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
May 3, 2022 • 8min
155 Lead with Kindness, the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change | Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli shares his perspectives and research about the need for kindness and how it can impact teams and organizations. Mahan also highlighted effective ways of showing kindness while initiating a ripple effect in our organizations and the community. Some highlights:-Pre and post-pandemic effects on kindness-How showing kindness can be contagious -Two specific ways of being kinder to those around us -Starting a kindness ripple Mentioned:- Christine Porath, Associate Professor of Management at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University; Why being respectful to your coworkers is good for business- Jamil Zaki, Professor of Psychology; Author of THE WAR FOR KINDNESS- Bob Kerry, American politician who served as the 35th Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987 and as a United States Senator from Nebraska from 1989 to 2001Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:https://mahantavakoli.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/More information and resources 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
Apr 28, 2022 • 53min
154 Building a Thriving Organization by Helping Clients Implement OKRs, Achieve Better Alignment and Strategy Execution with Workboard CEO Deidre Paknad | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Deidre Paknad, co-founder and CEO of WorkBoard and founder of Results Foundry. Deidre Paknad shared her journey leading to her success as the founder of three start-ups. Deidre also talked about her founding of Workboard and how the organization supports its clients to execute their strategy faster by effective implementation of OKRs. Deidre Paknad also shared her thoughts on the future of work and what organizations can do to thrive through uncertainty.Some highlights:- What led Deidre Paknad to become an entrepreneur- The challenges faced by the first time entrepreneur - Deidre Paknad on the advantages and disadvantages of working at IBM - The origin story of Workboard- Deidre Paknad being told that she has three strikes against her- How Workboard helps companies achieve alignment through OKRs - How the pandemic sped up the pace of change - Deidre Paknad's advice on how to get every member of an organization to focus- Deidre on the leadership capabilities that are required throughout the organization.- How to transform a culture of complacency into a culture of ambition - Deidre Paknad on facing personal and business challenges as a CEO during the pandemic- How presence can help unlock an organization's potential Mentioned:- Larry Robertson (Listen to the Partnering Leadership conversation with Larry Robertson)- Azeem Azhar (Listen to the Partnering Leadership conversation with Azeem Azhar)- Sarah Stein Greenberg (Listen to the Partnering Leadership conversation with Sarah Stein Greenberg)- John Doerr, chairman of Kleiner Perkins and the author of Measure What Matters- Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize-winning economist, and psychologistConnect with Deidre Paknad:WorkBoard WebsiteOKR Podcast Deidre Paknad on TwitterDeidre Paknad on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:https://mahantavakoli.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/More information and resources 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
Apr 26, 2022 • 41min
153 Leading Economic Development to Provide Greater Opportunities to Underserved Entrepreneurs with Washington Area Community Investment Fund CEO Harold Pettigrew | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Harold Pettigrew, CEO at Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif), Presidential Appointee at the CDFI Fund, and an Aspen Finance Fellow. First, Harold Pettigrew talked about his upbringing in Washington D.C. and the experiences that helped him find his voice. Harold also shared his experience serving in city government in New York and D.C. and how he plans to make a difference through his leadership of the Washington Area Community Investment Fund. Finally, Harold Pettigrew talked about how all leaders can play a more significant role in ensuring greater equity. Some highlights:- Harold Pettigrew on his upbringing in D.C. and how it impacted his passion for activism. - On moving to North Carolina, embracing his identity and taking on a leadership role- The impact of serving in the New York City on Harold's view of government- Coming back to Washington D.C. and the challenge of government service- How to create better ecosystems that work for the people who live in them- The role of representation in our communities - What we can do to leave the space we occupy better than we first found it- Harold Pettigrew on the importance of staying open to new ideas and possibilitiesMentioned in this episode:Commissioner Robert W. Walsh, Bloomberg Administration's Commissioner of Small Business ServicesConnect with Harold Pettigrew:WACIF WebsiteThe Aspen Institue WebsiteWACIF on Twitter Harold Pettigrew on TwitterHarold Pettigrew on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/More 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
Apr 21, 2022 • 41min
