Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can transform the future of work and leadership. Mahan first addresses the hype around AI and urges caution while also mentioning the long-term transformative impact of AI on organizations and the future of work. Next, Mahan shares why he believes the future of work will be an augmented one where human intelligence will be augmented through the use of Artificial Intelligence. Then, to help listeners visualize the potential applications of AI, Mahan shares ten AI tools and their current applications. Finally, Mahan reiterates the exponential changes that we will see as a result of AI and urges listeners to look at potential uses of AI in their organizations and daily workflow, highlighting the many more Partnering Leadership conversations with leading practitioners and thinkers in AI ahead.  Some highlights:- Why we should be mindful of the hype cycle and stay focused on the substantial changes brought about by the use of artificial intelligence  - The side hustle phenomenon around ChatGPT- How using AI tools can help us see potential applications for augmenting our work and leading our teams and organizations - Why AI will be more transformative than the internet - Ten AI tools for possible experimentation- Mahan on why the future of work is going to be augmented with AIMentioned:Partnering Leadership podcast conversation with Dan Turchin, CEO of PeopleReign and host of AI and the Future of Work PodcastAI tools:Notion: a single space where you can think, write, and plan. Tome : AI-Powered Storytelling App creating visually stunning and engaging presentations with easeSpirit Me: Instant video production with digital avatarsAskAI: Build your own AI Q&A with any content in minutesWithDelphi: Talk to your favorite expertsJasper: AI Copywriter and content generatorTool Tips: Get simple, contextual explanations of any highlighted text on the web and PDFsRationale: AI decision-making toolFireflies: AI meeting assistant Boomy: AI generative music creatorConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Caren Kenney. Caren Kenney is the CEO and Founder of Evolve Leadership and coauthor of Leading with Character: 10 Minutes a Day to a Brilliant Legacy. In the conversation, Caren shared why she cofounded a business focused on wellness and mental health, which was then bought by Johnson & Johnson and became part of their Human Performance Institute. Next, Caren Kenney spoke about how leaders can develop their skills and become more capable leaders and balance that with their emotional well-being to avoid burnout. Caren Kenney shared why character can be developed like a muscle and how leaders can better develop their leadership character. Finally, Caren Kenney shared thoughts on how leaders can build their purpose in alignment with their organization's purpose for better results with less anxiety and pressure.  Some Highlights:-How Caren Kenney's personal challenges made her a better leader by increasing her empathy and understanding of people -Cofounding a business focused on developing digital health coaching programs for people with mental health issues.-Caren Kenney on the importance of leading with character, having a growth mindset, and maintaining emotional well-being and flexibility-How to better tap into our experiences to better understand and relate to others.-How leaders can communicate to build greater trust, and collaboration in their teams and organizations-Caren Kenney on creating an environment of trust and respect to encourage open dialogue and collaboration.-The importance of aligning personal purpose with organizational purpose-Why leaders are feeling more anxiety and stress than ever before and what to do about it-Caren Kenney on practices that contribute to improvement in mental health and well-being of leaders-The most significant contributors to imposter syndrome and how to overcome them Connect with Caren Kenney:Evolve Leadership Website Caren Kenney on LinkedIn Leading with Character on Amazon Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Debbi Jarvis, Vice President & Chief Communications Officer at AltaGas.  Debbi Jarvis talked about the impact of her upbringing as a Midwestern girl from Kalamazoo, Michigan. How her sales career led her to pursue journalism and becoming a TV anchor, eventually bringing her to Washington, DC. Debbi Jarvis went on to share about her transition to Pepco, why she was asked to start a Corporate Social Responsibility group while there, and the need for CSR in organizations. Debbi Jarvis eventually went on to create Howard University's Office of Corporate Relations to focus on corporate relationship building and then was recruited as Chief Communications Officer of AltaGas, responsible for all corporate communications functions, focusing on the design and execution of a multifaceted communications strategy to promote Washington Gas and the broader AltaGas enterprise. Finally, Debbi shared the need for community engagement for leaders and organizations and how she prioritizes her community involvement to have the most significant impact possible.  Some Highlights:- Debbi Jarvis on how she ended up in sales and the lessons learned from her early sales career- Cheerleading in roles, including as a professional cheerleader for the Cincinnati Bengals- Transferring sales skills to the newsroom and becoming an anchor- Debbi Jarvis on her move to DC, interviewing Charlene Drew Jarvis and meeting Ernie Jarvis- Helping establish Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Pepco- Establishing Howard University's Office of Corporate Relations to focus on corporate relationship building - Communications at Washington Gas (AltaGas)- Why and how to prioritize needs in the communityMentioned:Partnering Leadership conversation with Dr. Charlene Drew JarvisPartnering Leadership conversation with Ernie Jarvis Connect with Debbi Jarvis:Debbi Jarvis on 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 Dan Turchin. Dan Turchin is the CEO of the AI company PeopleReign and host of the podcast AI & The Future of Work. First, Dan shared thoughts on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Silicon Valley and the potential of hybrid or fully remote work in organizations. Next, Dan Turchin mentioned a Worknet future where organizations hire the best talent and create a fluid work structure. The conversation then turned to AI advancements and applications in organizations, including PeopleReign, the world's smartest virtual agent for IT and HR employee service. Dan Turchin also shared his thought on why humanity and empathy are essential in the age of AI. Finally, Dan shared potential applications of AI in the workplace and resources for organizational leaders to stay on top of the fast-moving developments in the field.  