How Our Need to Connect is Tearing Us Apart and Everyday Bias: Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgments in Our Daily Lives. With over 25 years of collaborating to help organizations foster inclusion, they have a powerful discussion on Ross' motivations for driving positive change, his wisdom on belonging versus polarization, and practical ways leaders can sustain diversity progress. Some Actionable Takeaways:- Hear Howard Ross' guidance to leaders in balancing employee belonging with complex stakeholder needs.- Discover how storytelling and sharing narratives can strengthen connections and understanding.- Find out Howard Ross' perspective on political polarization, social media impacts, and having courageous conversations across divides.- Get Howard Ross' advice on sustaining organizational diversity progress rather than short-lived reactions.Recommended Resources: - Our Search for Belonging: How Our Need to Connect is Tearing Us Apart by Howard Ross- Everyday Bias: Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgments in Our Daily Lives by Howard Ross - Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald -Partnering Leadership conversation with Howard Ross on his leadership journey Connect with Howard Ross:Howard Ross Website Howard Ross on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Sep 26, 2023 • 54min
282 Why Vulnerability Matters in Leadership and How to Do it Well with Jacob Morgan | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Get ready to climb the mountain of vulnerability in leadership. In this engaging discussion with Jacob Morgan, author of Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization, you’ll learn why vulnerability plus leadership can transform organizations. In the conversation, Jacob Morgan shares his personal journey of grappling with vulnerability, from a childhood with a “tough guy” father to panic attacks while writing this transformative book. His research includes interviews with 100 CEOs and a survey of 14,000 employees worldwide. Hear Jacob Morgan’s insights on the ROI of leading with vulnerability, how to “level the playing field” between leaders and employees, and practical ways to get started on your vulnerability journey. You’ll be convinced that, with intention and when done well, vulnerability in leadership is a superpower. Some Actionable Takeaways:Learn the key distinction between vulnerability and leading with vulnerability.Hear why self-awareness is crucial for leading with vulnerability and how to become a more self-aware leader.Find out how leading with vulnerability can help you overcome imposter syndrome. Understand Jacob Morgan's metaphor of the "vulnerability mountain" and how to start small and build up to transform yourself and your organization.Learn why leading with vulnerability can "level the playing field" between leaders and employees. Understand the "Pratfall Effect" and its role in vulnerability in leadership.Connect with Jacob MorganJacob Morgan Website Jacob Morgan LinkedIn Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization on AmazonConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Sep 19, 2023 • 48min
281 Strategy in The Digital Age and Mastering Digital Transformation with Michael Lenox | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Are you strategic enough to survive the digital future? In this Partnering Leadership episode, global strategy expert Michael Lenox, UVA Professor and author of Strategy in the Digital Age: Mastering Digital Transformation shares indispensable insights to help leaders craft agile strategies in the age of AI. Drawing from decades of research and firsthand experience steering his own business school’s digital transformation, Mike Lenox reveals how to spot exponential change before it disrupts you, why strategy must drive technology (not vice versa), how to identify your unique competitive advantage, and the critical human skills machines will never replicate. If you’re anxious about AI, automation, and competing in the digital age, don’t miss Michael Lenox’s thoughtful perspectives and advice to help any organization build a strategy for long-term resilience.Some Actionable Takeaways:Learn why starting digital transformation with IT upgrades can run you into an iceberg quicker.Gain insights on monitoring technology adoption S-curves to see disruptive exponential change coming.Find out what competitive moves historically resilient companies make and how you can do the same.Discover how to empower “digital champions” throughout your organization to drive strategic adoption.Listen to discover which human skills will remain uniquely valuable in an AI-powered world.Learn how to combine judgment with data to avoid over-indexing on an unknowable future.Connect with Michael LenoxMichael Lenox Website Michael Lenox on LinkedIn Strategy in the Digital Age: Mastering Digital Transformation on Amazon ResourcesPartnering Leadership conversation with Ajay Agrawal on Prediction Machines and Power & Prediction Partnering Leadership conversation with Azeem Azhar on the Exponential Age Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Sep 12, 2023 • 1h 14min
280 The Impact of AI on Leadership & Unleashing AI’s Power for Good, Mahan Tavakoli interviewed by David Gardner on the Rule Breaker Investing Podcast | Partnering Leadership Conversation
This episode of Partnering Leadership features Mahan Tavakoli being interviewed on AI and its potential impact by David Gardner on the Rule Breaker Investing podcast. In the conversation, David and Mahan talk about the growing influence of artificial intelligence; they explore where we are on the AI exponential growth curve, how organizations can leverage AI strategically and operationally, and share predictions for AI's transformative impact and how individuals and organizations can take advantage of the opportunities ahead. Some of The Insights You will Gain from This Episode:Hear Mahan's answer to the question he has asked every one of his 250+ podcast guests (upbringing and its impact)Learn prompting strategies to unlock AI's true potential for your organizationFind out how to leverage AI to democratize information understanding, not just accessUse AI to future-proof your team through constant learning and skill development How AI could replace the web and change how you distribute informationLearn how to use AI to stress-test ideas and strengthen argumentsHear about resources to start experimenting with AI systems Recommended Resources:Partnering Leadership Conversation with Ajay Agrawal, coauthor of Prediction Machines and Power & PredictionPartnering Leadership Conversation with Paul Daugherty, coauthor of Human + Machine and Radically HumanPartnering Leadership Conversation with Azeem Azhar, author of The Exponential AgeRule Breaker Investing Podcast Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Sep 7, 2023 • 1h 7min
