What it takes to develop as a leader.

Great leaders and great communicators aren't born, they're made. That's why John Hennessy and Tina Seelig, directors of Stanford University’s Knight-Hennessy Scholars, are working to create the great storytellers of tomorrow, today.

"We decided that there was a leadership void, and that was a driving motivation to do this," says Hennessy, former Stanford president and current Alphabet chairman. The program, which he co-founded in 2016 with Stanford alum and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, equips scholars with essential leadership skills through hands-on experience and collaborative problem-solving.

Seelig, executive director of the program, emphasizes that great leadership centers on effective storytelling. "No matter how compelling your invention, your idea, the thing you want to do in the world, if you can't communicate it in [an] effective way, nobody's going to listen," she says.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Hennessy, Seelig, and host Matt Abrahams explore what it takes to develop as a leader, discussing the role of communication, the power of empathy, and the centrality of storytelling.

Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Biography: John L Hennessy 
• Tina Seelig: Website
• Stanford Profile: Tina Seelig  
• Knight-Hennessy Scholars
• Leading Matters Podcast
• Ep.155 Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly Website / YouTube 
• Ep.35 Leading From the Hot Seat: Hot to Communicate Under Pressure Website / YouTube

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• Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
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• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guests John Hennessy and Tina Seelig, directors of Stanford’s Knight-Hennessy Scholars. 

(00:01:07) The Core of Knight-Hennessy Scholars

The inception and mission of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program.

(00:01:55) Knight-Hennessy Scholars Leadership Model

The three components of their leadership model and how it's applied to train scholars.

(00:03:34) Empathy and Humility in Leadership

How empathy and humility enhance leadership effectiveness.

(00:06:00) Storytelling in Leadership

The role of storytelling within the leadership framework at Knight-Hennessy Scholars.

(00:07:22) Challenges in Storytelling

Common storytelling pitfalls and how to overcome them.

(00:08:56) Diversity in Leadership
The importance of diversity in leadership teams and how it enhances problem-solving.

(00:11:20) Feedback in Leadership Development

The significance of feedback and how it is cultivated within the program.

(00:12:30) Aspiring to Big Ideas in Leadership

The value of focusing on impactful, big-picture goals.

(00:13:16) The Leading Matters Podcast 
John and Tina outline their vision for inspiring leadership through their new podcast.

(00:15:10) The Final Three Questions

Tina shares a leadership skill she learned, and John shares a communicator he admires and ingredients for successful communication.

(00:18:31) Conclusion

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:50) - The Core of Knight-Hennessy Scholars
• (02:38) - Knight-Hennessy Scholars Leadership Model
• (04:17) - Empathy and Humility in Leadership
• (06:43) - Storytelling in Leadership
• (08:05) - Challenges in Storytelling
• (09:39) - Diversity in Leadership
• (12:03) - Feedback in Leadership Development
• (13:13) - Aspiring to Big Ideas in Leadership
• (13:59) - The Leading Matters Podcast
• (15:53) - The Final Three Questions
• (19:14) - Conclusion