Some Highlights:- The impact of remote work on the tech ecosystem and the future of work- The necessity to rethink education and invest in human skills as a - Dan Turchin on the impact of AI on the future of work- How AI can enhance employee productivity- The vision behind PeopleReign, the intelligent virtual agent for IT and HR employee services - Dan Turchin on the Turning Test and whether it's still relevant- The potential of AI technologies to benefit humans- The need to set guardrails for AI to ensure responsible AI practices- Limitations of AI technology and the need for responsible use, including facial recognition- Dan Turchin on the use of AI for augmenting human intelligence- The power of data and the power of algorithms to make human life better- What organizations and policymakers need to consider before blessing AI models and sending them off into the wild Mentioned in the episode:Partnering Leadership conversation with Gary Bolles on The Future of WorkPartnering Leadership conversation with John Rossman on The Amazon WayPartnering Leadership conversation with Ed Hess on How to Adapt to the Speed of ChangePartnering Leadership conversation with Tom Tully on Artificial Intelligence BasicsPartnering Leadership episode on The Future is Now: Open AI's Chat GPT and the Exponential Changes AheadPartnering Leadership episode on Three mindsets of Top CEOs, Thoughts on Team Alignment & Collaboration, and a StrategConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Khari Brown, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Spark the Journey. In the conversation, Khari Brown shared the impact of his upbringing, what drew him to basketball, and the leadership lessons he learned in playing the game.    Khari shared the origin of his passion for educating youth and his involvement in Capital Partners for Education, rebranded last year as Spark the Journey. Khari Brown talked about the impact of the organization and the need for the community to rethink the approach to education for greater equity and access to opportunities for all. Finally, Khari Brown shared thoughts on the necessity for and benefits of sabbaticals by leaders, especially leaders in the nonprofit sector, who work tirelessly to meet the community's needs.  Some highlights:- Khari Brown on why investing in youth sports matters- Playing professional basketball in Finland and the lessons learned from the experience- The challenges of the education system, especially when it comes to students of color- Khari Brown's strategies for growing a nonprofit and scaling its impact- Spark the Journey's focus on supporting the "academic middle" students in low-income communities- The value of upstream thinking in tackling issues in the community- Why Khari Brown led the effort to rebrand Capital Partners for Education to Spark the Journey - Business's role in the community to service and making a difference- The need for sabbaticals, especially in the nonprofit sector- Khari Brown on playing basketball with President Barack Obama at Camp David- The need for lifelong learning and education for organizational leadersConnect with Khari BrownSpark the Journey Website Khari Brown on LinkedIn Khari Brown on Twitter Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Mark C Crowley, author of Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century. In the conversation, Mark C Crowley shared how his tough childhood contributed to his leadership practice of leading from the heart. Mark also shared why the heart is more than just a muscle and how leaders can balance mind and heart in their leadership. Mark C Crowley finally shared how leaders can encourage leading from the heart in their teams and organizations as well as practices to help make a more balanced leadership, including leading from the heart of the organization's culture.  Some highlights:- How Mark C Crowley's upbringing shaped his view of leadership- The results of leading from the heart in the financial services sector- The science behind the heart's role in leadership- Mark C Crowley on the need for balance between the brain and the heart- How leaders can nurture an organizational culture that encourages leading from the heartConnect with Mark C Crowley:Mark C Crowley Website Mark C Crowley on LinkedIn Mark C Crowley on Twitter Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century on Amazon Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Shaara Roman. Shaara Roman is the award-winning founder and CEO of The Silverene Group and author of The Conscious Workplace: Fortify Your Culture to Thrive in Any Crisis. Shara shares stories, examples, and insights on organizational culture and how leaders can intentionally nurture an inclusive culture that can thrive through any crisis.  