152 Leading Change From The Inside Out So People Want to Follow You with Erika Andersen | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Erika Andersen. Erika is the founding partner of Proteus International, which is a coaching consulting and training firm that focuses on leader readiness. She and her colleagues at Proteus focus on helping leaders prepare and stay prepared to face whatever the future might bring. Driven by this mission, Erika shares in the conversation how leaders can approach challenges and uncertainty by applying the change-capable mindset.Erika Andersen is the author of 5 books, including her most recent work, Change from the Inside Out: Making You, Your Team, and Your Organization Change-Capable. In it, she discusses the approaches to learning and business-building to help leaders and organizations prepare and adapt to change. In this conversation, Erika Andersen shares how leaders and organizations can become change capable. Some Highlights:- Erika Andersen on how leaders can guide their organizations with greater clarity - Erika shares the future skills that will be most impactful in leading organizations- Understanding the five-step model of effective change- Erika Andersen on the four change levers- How leaders can better manage the future of workBooks Mentioned:- Change from the Inside Out: Making You, Your Team, and Your Organization Change-Capable - Erika Andersen- The Inner Game of Tennis - Tim Gallwey- Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change - Greg Satell (Listen to Greg Satell's episode on Partnering Leadership)Connect with Erika Andersen:Erika AndersenProteus International Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/More 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
Apr 19, 2022 • 49min
151 Leading with Grit, Clarity and Empathy with Marriott International President Stephanie Linnartz | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Stephanie Linnartz, President of Marriott International, Inc., the world's largest hospitality company. Stephanie Linnartz shares the role her upbringing played in her seeking a career at Marriott and how she rose through the ranks in the organization. Stephanie also shares the devastating impact of the pandemic alongside losing the organization's beloved CEO, Arne Sorenson, and how the leadership team was able to stay focused on their values through the most challenging days of the pandemic. Stephanie Linnartz also shared Marriott's commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals and examples of what the organization is doing to follow through on the commitments while growing.Some highlights:- Stephanie Linnartz's upbringing and passion for taking care of - Rising at Marriott International- How Stephanie Linnartz and Marriott's senior team handled the worst of the crisis- Losing a beloved CEO in Arne Sorenson and lessons learned- Stephanie Linnartz on why companies are defined by how they deal with a crisis- Organizational purpose and how to live it- Stephanie Linnartz on the future of work and travel- Marriott and Stephanie's commitment to greater equity and diversity- Stephanie on the need for self-renewal and reinventionMentioned in this episode:- Judy Samuelson, Founder and Executive Director of Aspen Institute Business and Society Program (Listen to Judy’s episode on Partnering Leadership)- Rishad Tobaccowala, Author of Restoring the Soul of Business (Listen to Rishad’s episode on Partnering Leadership)- Ranjay Gulati, Professor at Harvard Business School (Listen to Ranjay’s episode on Partnering Leadership)Connect with Stephanie Linnartz:Marriott HotelsMarriott International on FacebookMarriott International on TwitterMarriott International on LinkedInStephanie Linnartz on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/ 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
Apr 14, 2022 • 53min
150 How to turn Your Organizational Culture Into a Competitive Advantage with Harvard Business School Professor James Heskett | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Professor James Heskett. Professor Heskett is UPS Foundation Professor Emeritus at the Harvard Business School. James Heskett has authored/co-authored nine books, including one with fellow Harvard Business School Professor John Kotter on Corporate Culture and Performance. In this conversation, Mahan and James Heskett talk about Professor Heskett's latest book, Win from Within: Build Organizational Culture for Competitive Advantage, and actions leaders can take to overcome barriers and nurture the right culture within their teams and organizations. Some highlights:- Professor Heskett on why so many leaders doubt their ability to influence their organization's culture- How leaders can establish the right culture for working in a hybrid environment - The role of belonging, diversity, and inclusion in great organizational cultures - Professor James Heskett on how leaders can create more trusting relationships - Specific steps leaders can take to impact the culture of their team and organizationConnect with Professor James Heskett:Professor James Heskett @ Harvard Business SchoolProfessor James Heskett Books @ AmazonConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/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
Apr 12, 2022 • 47min
149 Purpose-Driven Leadership: Putting People and Place Over Profits with Flock DC CEO Lisa Wise | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Lisa Wise, Chief Rooster, Chief Nester and Owner of Nest DC. Lisa Wise shares the origin story behind founding the company and how they bake purpose into everything they do. Lisa Wise also talks about her commitment to the community and how she was able to keep focused on purpose through the pandemic. Finally, Lisa Wise talks about her commitment to serving employees and other stakeholders. Some highlights:- How challenges growing up shaped Lisa Wise and and her make up as an entrepreneur - The founding of Nest with a purpose of giving back to the community- Lisa Wise's strong belief that doing good business leads to more business- The importance of aligning the organization's actions - Launching Bird Seed with aim of community engagement - Lisa Wise's leadership during the pandemic and the importance of consistent communication with team members- The learnings of stepping in as a chair board at Whitman-Walker Health- Lisa Wise’s advice on leadership Mentioned:Naseema Shafi, CEO of Whitman Walker Health Connect with Lisa Wise:Nest DC WebsiteRoost DC WebsiteFlock (n.) WebsiteStarling DC WebsiteBirdwatch DC WebsiteBirdseed Foundation WebsiteLisa Wise on Twitter Lisa Wise on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/ 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
