Leadership Luminaries Lounge (TM)

In this part 2 of our conversation with Daryl we discussed follow-up topics, including how leaders should assess acceptable personal and organizational risk when pursuing purpose-driven change and whether misaligned people should be removed.

Daryl Conner is a renowned expert in organizational change with over fifty years of experience advising senior leaders and change practitioners across leading global organizations. He is the co-founder and chairman of Conner Academy, Conner Advisory, and Conner Partners, delivering learning, advisory, and consulting services across nonprofit and for-profit sectors. His work is grounded in extensive research and a background in psychology, helping leaders navigate complex, transformational change. Daryl is the author of Managing at the Speed of Change and Leading at the Edge of Chaos, along with more than 300 publications on leadership and change.

Contact Daryl at:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/conner-advisory/

Conner Academy (www.conneracademy.com)

Conner Advisory (www.conneradvisory.com)

Conner Partners (www.connerpartners.com)

Contact Kerry and Peggy at:

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

Leave us a comment and share this episode with your network!

In this episode of Leadership Luminaries Lounge, host Kerry L. Bass and co-host Peggy O’Neal sit down with renowned change expert Daryl Conner to explore how leaders navigate large-scale transformation. Drawing from decades of research, Conner explains why human and organizational responses to change are remarkably consistent across industries and cultures. The conversation breaks down how leaders can measure, communicate, and sustain meaningful change in complex environments. They also examine the difference between simply informing stakeholders and truly enrolling them in a shared vision. This episode offers powerful insights for leaders facing rapid change in an increasingly dynamic world.

Daryl Conner is a renowned expert in organizational change with over fifty years of experience advising senior leaders and change practitioners across leading global organizations. He is the co-founder and chairman of Conner Academy, Conner Advisory, and Conner Partners, delivering learning, advisory, and consulting services across nonprofit and for-profit sectors. His work is grounded in extensive research and a background in psychology, helping leaders navigate complex, transformational change. Daryl is the author of Managing at the Speed of Change and Leading at the Edge of Chaos, along with more than 300 publications on leadership and change.

Contact Daryl at:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/conner-advisory/

Conner Academy (www.conneracademy.com)

Conner Advisory (www.conneradvisory.com)

Conner Partners (www.connerpartners.com)

Contact Kerry and Peggy at:

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

Leave us a comment and share this episode with your network!

Welcome back to the Leadership Luminaries Lounge™. In this second part of the conversation, hosts Kerry Bass and Peggy O'Neal continue their rich and thought-provoking dialogue with Dan Moore Jr., CEO and President of the APEX Museum. Building on the foundation laid in Part One, this episode dives deeper into the future of the APEX Museum.

Dan A. Moore, Jr. is President and CEO of the APEX (African American Panoramic Experience) Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1996, he has served in multiple leadership roles at APEX, including Director of Programs, Museum Director, and COO, helping shape its exhibitions, marketing strategies, and daily operations. He created signature initiatives such as the Traveling Exhibits of the APEX Museum (TEAM) and the APEX Museum Television Network. Dan is also a former executive producer, nonprofit CEO, and coauthor of Georgia Music Masters. He lives near Atlanta with his wife, Elena, and their extended family.

Contact Dan at:

linkedin.com/in/danmoorejr

www.apexmuseum.org

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

In Episode 30 of the Leadership Luminaries Lounge™ Podcast, hosts Kerry L. Bass and Peggy O’Neal welcome Dan Moore Jr., President and CEO of the APEX Museum. Together, they explore what it means to lead with humanity, integrity, and purpose. The conversation reframes history as a shared human experience while examining community, culture, and future-focused leadership. This episode invites listeners to honor the past while courageously shaping what comes next.

Dan A. Moore, Jr. is President and CEO of the APEX (African American Panoramic Experience) Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1996, he has served in multiple leadership roles at APEX, including Director of Programs, Museum Director, and COO, helping shape its exhibitions, marketing strategies, and daily operations. He created signature initiatives such as the Traveling Exhibits of the APEX Museum (TEAM) and the APEX Museum Television Network. Dan is also a former executive producer, nonprofit CEO, and coauthor of Georgia Music Masters. He lives near Atlanta with his wife, Elena, and their extended family.

Contact Dan at:

linkedin.com/in/danmoorejr

www.apexmuseum.org

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

In Part 2 Kerry and Peggy enlightening discussion with Dr. Shamim Bodhanya, Managing Director of The Leadership Dialogue (South Africa), we explore the role of futures thinking, strategic foresight, sustainability, and the complex challenges facing modern leaders. The conversation dives into embodied knowing, systemic transformation, and how leaders can navigate uncertainty with wisdom, ethics, and expanded mental models.

Contact Dr. Shamim at:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamimbodhanya/

https://leadershipdialogue.co.za/

Contact Kerry and Peggy at:

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

Leave us a comment and share this episode with your network!

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In Episode 29, Part 1 of this two-part dialogue, hosts Kerry L. Bass and Peggy O’Neal welcome Dr.Shamim Bodhanya to the Leadership Luminaries Lounge for a rich exploration of leadership rooted in non-duality, systems thinking, and integrated human development. Their conversation traces Dr. Bodhanya’s global journey and philosophical foundation, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of wicked problems, ethics, and the interconnected nature of modern leadership.