Some Highlights:- How Shaara Roman's upbringing instilled in her a sense of curiosity, resilience, and independence, as well as an appreciation for different cultures- The role of organizational culture in optimizing performance and thriving, especially during a crisis- Why leaders need to be purpose-driven and have a growth mindset ---The importance of aligning people, strategy, and culture - Shaara Roman on how to foster an environment of curiosity- How leaders can encourage employees to be authentic and question the status quo- The best ways to promote a sense of belonging and connection among employees- Shaara Roman on the keys to creating a culture of collaboration and trust - Why it's essential to create an environment where everyone is respected and valued- The necessity of a culture of open communication and feedbackConnect with Shaara Roman:Shaara Roman Website Shaara Roman on LinkedIn The Silverene Group Website The Conscious Workplace: Fortify Your Culture to Thrive in Any Crisis on Amazon Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Warren Berger. Warren is the author of multiple books on innovation and the power of questioning in leadership and everyday life. The conversation focused on Warren Berger's books A More Beautiful Question and The Book of Beautiful Questions. Warren shared thoughts on his study of the world's foremost innovators and creative thinkers, revealing what he has learned. Warren Berger also shared his insights into the natural tendency of questioning as a young child, the connection between curiosity and questioning, and why we suppress our questioning ability as we get older. Warren shared what leaders can do differently to encourage a culture of curiosity and tap into the power of inquiry. Finally, Warren Berger shared thoughts on developing the questioning skills critical for innovation, collaboration, and leading through uncertainty.  Some Highlights:- Why we become more reluctant to ask questions as we grow up - The external factors that shape our behavior and discourage us from asking questions- Warren Berger on the power of questioning and how to do it well  - Reasons why we tend to want leaders to have answers - The importance of questioning in the workplace - How leaders can encourage more effective questioning in the workplace  - Warren Berger on the relationship between curiosity and questioning - How to ask better questions and collaborate for innovation.   Referenced:Partnering Leadership conversation with David McRaney on How Minds Change Connect with Warren Berger:Warren Berger Website Warren Berger on LinkedIn A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas on Amazon The Book of Beautiful Questions: The Powerful Questions That Will Help You Decide, Create, Connect, and Lead on Amazon Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks briefly about Google's strategic challenge with OpenAI's ChatGPT and highlights upcoming conversations on AI & the future of work, as well as a conversation with a pioneer of augmented reality.  The episode also includes a recent appearance by Mahan on Uwe Dockhorn's Lift-Off podcast.  In the discussion, Mahan shared more about his work with CEOs and their leadership teams to collaborate more effectively and align so they can execute their strategic plans better.  Mahan also talked about the impact of friction on execution and the lessons learned from the best leaders.  Finally, Mahan shared a personal "goosebump" with Uwe.  Some highlights:- Mahan on why the biggest challenge facing Google is not the technology- Why team alignment and collaboration are essential to executing strategy- The role that friction plays in keeping teams from effectively working together.- One question that can help start a conversation around a growth mindset and show leadership vulnerability- Mahan on the significant mistakes teams make with planning and execution- What the most successful leaders have in common- A four-step process to help assess and unleash team performance. - Mahan's "goosebump" momentResources:Partnering Leadership conversation with Tom Taulli, author of Artificial Intelligence BasicsPartnering Leadership podcast solo episode on The Future is NowPartnering Leadership conversation with Azeem Azhar, author of The Exponential AgePartnering Leadership conversation with Steven Sasson, inventor of the digital camera at KodakPartnering Leadership podcast solo episode on A Powerful Question to Ask Yourself and Your TeamConnect with Uwe DockhornUwe Dockhorn Website Uwe Dockhorn on LinkedIn Uwe Dockhorn’s Lift-Off Podcast Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Carmine Gallo. Carmine Gallo is a three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author. His books include Talk Like TED, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, The Storyteller's Secret, Five Stars, and his latest, The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World's Greatest Salesman. In the conversation, Carmine Gallo shared why many leaders struggle with telling their stories and why his latest research involved looking into how Jeff Bezos became such a powerful communicator and the lessons all leaders can learn from his communication practices. Carmine also shared how Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs became better communicators, why storytelling is not a soft skill, and how to become a better storyteller. Finally, Carmine shared communications practices that can help all leaders communicate more effectively and have a more significant impact.Some Highlights:- The importance of communication skills in leadership- The power of storytelling and why the human brain seeks narrative - Carmine Gallo on why executives struggle with storytelling and how to do it well- How Jeff Bezos communicated and reinforced his vision for Amazon- The Bezos shareholder letters and the power of simplicity- Carmine Gallo on the CEO and leader as a repeater in chief- How metaphors and symbols can play a role in supporting strategy- Why Amazon became a writing culture rather than one reliant on Powerpoint presentationsMentioned:Partnering Leadership conversation with David Rubenstein, Founder of the Carlyle Group David Rubenstein  Partnering Leadership conversation with John Rossman, author of The Amazon WayPartnering Leadership conversation with Ann Hiatt, author of Bet on YourselfPartnering Leadership conversation with Park Howell, author of Brand Bewitchery & The Narrative Gym for BusinessConnect with Carmine GalloCarmine Gallo Website  Carmine Gallo LinkedIn The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World's Greatest Salesman on Amazon Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website