Partnering Leadership

In this compelling episode of the Partnering Leadership podcast, Mark Schaefer returns to share fresh, provocative insights from his latest book, Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World. A globally respected marketing strategist, bestselling author, and deep observer of technological change, Schaefer brings sharp clarity to a pressing leadership question: what does it take to stay relevant when artificial intelligence makes intelligence itself abundant?

Rather than offering a simplistic take on AI, Schaefer challenges leaders to confront a more nuanced truth: AI doesn’t just change how we work—it redefines where we create value. In a world where intelligence is cheap and accessible to everyone, he argues, leaders must shift their organizations from knowledge accumulation to human differentiation.

The conversation dives into what “out-humaning” AI actually looks like. From designing moments of awe to fostering fearless creativity, Schaefer offers examples and frameworks that push beyond theory. He connects storytelling, community-building, and emotional resonance not just as marketing strategies—but as core leadership capabilities that machines can’t replicate.

This episode is a must-listen for CEOs, board members, and senior executives grappling with the implications of AI. It’s not about resisting the future—it’s about recognizing what only humans can do, and leading teams to do it with more clarity, urgency, and creativity than ever before.

Actionable Takeaways

• You'll learn why intelligence is no longer a competitive advantage—and what replaces it at the leadership level.
  
  
  
• Hear how to reframe your organizational structure and decision-making in a world where AI handles most of the “smart work.”
  
  
  
• Discover what Mark Schaefer means by “out-humaning AI” and why that’s now your most important leadership mandate.
  
  
  
• You'll learn why competence is no longer enough—and how leaders who rely on it alone risk irrelevance.
  
  
  
• Hear how to use awe, authenticity, and community as strategic tools to build trust and emotional engagement that AI can’t touch.
  
  
  
• You'll learn how to think about brand relevance and personal credibility when your audience knows AI could have written your content.
  
  
  
• Hear how to identify and overcome the fear that’s keeping your organization stuck in mediocrity.
  
  
  
• You'll learn what makes bold storytelling and immersive experience design the next frontier in business leadership.
  
  
• Hear how to embrace AI as a creative partner without outsourcing your strategic soul.
  
  

Connect with Mark Schaefer :

• Website: Businesses Grow
• Social Media: Twitter | LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Eduardo Briceño, author of The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action. In the discussion, Eduardo dives into the transformative power of a growth mindset and how we can apply it to unlock our potential. He shares how a crippling physical injury early in his career led him to Carol Dweck's pioneering work on a growth mindset. This proved life-changing for Eduardo, setting him on a path to teaching individuals, teams, and organizations how to break free of chronic stagnation. In the conversation, Eduardo Briceno explains the performance paradox, where focusing solely on performing without learning leads to poor results. He offers strategies for leaders to get their teams to embrace a growth mindset. 

Some of the Growth Mindset Takeaways That Will Get You Thinking:

• Why integrating micro-learning into daily work trumps sporadic learning sessions. 
• Learn how to distinguish positive stretch mistakes from dangerous high-stakes ones.  
• How leaders can model a growth mindset openly to influence their teams. 
• The role a culture alignment and tweaking existing systems plays in helping teams adopt a growth mindset.
• The type of accountability that matters for both learning and performing. 

Connect with Eduardo Briceño

Eduardo Briceno Website 

Eduardo Briceno LinkedIn 

The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action on Amazon 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jim Detert, John L. Colley Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and author of Choosing Courage: The Everyday Guide to Being Brave at Work. In this conversation, Jim Detert shares how we can become more courageous by developing our courage capabilities. Jim Detert also shares how leaders can nurture a psychologically safe organizational culture, enabling and encouraging more courageous interactions and decisions at work.  

Some highlights:

-Why attributing courage just to historical figures can be counterproductive 

-The importance of being more courageous and how to develop our courage muscle

-Jim Detert on the benefits of courage at work

-How leaders can create a psychologically safe environment that encourages team members to speak up and contribute their best at work

Mentioned:

-Amy Edmondson, Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School and author of Fearless Organization and Creating Psychological Safety

-Vanessa Bohns (Listen to Partnering Leadership conversation with Vanessa Bohns)

-Gary Bolles (Listen to Partnering Leadership conversation with Gary Bolles)

-Difficult Conversations by Bruce Patton, Douglas Stone, and Sheila Heen

-Radical Candor by Kim Scott

-Giving Voice to Values by Mary C. Gentile 

-The Silent Language Of Leaders by Carol Goldman

Connect with Jim Detert:

Jim Detert Website

Choosing Courage on Amazon

Jim Detert on Facebook

Jim Detert on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Laura Hamill, organizational psychologist, startup co-founder, and author of The Power of Culture. Laura shares how her early experiences and leadership journey at Microsoft shaped her passion for understanding the hidden forces that drive organizational behavior and business outcomes.

