Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Luanne Gutermuth. Luanne formerly serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Washington Gas. In addition to co-founding Good Spirit Farm Winery with her husband, Luanne Gutermuth serves as Chair of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Luanne serves on the Washington Performing Arts and Northern Virginia Family Services board of directors. Some highlights:- Luanne Gutermuth on her struggles maintaining work-life balance - Rising through the ranks at Washington Gas and the challenge of leading shared services - The importance of transparency in leadership- Luanne on the difference between transparency of facts versus transparency of feelings - Luanne Gutermuth on her priorities as Chair of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce- Why Luanne and her husband started a wineryConnect with Luanne Gutermuth:Luanne Gutermuth 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

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, authorBooks 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 ShulaConnect 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:Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Judy Samuelson. Judy Samuelson is the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program's founder and executive director. Judy Samuelson is also the author of The Six New Rules of Business: Creating Real Value in a Changing World. In this conversation, Judy shares how societal shifts have changed traditional approaches to how businesses operate, a greater need for purpose, and the role of business in society. Judy also shares what leaders of organizations can do to create greater value and ensure success in the changing environment. Finally, Judy Samuelson also shares why we need to redesign the attitudes and mindsets that define leadership and business success.Some Highlights:- How and why the Aspen Institute gathers, supports, develops, and challenges leaders across various sectors- Judy Samuelson on embracing the "new rules" that are already in play in business- How human intervention plays a vital role in overcoming shareholder primacy to ignite change in the system- Judy Samuelson on designing a new company culture more suitable to the societal changes taking place- Why shareholder primacy only works for a few, and how to change it- Judy Samuelson on examples of purpose-driven companies  - The government's role in regulating business- The need for more collaboration between companies - Judy Samuelson on why employees are crucial in keeping organizations accountable- Trust as the number one intangible asset that drives business value- Judy Samuelson's perspective on the future of businessAlso mentioned in this episode:- Anand Giridharadas, journalist and author of Winners Take All - P. Roy Vagelos, president and chief executive officer and chairman of Merck - Peter Drucker, educator, business and leadership authorBooks Mentioned:The Six New Rules of Business: Creating Real Value in a Changing World by Judy SamuelsonWinners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand GiridharadasConnect with Judy Samuelson:Judy Samuelson WebsiteJudy Samuelson on LinkedInJudy Samuelson on TwitterConnect 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

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Patrick McGinnis. Patrick coined the term FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and FOBO (Fear of a Better Option) while attending Harvard Business School. Patrick McGinnis is the author of two international bestsellers, including Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice, and the host of the hit podcast FOMO Sapiens. In this conversation, Patrick McGinnis discusses why our need to be included can be overwhelming and what we can do to overcome it. He also talks about FOBO (Fear of a Better Option) and its adverse impacts on our mental health and the quality and speed of our decision-making. Some Highlights:- Patrick McGinnis on what led him to write about “FOMO” and “FOBO” while attending Harvard Business School- How FOMO or the fear of missing out can be beneficial and destructive at the same time- Patrick McGinnis on controlling the negative consequences of the Fear of Missing Out- The common triggers of FOMO and how to manage the triggers- Patrick McGinnis on overcoming FOMO at work - Understanding the impact of the Fear of a Better Option (FOBO) on decision-making- Patrick McGinnis on controlling the desire for optimization that leads to FOBOAlso mentioned in this episode:- Carl Jung, psychiatrist, The wounded healer Archetype- Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Leader- Mahatma Gandhi, Leader of Indian Independence MovementBooks Mentioned:- Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice by Patrick McGinnis - System Failure by Joe Zieja- Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind what Makes People Take a Chance on You by Carlye Adler and Suneel Gupta- Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age by Bruce Feiler- The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work by Shawn Achor- Flourish by Martin Seligman- Lost in the Valley of Death: A Story of Obsession and Danger in the Himalayas by Harley Rustad- The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self by Martha Beck- Entrepreneurial You: Monetize Your Expertise, Create Multiple Income Streams, and Thrive by Dorie Clark- Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything by Alexandra Carter- Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life by Luke Burgis- The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah HarariConnect with Patrick McGinnis:Patrick McGinnis on PodcastPatrick McGinnis WebsitePatrick McGinnis on LinkedInPatrick McGinnis on InstagramPatrick McGinnis on TwitterConnect 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

