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 27, 2022 • 48min
206 The Four Powerful Conversations that Help Us Connect with Chuck Wisner | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Chuck Wisner, author of The Art of Conscious Conversations: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact. Chuck Wisner spoke about the power of stories in shaping our lives and interactions with others, the importance of self-awareness, and our egos' role in conversations. Finally, Chuck Wisner shared the four universal types of conversations and how we can maximize the effectiveness of each.Some Highlights:-Chuck Wisner on why we live in conversations like fish live in water-How to break out of patterns of unproductive behaviors to be able to have conscious conversations -How to avoid the common pitfalls that cause our conversations to go sideways.-Chuck Wisner on why the stories we tell ourselves are not the truth and why we should investigate the stories we tell ourselves -How our stories and other people's stories interactConnect with Chuck Wisner:The Art of Conscious Conversations: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact on Amazon Chuck Wisner WebsiteChuck Wisner LinkedInChuck Wisner TwitterConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMahan Tavakoli on LinkedInMore information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Oct 25, 2022 • 52min
205 Connecting the Community by Bringing the World to Washington D.C. with President and CEO of Washington Performing Arts, Jenny Bilfield | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jenny Bilfield. Jenny Bilfield is the President and CEO of Washington Performing Arts (WPA), one of the U.S.'s preeminent multi-disciplinary arts presenters. WPA was the first organization of its kind to receive the coveted National Medal of Arts conferred by President Obama at the White House. In the conversation, Jenny Bilfield shares the origin of her passion for the arts and how her career progressions eventually led her to take on her current role, leading Washington Performing Arts. Jenny Bilfield shared the challenges the organization had to face because of the pandemic and how WPA was able to pivot quickly, resulting in a more significant connection with artists and the community. Finally, Jenny Bilfield shared advice on growing as a leader.Some Highlights:-Jenny Bilfield on her childhood love for the arts-A young composer looking to make a difference-Jenny Bilfield on pushing back against assumptions of what women could do-The impact of 9/11, the loss of a father, and the birth of a child-Washington Performing Arts founding in 1966 bringing inclusive experiences in the arts to both concert hall audiences as well as school children -Why it's essential to lead with a single narrative-Jenny Bilfield on leading through involving people-Becoming better as a result of setbacks and challenges-Jenny Bilfield on the importance of finding the right mentorsConnect with Jenny Bilfield:Washington Performing Arts Jenny Bilfield on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMahan Tavakoli on LinkedInMore information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Oct 20, 2022 • 52min
204 How Leaders Can Successfully Manage Conflict and Have Difficult Conversations with Marlene Chism | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Marlene Chism. Marlene Chism is the leading authority on stopping workplace drama and the author of four books, including her most recent book, From Conflict to Courage: How to Stop Avoiding and Start Leading. In the conversation, Marlene Chism shares what leaders get wrong about conflict, the negative consequences of avoiding conflict, and how to most effectively address conflict by changing our narrative. Some Highlights:-Marlene Chism on what we get wrong about conflict in the workplace-Why we need to change our narrative before being able to address conflict-The importance of the inner game in addressing conflict-How to face conflict courageously-Marlene Chism on why conflict is an essential part of growth and authentic relationships-How to channel conflict into courageous conversationsAdditional episodes:Partnering Leadership conversation with Dr. Timothy Clark on the Four Stages of Psychological Safety, Listen HerePartnering Leadership conversation with Jim Detert on Choosing Courage, Listen HereConnect with Marlene Chism:Marlene Chism Website Marlene Chism LinkedIn From Conflict to Courage on AmazonConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:https://mahantavakoli.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/ More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: https://www.partneringleadership.com/Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Oct 18, 2022 • 36min
203 Building Bridges Across the River and the Community with the President of BBAR Rahsaan Bernard| Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Rahsaan Bernard. Rahsaan Bernard serves as the President of Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR). This nonprofit organization built and now manages the 16.5 acres of Townhall Health Education Arts Recreation Campus known as THEARC in Washington, DC. BBAR is also building the first elevated park in Washington, the 11 Street Bridge Park Project. In the conversation, Rahsaan Bernard shared the impact of his upbringing in Jamaica, critical parts of his leadership journey, and his focus on impact through Building Bridges Across the River. In addition, Rahsaan Bernard shared historical factors impacting the greater need of residents in D.C.'s Ward 8 and the need for the services provided. Rahsaan Bernard also shared how BBAR has involved the community in planning for the 11th Street Bridge Park Project and how that level of engagement can serve as a model for all leaders. Some Highlights:-Rahsaan Bernard on his upbringing in Jamaica and why his family moved to the U.S. -What fascinated Rahsaan with bodybuilding