Laura emphasizes that culture is not a branding exercise or an HR initiative — it is a core leadership responsibility and a strategic lever for success. She discusses the disconnect many organizations face between their stated values and the actual employee experience, warning of the costly "cultural betrayal" that can occur when leaders aren't intentional about culture.

Drawing from real-world examples, Laura outlines how power dynamics, leadership behavior, and systematic feedback are crucial to building a culture that truly supports business goals. Whether you're leading a global company or managing a key division, this conversation offers pragmatic strategies to turn culture from an abstract idea into a business advantage.

Actionable Takeaways

• Hear how Laura’s early life and career experiences built her deep expertise in organizational culture.
• Learn why executives — not just HR — must lead culture initiatives for real impact.
• Find out how to avoid "cultural betrayal" and strengthen employee trust.
• Discover why behavior modeling, not slogans, is essential to culture change.
• Learn simple ways to assess culture health in your teams without massive initiatives.
• Understand how hybrid work is reshaping how leaders must communicate culture.

Connect with the Guest

• Website: Paris Phoenix Group
• LinkedIn: Laura Hamill
• Book: The Power of Culture available on Amazon

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

What does it take to build something that lasts—not just for years, but across generations? In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Alfredo De Massis, a globally recognized expert on family enterprise and author of The Family Business Book: A Roadmap for Entrepreneurial Families to Prosper Across Generations. As one of the most cited scholars in the field and a trusted advisor to multi-generational family businesses around the world, De Massis offers a rare combination of academic rigor and real-world relevance.

But don’t expect a conversation limited to family-owned companies. This episode is about how all leaders—especially those responsible for long-term value—can rethink legacy, leadership, and innovation. De Massis argues that great leaders don’t just pass down businesses; they design systems that outlast them. From ownership mindsets to innovation strategy and governance architecture, the conversation provides a blueprint for building organizations that remain relevant and resilient across time.

A central theme of the discussion is the distinction between succession planning and legacy design. De Massis challenges the outdated belief that continuity depends on finding the next version of the current leader. Instead, he introduces the concept of the "family galaxy"—a flexible, multi-entity model that allows different generations to thrive in different ways, based on their talents and motivations. He also breaks down the three layers of governance essential for long-term success: business governance, family governance, and the often-overlooked interface between them.

For CEOs, board members, and senior executives thinking beyond quarterly results, this conversation delivers both intellectual depth and actionable insight. It’s a masterclass in how to lead with intention—not just for today, but for the future you won’t be around to control.

Actionable Takeaways

• You’ll learn why the best leaders don’t plan succession—they design systems for continued relevance.
  
  
  
• Hear how to reframe ownership as a responsibility to be developed, not a status to be inherited.
  
  
  
• Explore the “family galaxy” model—and how to structure a system where multiple generations can create value.
  
  
  
• Understand how great organizations govern at three levels—and why ignoring the “interface” layer can derail everything.
  
  
  
• Discover why tradition can be a strategic asset when leaders know how to reinterpret—not resist—it.
  
  
  
• Learn how emotional dynamics influence strategic decisions in family and legacy enterprises.
  
  
  
• Find out why leadership earned through credibility—not entitlement—is key to generational success.
  
  
  
• Get practical insights into how to align governance, ownership, and innovation around shared purpose.
  
  
  
• Take away powerful questions to evaluate whether your legacy is built to evolve—or simply to endure.
  
  
  

Connect with Alfredo De Massis

Alfredo De Massis LinkedIn 

Alfredo De Massis IMD 

The Family Business Book 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

What if the greatest risk to your organization isn't economic uncertainty, market volatility, or disruptive technology—but the decisions being made in your own boardroom?

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Didier Cossin, IMD professor and global expert in board governance, whose book High Performance Boards has become a must-read for senior leaders looking to elevate board effectiveness. Drawing from decades of research, real-world consulting, and cross-disciplinary experience—including economics, risk management, and even poetry—Cossin brings a powerful lens to what leadership at the top should really look like.

Cossin argues that governance has been misunderstood by many organizations as a compliance function, rather than what it truly is: a system that shapes the quality of executive decisions. He challenges CEOs and board members to rethink how they engage with one another, what information they rely on, and who actually owns governance performance. The result is a compelling case for boards as enablers of transformation—not just overseers of risk.

