Great leadership is forged in the tension between burden and belief, between what breaks you and what builds others.

In this mashup episode, Denis Gianoutsos sits down with Steve Fredlund, Kurian Tharakan, and Daniel Tolson—three thought-provoking leaders from different arenas- to explore what it means to lead in a world that’s always evolving. From happiness and spiritual grounding to skyscraper-sized vision, this conversation invites listeners to rethink what real leadership looks like in 2025 and beyond.

Tune in for a bold reminder that who you are matters just as much as what you do.

EP284 – Steve Fredlund: Leadership and the Pursuit of Happiness

• Why Nelson Mandela remains the gold standard in holding “two truths at once”
• The reality that most leaders aren’t truly happy and what to do about it
• Hope vs. action: why “hope is not a strategy”
• Aligning leadership with identity to avoid chasing someone else’s dream

EP290 – Kurian Tharakan: The Power of Spiritual Practice and Storytelling

• From Alexander the Great to Steve Jobs: two icons of visionary leadership
• Why great leaders master narrative, and how story defines legacy
• The importance of spiritual discipline in staying grounded
• Leadership as contribution, not exploitation

EP294 – Daniel Tolson: Vision at Scale and Leading in the Digital Age

• Why Dubai’s ruler inspires a new generation of limitless leadership
• Building trust with people you may never meet in person
• Leadership in the digital world: omnipresence, speed, and science
• The shift from the golden rule to the platinum rule in human connection

Key Quotes:

“Hope is a great thing to have… but hope is not a strategy.” - Steve Fredlund

“Strong leadership emanates from strong storytelling… The narrative actually defines the leader.” - Kurian Tharakan

“Leadership is your ability to get followers… and we’ll probably never meet them in the flesh.” - Daniel Tolson

"If you're out there and you turn around as a leader and no one's following you, all you're doing is taking a hike." - Denis Gianoutsos

The 10 Proven Ways to Lead and Thrive in Today's World - FREE Executive Guide Download https://crm.leadingchangepartners.com/10-ways-to-lead 

Connect with Denis: 

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.LeadingChangePartners.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisgianoutsos 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisgianoutsos/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipischanging/ 

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DenisGianoutsos