Imperfect Leaders

Amy Edmondson - the immensely popular professor at the Harvard Business School - has done amazing research on the benefits of psychological safety. Great companies create a culture that not only allows - but encourages - people with diverse points of view to openly express ideas and to challenge one another.  

Today's guest - Sid Pandiya - is the co-founder of Kona - a software company that has created a practical tool that helps companies bring Professor Edmondson's ideas to life. Kona software helps companies create a psychologically safe culture that enhances mental health and reduces burnout and turnover. It also helps employees become more self aware and empathic - the main ingredients of emotional intelligence - as Daniel Goleman espoused nearly 25 years ago.   

It's been an amazing journey for Sid and his co-founders - Andrew and Corine.  They've faced incredible leadership challenges along the way. But they are determined to achieve their vision of helping companies supercharge their culture - enabled in part through Kona software solutions.

Share your thoughts and suggest future podcast guests at -  www.imperfectleaders.com.

Should a couple of speeding tickets - or perhaps a big, brand new house - disqualify a top CEO candidate?  Should hiring companies investigate - or even care about - the personal lives of top executive prospects?

Today's guest - Professor Aiyesha Dey, Harvard Business School - is a governance expert who recently conducted fascinating research on exactly this topic - and Corporate America should pay attention to her practical and well-researched advice.

Like all human beings, CEOs are complex and may have a dark side. Rather than ignore these warning signs, smart boards of directors gather as much intelligence as possible on candidates during the CEO succession process, even if that means investigating the personal lives for important clues on rule bending, self-control and humility. Armed with multiple data points, Boards are able to see the full picture, manage risks, and up-skill their governance capabilities.

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Professor Aiyesha Dey - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

There's a reason why top CEOs have David Teece's phone number on speed dial.  Because Teece is one of the few people on the planet who can help these CEOs solve their most complex challenges. 

Teece is a scholar-entrepreneur who is equally comfortable creating a multi-disciplinary theory that solves a complex business challenge; directing an elite research institute at U.C. Berkeley; or advising Fortune 50 Boards of Directors on bet-the-company strategic decisions. 

Teece is also a world-class CEO, building from scratch the fastest-growing professional services firm in history - The Berkeley Research Group - an award winning economics consulting firm. Teece's leadership style is to create a talent magnet culture that attracts and inspires world-class consultants and academic experts who want to make a huge impact with clients and policy-makers.

If that weren't enough, Teece is a savvy venture investor, real estate developer, viticulturist, and captain - with a fleet of sailboats across the world.

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - David Teece - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

In today's podcast, Aman Bhutani - the CEO of Godaddy - shares his incredible leadership journey - from a modest upbringing in India to the CEO of one of the top technology firms in the world.

Bhutani's leadership style is refreshing. He completely embraces vulnerability and makes a habit of learning from past mistakes.  HIs mindset helps him connect authentically with others and create a culture of continuous improvement. Bhutani shares a powerful metaphor - learned as a child - of a bending mango tree to illuminate the importance of respect, learning, and inclusivity.

Everyone - from first time managers and team leaders to powerful chief executive officers - can learn from Bhutani's inspiring story and practical lessons. 

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Aman Bhutani - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

Josh Flagg has written a seminal new book called -  "The Deal" -  which I predict will soon become required reading in universities and business schools across the country - because it throws into stark relief salient lessons in business, leadership and life. 

"The Deal" is as funny and disarming as it is practical and smart. 

In today's conversation, Josh shares his unique perspective on real estate including the importance of having the right mindset, the art and science of valuation, and unwavering client focus. He also shares a little bit about how his personal perspective - and core values - were shaped at a very young age by Grandma Edith - a true icon and hero during Flagg's formative years.

To share your thoughts and join the conversation join our community of rising stars at www.imperfectleaders.com  

Spencer Rascoff is the legendary founder and CEO of iconic companies including Zillow, Hotwire, and most recently, Pacaso – a real estate company that is totally democratizing second home ownership. 

Like Mark Zuckerberg and Reid Hoffman – creators of Facebook and LinkedIn – Rascoff knows how to build a revolutionary brand that taps into the deepest of human emotions and desires – a skill that all great entrepreneurs possess. 

Spencer Rascoff has already proven himself to be a Hall of Fame player – an entrepreneur who built billion dollar brands. Now he is ready for his next big challenge in life – becoming a Hall of Fame Coach – helping others start admired companies and develop into authentic leaders. 

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Spencer Rascoff - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

Yanni Hufnagel - the founder and CEO of Lemon Perfect - is one of the most passionate entrepreneurs in the country - not just the $13 billion enhanced water industry.   

He has created a product, a brand, and a values-driven corporate culture that is widely admired by consumers and celebrity-investors across the country - including Beyonce, Blake Griffin, Sloane Stephens, Jared Mccain, and C.J. Stroud. 

After a decade coaching basketball - and learning from some of the most iconic head coaches in the country - Jeff Capel, Eric Musselman, Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt), and Tommy Amaker (Harvard), including - he decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge.  After he raised his first dollar from a supportive investor, he knew he was all in, and there simply was no turning back. 

It wasn't easy. There were a lot of dark days. A lot of tears.  But now the company is experiencing hockey stick growth straight to the stars.   

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Yanni Hufnagel - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com. 

All leaders face obstacles in today's fast-moving, unpredictable world. But women - especially working mothers - 'power moms' - face challenges that most men can barely comprehend.  Almost daily, power mom's confront unique obstacles and unconscious biases.

We are fortunate to have on today's show, one of the country's top experts on this subject - Joann Lublin.  She is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for the Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine.  She has also written two incredibly well-researched and insightful books on women and leadership, "Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World.” And, “Power Moms: How Executive Mothers Navigate Work and Life.”

Also joining us today is my long-time friend and podcast co-host - Kevin Yorn - who has been an employer, partner, advisor, friend and father to working women his entire life. Both Kevin and I ask Joann for practical leadership lessons - for both women and men. And because Joann is an award-winning journalist, don't be surprised if she sometimes turns the table and asks us questions, too. 

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Joann Lublin or Kevin Yorn - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock is a TS Elliot poem that rings true with todays guest, Bryan Leach, founder and CEO of Colorado based unicorn - Ibotta. 

In the poem, Prufrock laments a string of intellectual dead ends and lost opportunities, and is haunted by what could have been - instead of his reality - struggling through never ending, visceral feelings of regret, shame, and humiliation. Leach could relate. Even though he was a partner at a prestigious law firm, he had these exact same feelings of dread and boredom.  

Rinse. Wash. Repeat.  

But unlike many of us, Leach had the courage to do something about it. He quit his job - and started a new venture. Success didn’t come easy. But it was a journey worth taking. Today, Ibotta is one of the most successful private companies in the country and is poised to disrupt the entire consumer loyalty industry.  Leach is a powerful leader who displays unabashed vulnerability - not afraid to do the hard work necessary to become more self aware and authentic.    

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Bryan Leach - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.