Throughout the conversation, Cossin shares examples and frameworks that translate theory into practice. He offers clarity on how boards can evolve to meet the complexity of today’s environment while helping CEOs make better, faster, and more strategic decisions. From the role of the chair to the structure of board packs to the power of informal intelligence, every element of this conversation is designed to elevate how boards contribute to long-term success.

If you are a CEO, board member, or executive leader committed to high-performance leadership and long-term impact, this episode offers both insight and challenge to help you lead more effectively—starting at the top.

Actionable Takeaways

• Hear how Didier Cossin reframes governance as a driver of decision quality—not just risk oversight or compliance.
  
  
  
• Learn why the chair, not the CEO, is ultimately responsible for board performance—and why that distinction matters.
  
  
  
• Discover how most boards are overwhelmed with information but still lack the intelligence needed for high-quality decisions.
  
  
  
• Understand the four levers of board performance—people, information, structure, and culture—and how each one shapes outcomes.
  
  
  
• Explore how the CEO-chair relationship must be intentionally designed, not assumed, for true alignment and accountability.
  
  
  
• Find out why board materials should be curated like an executive dashboard—and how overstuffed board books hinder strategic conversations.
  
  
  
• Learn how boards should evolve from approving strategy to actively shaping it—especially in complex and fast-moving environments.
  
  
  
• Reflect on how strong governance creates the organizational capacity to adapt, lead, and perform over the long term.
  
  
  

Connect with Didier Cossin

Didier Cossin at IMD 

Didier Cossin LinkedIn 

High Performance Boards 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Greg Bennick, keynote speaker, humanitarian, and author of Reclaim the Moment: Seven Strategies to Build a Better Now. Greg shares how his upbringing in a small Connecticut town with nontraditional parents helped shape his views on purpose, disruption, and transformation. Through vivid personal stories—including a near-death experience involving a truck crashing into a bookstore—Greg explores the chaos of modern life, the influence of technology, and the power of reclaiming presence and humanity.

Together, Mahan and Greg dive deep into themes of self-awareness, leadership, kindness, and the role of meaningful relationships in navigating an increasingly noisy and fast-paced world. With humor and humility, Greg invites listeners to rethink success, stay grounded, and embrace possibility—both in life and leadership.

Highlights from the Conversation

• Why noise and chaos dominate our lives—and who benefits from it
• How modern technology hijacks our attention and focus
• Reclaiming the now in a world driven by spectacle and distraction
• The near-death bookstore experience that led Greg to rediscover purpose
• Believing in the possibility of kindness to escape the trap of pessimism
• Why leaders must stop assuming the worst and start cultivating trust
• The importance of emotional buy-in and meaningful work connections
• Reverberation vs. ripple effect in leadership and idea-sharing
• Critique of traditional self-help and Greg’s human-first philosophy
• Daily practices that help Greg stay authentic and focused
• The role of relationships in countering isolation and building purpose
• Asking whether we are using technology—or being used by it

Connect with Greg Bennick:

Greg Bennick on LinkedIn

Greg Bennick's Official Website

"Reclaim the Moment: Seven Strategies to Build a Better Now"

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Mark Schaefer, a renowned bestselling author of popular marketing books. The conversation focuses on Mark Schaefer's latest book, Belonging to the Brand: Why Community is the Last Great Marketing Strategy.

During the discussion, Mark Schaefer shares valuable insights on personal branding, courageous leadership, and the power of humility. Emphasizing the significance of community in marketing, he explores how organizations can successfully build and nurture thriving communities. Mark also discusses the shift from traditional advertising to social media and how creating a sense of community among audiences leads to stronger emotional connections.

The conversation includes compelling examples of companies effectively engaging their customers through community-building initiatives. Mahan and Mark explore the psychological bonds within a community and how these connections translate to heightened brand loyalty.

• Discover the leadership insights of the legendary Peter Drucker and how his ability to distill complexity can transform your approach to management.
• Uncover the power of community in marketing and how it can drive revenue, heal, and create a sense of purpose.
• Learn from real-life examples of big and small companies that have successfully built communities and generated massive success.
• Explore the challenges of leading a community while maintaining alignment and discover the breakthrough ideas and innovation that can arise from a thriving community.
• Understand how the pandemic has highlighted the importance of community in marketing and how it can serve as a powerful healing force in society.
• Gain insights into the importance of purpose in building a community and how involving customers or fans can create a better world together.
• Learn how to build a personal brand in the digital age, leveraging the power of the internet to attract a supportive audience.
• Understand the importance of community and purpose in building thriving communities and how they can engage loyal customers and build on each other.
• Gain insights into building a community and personal brand, focusing on trust and collaboration.
• Explore the power of creating meaningful moments and connections within a community and how it can lead to stronger emotional relationships with your audience.
• Uncover the overlooked value of community in brand marketing and the power of user-generated content and brand advocacy.