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Tien Wong. Tien is the Chairman and CEO of Opus8 - private investment and strategic advisory firm. He is also Chairman of Lore Systems, an IT services company, Chairman of tech 2000, Inc., an Edtech company. Tien Wong is also the founder and host of the Big idea CONNECTprenuer Forum, a community of over 7,000 founders, CEOs, angels, and VCs.Tien Wong is a successful entrepreneur who has founded many firms, served on the boards of numerous organizations and established a community that supports and encourages other entrepreneurs to succeed.Some highlights:- Tien Wong, on his early entrepreneurial experience and lessons learned from a failed start-up- The driving force behind Tien Wong’s involvement in many different initiatives and organizations- Tien Wong on the origin story of CONNECTpreneur - Tien Wong on elevating entrepreneurial activity in the Greater Washington DC DMV region.- The most critical factors for entrepreneurial success  Mentioned:Justin KanWayne GretzkyConnect with Tien Wong:Tien Wong on LinkedInTien Wong @ Opus8Connect 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

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Sarah Stein Greenberg, executive director of Stanford D.school. Sarah leads a community of designers, faculty, and other innovative thinkers who help people uncover their creative potential and apply them to the world. She is also the author of Creative Acts for Curious People. In the conversation, Sarah Stein Greenberg shares ideas from the book and exercises that can bring out the creativity in any individual or team. Sarah also shares how design can help while leading through uncertainty.  Some highlights:- Leading with creativity in a world of uncertainty- Navigating ambiguity: A whole new area of skill development- Bridging creativity with curiosity- The what, why, and how of Parallel Prototyping- How leaders can become more aware of the world around them- Forging connections with team members to nurture curiosity and creativity- How to be more empathetic by understanding the different forms of empathy- The role design can play in ensuring equityAlso mentioned in this episode:Creative Acts for Curious People: How to Think, Create, and Lead in Unconventional Ways by Sarah Stein Greenberg-Peter Senge, author of “The Fifth Discipline”-Carissa Carter, director of teaching and learning at Stanford D School-Leah Siebert, designer-Chanel Miller, illustrator-Michael Barry & Michelle JIA-Omayeli Arenyeka, Senior Software Engineer, wrote about the creative savior complex-Juliet Funt, CEO of White Space at Work, author of “A minute to think”-Malia Rothchild Kita, researcher -Michael “Mike” Hirshon, Illustrator, Web Designer- Azeem Azhar, author of The Exponential Age (Listen to Azeem’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)Connect with Sarah Stein Greenberg:Sarah Stein Greenberg on LinkedInSarah Stein Greenberg on InstagramStanford D School Official WebsiteD School BooksConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:https://mahantavakoli.com/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

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli shares his insights about the future of work, the upcoming transition of many organizations back to the office, and strategies to make hybrid work a success. Mahan also shares how leaders can think about changes experienced by their team members over the past two years as they build for a better future of work. Finally, Mahan shares four critical factors leaders need to consider in the hybrid future of work.Some highlights:- Why there is no "going back" to the office and working the way things operated before the pandemic- Understanding liminal experiences and the relevance to work- How leaders can use this transition as an opportunity for a better future of work- The four critical factors in designing a better future of work- Why the number of days in the office is NOT the most vital issue to address in hybrid work- How to boost collaboration and productivity- The impact of hybrid work on inclusivity Also mentioned in this episode:Laura Empson, University of LondonNicholas Bloom, Professor at Stanford UniversityAaron Hurst, author of The Purpose Economy (Listen to Aaron's episode on Partnering Leadership)Spell Increased Team Performance with Objectives & Key Results (OKRs) WebinarMeasure What Matters: OKRs: The Simple Idea that Drives 10x Growth by John DoerrConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources are available on the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.comConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Azeem Azhar - writer, technology analyst, and creator of the acclaimed Exponential View newsletter. Azeem Azhar is a senior advisor to PwC and is an investor in early-stage startups in AI, renewable energy, female health tech, self-driving cars, and marketplaces.In the conversation, Azeem Azhar shared perspectives from his book The Exponential Age: How Accelerating Technology is Transforming Business, Politics, and Society. Azeem shared how our societies and ways of life will change due to exponential technologies, why it's essential to understand the exponential changes better ahead, and how to thrive through the many changes ahead.Some highlights:- Azeem Azhar explained the impacts of technology on society, politics, and business- Why many people find it hard to understand and keep up with the pace of technological change- Understanding exponential growth and its potential impact on all aspects of life- The rise of AI, automation, and other exponential technologies, such as renewable energy, 3D printing, and synthetic biology- The impact of old tech regulations and approaches in a new digital world - How leaders can effectively lead through exponential change- The dilemma of understanding technology in policymakingAlso mentioned in this episode:- The Exponential Age: How Accelerating Technology is Transforming Business, Politics and Society by Azeem Azhar- Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil- Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez- The innovator's dilemma by Clayton Christensen- Brave New World by Aldous HuxleyConnect with Azeem Azhar:Exponential View Official WebsiteAzeem Azhar on TwitterAzeem Azhar 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