and fitness-Rahsaan Bernard on meeting his wife and starting a business focused on fitness-Why Rahsaan Bernard chose to take on the role of President of Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) and the goal of the organization-Historical reasons why there has been very little investment in D.C.'s Ward eight, resulting in food deserts, as well as socioeconomic and medical challenges, -Why do resident's on the East side of the river live an average of 13 years less than those on the west side of the river-The thinking behind the 11th Street Bridge Park and the process Rahsaan Bernard used to get involvement and buy-in from the community-Recognition of BBAR by Highline network as the best-in-class approach to building and investing in communities-Why Rahsaan Bernard chose to join the National Board of Feeding America-Leadership practices and resources Rahsaan Bernard has used to lead his team and engage more effectively with the communityConnect with Rahsaan Bernard:Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) Rahsaan Bernard on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMahan Tavakoli on LinkedInMore information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Oct 13, 2022 • 44min
202 How to Become a More Emotionally Intelligent Leader with Amazon Global Head of EPIC Leadership & Chief EQ Evangelist Richard Hua | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Richard Hua, Global Head of EPIC Leadership and Chief EQ Evangelist at Amazon Web Services. In the conversation, Richard Hua shared his origin story, why he became interested in the power of emotional intelligence, the importance of emotional intelligence to individual and organizational success, and how we can all develop our emotional intelligence EQ. Finally, Richard Hua shared leadership practices for leading with greater emotional intelligence. Some highlights:- Richard Hua on growing up in a challenging environment - How the people around us affect our happiness, as well as our emotional and spiritual wellbeing- Richard Hua on transitioning from being a missionary to a role in high tech - The main elements of emotional intelligence- Richard Hua’s thoughts on the importance of seeking advice and the role it plays in greater self-awareness- How and why Richard Hua started an EQ movement in Amazon- Richard Hua on the value of training in developing greater emotional intelligence - The role emotional intelligence plays in organizational leadership and how to do it wellMentioned:John Rossman (Listen to John Rossman’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional IntelligenceBill George, author of Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting ValueCarol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success Connect with Richard Hua:Richard Hua WebsiteRichard Hua on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Oct 11, 2022 • 48min
201 Transforming Lives Through The Power of Events with Rebecca Linder, Founder & CEO Linder Global Events | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Rebecca Linder, founder, and CEO of Linder Global Events. Rebecca Linder shares her leadership journey and the joys and challenges of entrepreneurship. Rebecca Linder also shares her thoughts on the impact of the pandemic on the events industry and how technology is reshaping gatherings. Finally, Rebecca shares why expectations for all kinds of meetings have changed and how leaders can rethink gatherings for greater engagement and impact. Some highlights:- The importance of appreciating diverse cultures and continually reinventing yourself- Rebecca Linder's on the challenges of starting a business at 26 - Rebecca Linder on discovering herself and becoming more purpose-driven as a result- The pandemic's impact on the events industry- Rebecca Linder's thoughts on how gatherings have changed as a result of the pandemic- The future of events and how to do a better job when conventing, whether for events, meetings, or other gatherings - Rebecca Linder's thoughts on how to better handle the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and leadership Mentioned:Vanessa Bohns (Listen to Vanessa Bohns’ episode on Partnering Leadership here)Connect with Rebecca LinderLINDER Global Events WebsiteRebecca Linder on TwitterRebecca Linder on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Oct 6, 2022 • 34min
200 How to Cultivate a Thriving Organizational Culture with Brad Federman | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Brad Federman, Leadership and Culture Expert, Speaker, Coach, and Author of Cultivating Culture: 101 Ways to Foster Engagement in 15 Minutes or Less. Brad Federman shares how leaders can cultivate a company culture that will help them succeed in creating a two-way dialogue and improving teamwork. Brad Federman also highlighted the eight key focus areas that will amplify values at work to achieve a healthy and productive organization. Finally, Brad Federman outlines how cultivating culture brings your team together and keeps them committed to the company's core values. Some highlights:- Brad Federman's upbringing, personal influences, and how that impacted his perspective in life- The importance of understanding the culture of an organization and how it contributes to making better decisions- The reason behind organizations struggling to keep good people- Brad Federman on the definition of organizational culture- How leaders can build better and more robust cultures - What leaders must do to foster better relationships with customers - Brad Federman on the pandemic's impact on organizational culture - Best practices and recommendations for leaders on how to cultivate culture and collaborative decision makingMentioned:Greg Satell (Listen to Greg Satell’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)Books Mentioned: The Trusted Advisor by David MaisterAt the Heart of Leadership: How to Get Results with Emotional Intelligenceby Joshua Freedman, Peter SaloveyEmotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry, Jean Greaves, Patrick Lencioni Connect with Brad Federman:Performance Point WebsiteCultivating Culture: 101 Ways to Foster Engagement in 15 Minutes or Less on AmazonBrad Federman on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.com More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Oct 4, 2022 • 11min