Dr. Shamim Bodhanya is Director of the Leadership Dialogue, a consultant, researcher, facilitator, and keynote speaker specializing in systems thinking and complex adaptive systems. He brings over 14 years of industrial experience and 23 years across academia, consulting, and executive training. Shamim has facilitated strategy and organizational effectiveness for major corporations and trained hundreds of leaders in strategy, change, and leadership. He leads the South Africa Values20 sustainability research team and developed the Wicked Problem-Solving Methodology and Toolkit. He holds a PhD in Leadership and Strategy, an International MBA, and an engineering degree.

Contact Dr. Shamim at:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamimbodhanya/

https://leadershipdialogue.co.za//

Contact Kerry and Peggy at:

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

Leave us a comment and share this episode with your network!

Don’t forget to Subscribe.

In this episode, Dr. Charles Dhanaraj explores the courageous mindset leaders need to thrive in times of uncertainty. The conversation highlights how moral courage and strategic intuition help leaders see a faint path forward and act decisively. We discuss why belonging and trust are the foundation for team confidence, and how leaders can balance vulnerability with strength to create collective sensing. Real-world examples—from Captain Sully’s Hudson River landing to Jamie Dimon’s bold decisions during the 2008 financial crisis—illustrate what it takes to lead with conviction when the future is unclear.

Charles Dhanaraj is J. Mack Robinson Professor of International Business and Academic Director of DBA Program at Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA. Dhanaraj is an elected Fellow of the Academy of International Business. His research has contributed several insights on strategic partnerships, innovation and leadership. He has published in top academic journals, including Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Academy of Management Review, and Harvard Business Review. He has written several award-winning cases. In his current research, Dhanaraj is studying three challenges at the intersection of digitalization and globalization, with special focus on entrepreneurship and geopolitics. As a strategy and international business expert, he has taught in executive education programs at the University of Denver, Temple University, IMD Switzerland, Indian School of Business (ISB), Fundação Dom Cabral (FDC, Brazil), Copenhagen Business School (CBS, Denmark), and others. Dhanaraj earned his PhD in business from Ivey Business School (Canada), with M.Eng. in robotics from Memorial University and B.Tech in mechanical engineering from IIT Madras (India).

Contact Dr. Dhanara at:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-dhanaraj-949566

Contact Kerry and Peggy at:

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

Leave us a comment and share this episode with your network!

In this episode, Kerry and Peggy are joined by Dr. Charles Dhanaraj, who shares his personal leadership journey across 60+ countries and explores the universal challenges leaders face in uncertain times. The conversation highlights why adaptability, humility, and moral courage are essential for executives today. We discuss overcoming cultural assumptions, embracing risk, and building ‘humble confidence’ to lead organizations through complexity while fostering trust and collective sensing.

Charles Dhanaraj is J. Mack Robinson Professor of International Business and Academic Director of DBA Program at Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA. Dhanaraj is an elected Fellow of the Academy of International Business. His research has contributed several insights on strategic partnerships, innovation and leadership. He has published in top academic journals, including Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Academy of Management Review, and Harvard Business Review. He has written several award-winning cases. In his current research, Dhanaraj is studying three challenges at the intersection of digitalization and globalization, with special focus on entrepreneurship and geopolitics. As a strategy and international business expert, he has taught in executive education programs at the University of Denver, Temple University, IMD Switzerland, Indian School of Business (ISB), Fundação Dom Cabral (FDC, Brazil), Copenhagen Business School (CBS, Denmark), and others. Dhanaraj earned his PhD in business from Ivey Business School (Canada), with M.Eng. in robotics from Memorial University and B.Tech in mechanical engineering from IIT Madras (India).

Contact Dr. Dhanara at:

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-dhanaraj-949566

Contact Kerry and Peggy at:

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

Leave us a comment and share this episode with your network!

In this special episode, we deliver a comprehensive wrap-up of the most impactful business leadership trends from 2025 while offering an exclusive sneak peek into what’s in store for 2026. Join us as we synthesize the key takeaways from the past year and prepare you for the emerging strategies and challenges that will define executive success in the year to come.

Contact Kerry and Peggy at:

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

Leave us a comment and share this episode with your network!

Don’t forget to Subscribe

Welcome to Part 2 of this insightful conversation on the Leadership Luminaries Lounge™ Podcast. Hosts Kerry L. Bass and Peggy O’Neal continue their discussion with Carson Funderburk, Vice President and Staff Leader at Clorox and former board member of Milo’s Tea Company. In this episode, Carson shares lessons on transformation versus sustaining leadership, the power of purpose-driven enterprises, and how personal values shape leadership. Get ready for practical strategies and inspiring stories that will help you lead with clarity and conviction.

Carson Funderburk is a transformative supply chain executive with a passion for operational excellence, innovation, and talent development. Throughout his career, Carson has advocated for talent development and inclusive leadership. He is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders and developing high-performing, value-creating teams that are essential for organizational growth. His proficiency in enabling innovation and supply chain capabilities is a notable strength. Additionally, he is recognized as a leader who achieves results through a sustainable culture founded on technological and process advancements. He is considered a first mover in technology development and application. Serving on the board for Milo's Tea Company has enhanced his governance skills through leadership on their People-First committee, allowing him to continue developing talent-related capabilities in a high-growth environment.

Contact Carson at:

linkedin.com/in/carson-funderburk10

Contact Kerry and Peggy at:

Kerry:

linkedin.com/in/kerrylbass

https://makingitreality.com/

Peggy:

linkedin.com/in/peggyoneal

https://www.peggy-oneal.com/

Leave us a comment and share this episode with your network!