In this powerful conversation, global credibility expert Mitchell Levy sits down with author, researcher, and consultant Jean Gomes to explore what it truly means for leaders to live their values in a world defined by uncertainty, polarization, and nonstop change. Jean, founder of the research-based consultancy Outside, brings together neuroscience and management insight to explain how mindset really works, why metacognition matters more than IQ, and how leaders can intentionally build the architecture of their brains to navigate complexity, conflict, and transformation. From parenting and partnership to organizational culture and AI, Jean opens up about the costs of the traditional sacrifice mindset and makes the case for a new sufficiency mindset that honors both performance and human needs. If you care about leadership, wellbeing, and the future of work, this episode offers a timely and deeply human roadmap for evolving how we think, feel, and lead.
Summary
Jean Gomes, an author, researcher, and consultant based in the UK, runs Outside, a research-based consultancy that blends neuroscience and management practice to help leaders solve complex challenges. In this conversation, Jean explains his definition of mindset as the way we make sense of ourselves in the world, distinct from personality or simple belief systems. He explores how metacognition and meta-emotions shape our capacity to update our beliefs, handle uncertainty, and avoid the traps of extremism and polarization. Jean shares personal stories of applying mindset science at home with his daughters and spouse, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, emotional feedback, and the willingness to apologize and reinterpret situations. He also addresses the illusion of knowledge created by AI and thought leadership that lacks real experience, and challenges leaders and younger generations to ask what enduring human value looks like in a world of powerful technology. Jean concludes by contrasting the sacrifice mindset with a sufficiency mindset that allows people to be successful while still meeting their physical, emotional, social, and purpose needs, arguing that this shift is essential for healthier individuals, families, organizations, and societies.
Quotes
* “Mindset is not your personality. It’s how you make sense of yourself in the world.”
* “Metacognition can improve dramatically in days with simple practices.”
* “The illusion of knowledge created by AI cannot turn information into wisdom.”
* “We need a new mindset that lets us succeed while still meeting our core human needs.”
* “Negative emotions are signals that a need is not being met, not something happening to us.”
Takeaways
* Mindset is more than a buzzword; it is the way we make sense of ourselves and our world, and it can be intentionally built and refined through awareness and practice.
* Metacognition, or thinking about how we think, is critical for leaders because it enables them to update their beliefs considering new information and avoid rigid, polarized positions.
* Families and close relationships provide some of the clearest feedback on our behavior and mindset, and responding with openness, apology, and reinterpretation can deepen trust and connection.
* Modern organizations are operating in an environment of unprecedented uncertainty, technological change, and geopolitical instability, which amplifies polarization and strains leaders who lack inner capacity.
* AI can make knowledge look easy and accessible, but it does not replace lived experience, wisdom, or the ability to navigate real-world complexity sustainably.
* Younger generations and leaders alike are challenged to ask what enduring human value looks like in a world of AI, rather than chasing superficial forms of advantage or visibility.
* The long-dominant sacrifice mindset, which assumes success requires giving up physical, emotional, and relational needs, is becoming increasingly costly and unsustainable.
* A sufficiency mindset reframes success as being able to win at work while also meeting core needs, treating wellbeing and human needs as a form of social innovation rather than a luxury.
* Paying close attention to negative emotions as signals, rather than suppressing or numbing them, can help individuals recognize unmet needs early and choose healthier responses.
* Jean’s broader mission through Outside is to build a rigorous body of mindset knowledge, test it with organizations, and ultimately make it freely available to children, parents, and leaders everywhere.
Timeline
[0:00:00] Welcome and Introduction
[0:00:24] Who Is Jean Gomes
[0:01:29] Bringing Mindset Science into Family Life
[0:02:18] Redefining Mindset with Neuroscience
[0:03:55] Parenting, Awareness, and Emotional Insight
[0:04:50] Unfiltered Feedback from Children
[0:07:14] Working with a Spouse and Shared Language
[0:08:15] The Need for a Common Language at Work
[0:09:31] Polarization and Leadership Challenges
[0:11:55] Metacognition and Extremes of Belief
[0:13:20] AI, Knowledge Illusion, and Thought Leadership
[0:15:21] Knowledge vs. Wisdom in Real Situations
[0:17:12] Echo Chambers, Emotions, and Belonging
[0:20:11] Technology Amplifying Human Behavior
[0:20:37] Jean’s Library and Personal Environment
[0:21:48] Three Core Mindset Shifts for Leaders
[0:23:45] Understand, Build, Apply Mindsets
[0:24:48] Jean’s Mission and Legacy
[0:26:08] Where to Find and Follow Jean
[0:27:19] The Global Hit to Wellbeing
[0:29:23] From Sacrifice to Sufficiency Mindset
[0:31:14] Emotional Signals and Unmet Needs
[0:31:45] Closing Reflections
Conclusion
Mitchell Levy and Jean Gomes deliver a profound discussion on mindset, leadership, and human evolution in a rapidly changing world. Jean demystifies mindset by grounding it in neuroscience and practical tools leaders can use immediately. His stories illuminate how awareness, emotional intelligence, and genuine reflection can transform families, teams, and organizational culture. Most importantly, he challenges us to move beyond the outdated sacrifice mindset and embrace a sufficiency mindset—one that honors success without abandoning our health, relationships, or core needs. This episode is a timely guide for leaders ready to grow with intention and resilience.
If you like what you’re hearing and want to dive deeper into credibility, clarity, and how to show up as your best self, visit MitchellLevy.com. You can also book time directly on the calendar at https://mitchelllevy.com/contact-us to start your journey toward greater credibility today!
Links/Resources:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-gomes-7a2244/?originalSubdomain=uk
Book “Leading in a Non-Linear World”: https://a.co/d/0VsV7Km
Website: https://www.weareoutside.com/aboutoutside
Learn more about Mitchell Levy:
https://MitchellLevy.com
Book time directly with Mitchell: https://mitchelllevy.com/contact-us
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