199 Celebrating 200 Episodes & How to Achieve Your Purpose Through Genuine Gratitude, the Gap & the Gain and Living in Crescendo | Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli first acknowledges the 200th episode of the podcast. Mahan then shares his thoughts on the three practices that can help us stay aligned with our purpose: feeling and expressing genuine gratitude, focusing on the gain and not just the gap, and living life in crescendo.Some highlights:- Celebrating 200 episodes of Partnering Leadership, a journey of learning and growth for purpose-driven leaders with a growth mindset- The importance of internally focused gratitude and expressing genuine gratitude to others- Why do we focus more on the gap rather than the gain in our lives, and how a shift in focus helps us achieve our purpose- Keeping the spirit of living in crescendo: our best work is ahead of us!Mentioned:-Cynthia Covey Haller (Listen to Partnering Leadership conversation on living life in crescendo: https://www.partneringleadership.com/how-to-live-life-in-crescendo-inspiring-lessons-from-legendary-leadership-expert-stephen-r-coveys-powerful-final-book-with-co-author-cynthia-covey-haller-partnering-leadership-global-thought-leader/-Dr. Benjamin Hardy & Dan Sullivan's book: The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and SuccessConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:https://mahantavakoli.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:https://www.partneringleadership.com/Ask a question or post an update…Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Sep 29, 2022 • 50min
198 How to Live Life in Crescendo: inspiring lessons from legendary leadership expert Stephen R. Covey’s powerful final book with co author Cynthia Covey Haller | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Cynthia Covey Haller, a teacher, speaker, an active participant in her community and co-author Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work is Always Ahead of You. Cynthia Covey Haller shares what it means to live life with a crescendo and how to face challenges and opportunities in the middle to later stages of life. Cynthia Covey Haller also tells inspiring stories on how we can enrich the lives of people around us, the community, and the world. Finally, Cynthia Covey Haller discusses how to be a better leader, to communicate worth and potential to people and the legacy we leave behind. Some highlights:- The importance of setting leadership examples and living its values- Cynthia Covey Haller shares childhood stories with her dad - The story behind “Live Life With Crescendo”- Cynthia Covey Haller on “Live Life With Crescendo” and how it relates to leading our lives- How can we approach our lives viewing it as a mission - The secret to staying focus to your life mission amidst technology and social media- Cynthia Covey Haller on fulfilling the most important roles in your life- Love for service and how it plays a role in living life in crescendo- How hardships can serve as a moment when we are living life in crescendo- Cynthia Covey Haller shares practices and resources to a more effective leadershipMentioned:Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleSteven M.R. Covey (Listen to Steven M.R. Covey episode on Partnering Leadership)Ken Blanchard (Listen to Ken Blanchard’s episode with Randy Conley on Partnering Leadership here) Books Mentioned:Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others by by Stephen M.R. Covey The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray HintonEssentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most by Greg McKeown The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda GatesConnect with Cynthia Covey Haller:Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work Is Always Ahead of You (The Covey Habits Series) on AmazonCynthia Covey Haller on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.com More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Sep 27, 2022 • 49min
197 Infusing Design with Innovative Thinking To Improve Business Performance with Steve Polo, Managing Partner OPX | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Steve Polo, the Managing Partner at OPX, a design consultancy with a mission to help good companies work better. In addition to his leadership journey, Steve Polo shares his unique perspective on how to lead with authenticity and think about the future of the workplace enabling greater human connection and collaboration. In the episode, Steve Polo also talks about leading OPX through the pandemic and leaders' role in employee engagement. Finally, Steve Polo shared leadership practices for becoming a better team and organizational leader. Some highlights:- Growing up in a multicultural household and how it developed Steve Polo's ability to connect with people- Steve Polo on the significant impact of leadership mentors - The opportunities and challenges as a new leader at OPX, looking to lead the turnaround of the organization- Steve Polo on the challenges of leading OPX during the pandemic - The importance of connecting with team members and how to do it well- Steve Polo on the importance of continually improving leadership skills Mentioned:Dr. Vanessa Bohns (Listen to Dr. Vanessa Bohns’ episode on Partnering Leadership here)Azeem Azhar (Listen to Azeem Azhar’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)John Hunter: Teaching with the World Peace Game Connect Steve PoloOPX WebsiteSteve Polo on TwitterSteve Polo on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