279 Thursday Refresh with Stephen M. R. Covey: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Stephen M.R. Covey. Stephen M.R. Covey is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Speed Of Trust, former CEO of Covey Leadership Center, and author of Trust And Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others. Stephen shares why many leaders are still operating with a command and control mindset and the need to develop the mindset and capabilities of becoming trusting and inspiring leaders. Stephen M.R. Covey shares stories and frameworks on how we can better understand trust in leadership and how trust and inspire leaders can unleash the potential of their teams and organizations. Some highlights:-Stephen M.R. Covey on the crucial role that parents play in teaching responsibility, commitment, and initiative and how his father, Stephen Covey, applied trust and inspire principles in his parenting-On why traditional leadership models do not work with the changing world and in the new work environment-Stephen M.R. Covey on the stewardships of leadership-How leaders can lead behavior change in their organizations -Stephen M.R. Covey on the role trust plays in leadership and how leaders can become more trusting -The power of inspiring others and its impact on leadership-What it takes to become a trust inspire leader Mentioned:- Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People- David Marquet (Listen to David Marquet episode on Partnering Leadership)- Frances Frei and Anne Morriss, author of Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader's Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You- Jim Collins, author of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't Connect with Stephen M.R. Covey:Trust and InspireTrust and Inspire on AmazonSpeed of Trust The Speed of Trust on AmazonStephen M.R. Covey on FacebookStephen M.R. Covey on TwitterStephen M.R. Covey on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Sep 5, 2023 • 45min
278 Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work with McKinsey Partner Emily Field | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Middle managers often get a bad rap, seen as roadblocks to change and innovation. But Emily Field flips this narrative on its head. As a McKinsey partner, Emily saw firsthand how empowering middle managers unlocks an organization’s potential. In this insightful interview, Emily Field, McKinsey & Company partner and coauthor of Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work, debunks the middle manager myth. Hear why managers, not senior execs, hold the keys to the future of work. Emily shares research on the untapped power of middle managers to drive strategy, culture, and innovation. With compelling stories and data, Emily reveals how organizations can rethink the manager role for the future. You’ll learn how to remove bureaucracy, rebundle work, and achieve the “yin and yang” of performance and people.By listening to this conversation, you willDiscover how managers, not senior execs, execute strategy day-to-day through their teams. Learn why managers are burning out from misaligned priorities and administrative burdens. Find out how to measure and incentivize both performance and people leadership. Hear how managers can “rebundle” roles to navigate automation and AI. Get Emily Field’s framework to eliminate bureaucracy. Recommended ResourcesMcKinsey & Company Power to the Middle Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work on Amazon Connect with Emily FieldEmily Field McKinsey & Company Emily Field LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Aug 29, 2023 • 53min
277 The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action with Eduardo Briceno | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Eduardo Briceño, author of The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action. In the discussion, Eduardo dives into the transformative power of a growth mindset and how we can apply it to unlock our potential. He shares how a crippling physical injury early in his career led him to Carol Dweck's pioneering work on a growth mindset. This proved life-changing for Eduardo, setting him on a path to teaching individuals, teams, and organizations how to break free of chronic stagnation. In the conversation, Eduardo Briceno explains the performance paradox, where focusing solely on performing without learning leads to poor results. He offers strategies for leaders to get their teams to embrace a growth mindset. Some of the Growth Mindset Takeaways That Will Get You Thinking:Why integrating micro-learning into daily work trumps sporadic learning sessions. Learn how to distinguish positive stretch mistakes from dangerous high-stakes ones. How leaders can model a growth mindset openly to influence their teams. The role a culture alignment and tweaking existing systems plays in helping teams adopt a growth mindset.The type of accountability that matters for both learning and performing. Connect with Eduardo BriceñoEduardo Briceno Website Eduardo Briceno LinkedIn The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action on Amazon Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Aug 22, 2023 • 33min
276 Selling Your Ideas Through the Power of Storytelling with John Livesay | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
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