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Tony Pierce. Tony Pierce is Akin Gump's Washington DC office partner in charge. He has more than three decades of experience in trial and litigation. In addition to his leadership at Akin Gump and impactful work on behalf of his clients, Tony Pierce has played a crucial leadership role in advancing business and philanthropic initiatives in the Greater Washington DC DMV region. Tony Pierce has served as past chair of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, serves on the Greater Washington Partnership board, and has played a leadership role in other civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Legal Aid Society of District of Columbia. In this conversation, Tony Pierce shares his leadership journey and the reason for his involvement to give back to the community through his involvement with many regional organizations.  Some highlights:- Tony Pierce on why he decided to become a lawyer and his initial successes in litigation- Why Washington DC DMV region put together a bid for the 2024 Olympics and the reasons the region didn't get the Olympics- Why Tony Pierce initiated a strategic review at the Greater Washington Board of Trade - The role of the Greater Washington Partnership in the Greater Washington DC DMV regional ecosystem- How nurturing talent in the Greater Washington DC DMV region can attract more business to the region- Tony Pierce's leadership of Akin Gump through challenging times- The importance of in-person connections and interaction to organizational culture and talent development Also mentioned in this episode:- Vernon Jordan, former adviser to President Bill Clinton- Robert “Bob” Strauss, founder of Akin Gump- Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards- Linda Rabbitt, founder and chairman of Rand Construction (Listen to Linda’s episode on Partnering Leadership)- Rosie Allen Herring, CEO of the United Way (Listen to Rosie’s episode on Partnering Leadership) - Trond Undheim, author and futurist (Listen to Trond’s episode on Partnering Leadership)- Below Deck, reality television series- Married at First Sight, reality television seriesConnect with Tony Pierce:Tony Pierce on LinkedInAkin Gump Official WebsiteConnect 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

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Aaron Hurst, Co-founder, CEO of Imperative, the peer coaching platform, Founder of the Taproot Foundation, and the author of The Purpose Economy. Aaron Hurst shares why in the purpose economy value lies in connecting to employees to purpose through serving needs greater than their own, enabling personal growth, getting a greater sense of meaning, building community, and having a more significant impact. Aaron also talks about the different purpose drivers and how leaders can better connect their organizations and teams with greater purpose.  Some highlights:- Aaron Hurst shares the biggest myths about purpose mindset- How purpose can be a competitive advantage- Impact of purpose on the individual, organization, and society- How to more effectively connect people with their purpose- Aaron Hurst on the different purpose drives for leaders- The role peer coaching plays in relating to individual purposeAlso mentioned in this episode:Brené Brown, Author of the books “Atlas of the Heart”, “You Are Your Best Thing”, “The Gifts of Imperfection”, and many moreConnect with Aaron Hurst:Aaron Hurst WebsiteAaron Hurst TwitterAaron Hurst LinkedInImperative Official WebsiteTaproot Foundation Official WebsiteConnect 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