Apr 7, 2022 • 32min
148 How to Lead Organizational Transformation through Intent Based Leadership and the Power of Leadership Language with Former Nuclear Submarine Commander David Marquet | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with David Marquet. David served as the commander of the US Navy nuclear submarine, USS Santa Fe. When he took over, he changed the command-and-control leadership style and empowered his crew to turn the lowest-performing sub into the best performer in the fleet. David Marquet shared leadership lessons from this experience, which he also wrote in his bestselling book Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders. David Marquet also shared leadership insights from his latest book, Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don't. In it, David Marquet highlights how choosing your words can dramatically improve organizational decision-making and execution. Some Highlights:- David Marquet on becoming the commander of the lowest-performing submarine in the US Navy - Why it's not the lack of leadership but the wrong kind of leadership that results in poor team performance- David Marquet on moving beyond the traditional approach to leadership - How David Marquet shifted his own and his crew's mindset to transition from permission-based decision making to intent-based decision making- Why leadership in most organizations still operates using outdated mindsets and approaches- David Marquet on what all leaders can learn from the communications breakdowns on the El Farro - The importance of language in leading organizations to better decision making and execution in the businessBooks Mentioned:- Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders - L. David Marquet- Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don't - L. David MarquetConnect with L. David Marquet:LinkedIn: David MarquetIntent-based Leadership InternationalWebsites: https://davidmarquet.com/https://intentbasedleadership.com/what-is-intent-based-leadership/YouTube:Leadership NudgesConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/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
Apr 5, 2022 • 10min
147 Three Steps to Help You Stop the Uncontrolled Proliferation of Meetings and Make Sure Your Meetings are Productive | Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli shares why professionals are spending more time in meetings than ever before and what leaders of organizations and teams can do to combat overscheduling of meetings and meeting overwhelm. Mahan goes through a three-step process that can get you started to a more manageable number of meetings and more productive collaboration.Some highlights:- What has contributed to the significant increase in the number of meetings scheduled with the transition to remote and hybrid work- Why transitioning to meeting free days might not be good enough- How declaring meeting bankruptcy can help in the transition to more productive meetings- Why clarity behind the intention of a scheduled meeting matters- Synchronous vs. asynchronous communication and which works best for meetings and knowledge managementTo hear insights on the transition hybrid worklist, Listen to Mahan’s February episode here. Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:PartneringLeadership.com Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website
Mar 31, 2022 • 43min
146 How to Build a Real Workplace Culture of Inclusion that Delivers Results with Cynthia Owyoung |Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Cynthia Owyoung, the vice-president of inclusion, equity, and belonging at Robinhood. Cynthia is also the Founder of Breaking Glass Forums, which aims to elevate diverse talent and inclusive organizations. In addition, she has established and led diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for over 15 years as an executive at organizations in multiple industries. In this conversation, Mahan and Cynthia Owyoung speak about Cynthia's new book, All Are Welcome: How to Build a Real Workplace Culture of Inclusion That Delivers Results. Cynthia Owyoung shares frameworks for making inclusion and belonging a reality in organizations. Cynthia also shares what leaders can do to go beyond just talking about diversity and inclusion and create environments that genuinely value inclusion and develop a sense of belonging for all team members. Some Highlights:Cynthia Owyoung on the diverse cultures of her upbringing and how it shaped her mission for diversity and inclusion and creating access to opportunities for allHow our biases and stereotypes impact how we think, interpret, and make assumptions and the effects on our decision-makingBecoming inclusive leaders and driving change in our organizations The role of the 4Ps: people, place, product, and planet in creating a more inclusive ecosystem for allHow inclusivity can be measured and managed properlyHow the future of work will impact diversity, equity, and inclusionBooks & Resources Mentioned:All Are Welcome: How to Build a Real Workplace Culture of Inclusion that Delivers Results by Cynthia OwyoungUncovering Talent: A New Model of Inclusion by Kenji YoshinoWhistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do by Claude SteeleBlindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Book by Anthony Greenwald and Mahzarin BanajiThe Wake Up: Closing the Gap Between Good Intentions and Real Change by Michelle MiJung KimHow to Be an Ally: Actions You Can Take for a Stronger, Happier Workplace by Melinda Briana EplerConnect with Cynthia Owyoung:Websites: www.cynthiaowyoung.com/www.breaking.glass/ (Breaking Glass Forums)YouTube: Breaking Glass ForumsTwitter: @CindyOwyoungLinkedIn: Cynthia OwyoungFacebook: Breaking Glass ForumsConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore 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