Connect with Mark Schaefer

Mark Schaefer Website 

Mark Schaefer on LinkedIn 

Belonging to the Brand: Why Community Is the Last Great Marketing Strategy on Amazon

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Rajeev Kapur, a seasoned technology executive, AI innovator, and author of AI Made Simple. With decades of leadership experience, including his time as CEO of a leading B2B marketing and media technology company, Rajeev shares invaluable insights on how generative AI is reshaping business, leadership, and decision-making.

Leaders today are navigating the rapid rise of AI, facing both unprecedented opportunities and daunting challenges. Rajeev brings clarity to the conversation, offering practical perspectives on how executives can embrace AI without falling behind. From understanding the distinction between machine learning and generative AI to adopting a mindset of experimentation, his guidance is tailored for CEOs and senior leaders determined to future-proof their organizations.

Through this engaging conversation, listeners will gain actionable insights on how AI can drive business growth, enhance strategic decision-making, and optimize operations. Rajeev also addresses common fears around AI adoption and reveals how leaders can use it to multiply their impact, rather than merely cutting costs.

Whether you’re a technology-savvy executive or someone just beginning to explore AI's potential, this episode offers a compelling roadmap for leading in the age of AI. Tune in to learn how to shift from apprehension to action and gain the confidence to make AI a leadership advantage.

Actionable Takeaways

• AI Leadership Mindset: Learn why Rajeev believes AI isn’t just a tool but a leadership test, and how executives can shift their perspective to thrive in an AI-driven world.
  
  
• Data as a Competitive Advantage: Hear why controlling and leveraging your organization’s data is critical to unlocking AI’s true potential.
  
  
• Efficiency vs. Innovation: Discover how AI can free up leadership time by automating mundane tasks, allowing greater focus on strategy and innovation.
  
  
• Decision-Making Reinvented: Gain insights into how AI can transform decision-making by providing predictive insights and surfacing patterns that humans may miss.
  
  
• Common Pitfalls: Understand the biggest mistakes companies make when implementing AI and how to avoid them.
  
  
• Future-Proofing Your Organization: Learn why waiting for AI to “mature” could be a costly mistake and how early adopters are gaining significant advantages.
  
  
• Real-World Examples: Rajeev shares how leading organizations are applying AI to solve complex business challenges and uncover new opportunities.
  
  
• AI and Talent: Explore how leaders can empower their teams to work alongside AI, creating a more productive and engaged workforce.
  
  
• The First Step: Hear Rajeev’s advice on how executives can get started with AI, even without a technical background.
  
  
• Long-Term AI Strategy: Learn how to think beyond short-term automation and consider AI’s role in long-term value creation.
  
  
  

Connect with Rajeev Kapur

Rajeev Kapur Website 

Rajeev Kapur LinkedIn 

AI Made Simple : A Beginner’s Guide to Generative Intelligence 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this compelling episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli engages in a deep and insightful conversation with Barbara Kellerman, a renowned expert in leadership, Harvard Kennedy School Professor, and a prolific author. Kellerman's latest book, Leadership from Bad to Worse: What Happens When Bad Festers, serves as the focal point of this discussion. With decades of research and a unique perspective on the dynamics of leadership, Kellerman challenges conventional wisdom and sheds light on often-overlooked aspects of leadership and followership.

From the outset, Kellerman captivates with her critical examination of why the leadership industry tends to ignore the darker sides of leadership. She goes into the complex interplay between leaders and followers, emphasizing that bad leadership is seldom the result of one individual's actions alone. Her insights into the roles of enablers and the broader context within which leaders operate offer a fresh and necessary perspective for today's CEOs and senior executives.

Kellerman's engaging anecdotes and examples, ranging from corporate boardrooms to political arenas, illustrate the intricate dance between power, authority, and influence. She highlights the importance of understanding these dynamics to navigate the increasingly complex leadership landscape effectively. 

The conversation also explores the diminishing power and authority of leaders in modern organizations, replaced by the need to master influence. Kellerman offers actionable insights on how leaders can cultivate this skill by deeply understanding their followers and the contexts in which they operate. This episode is not just a discussion; it is a masterclass in rethinking leadership in the 21st century.

Actionable Takeaways:

• You'll learn why the leadership industry often avoids discussing bad leadership and the implications of this oversight.
• Hear how understanding the role of followers is crucial in holding leaders accountable and driving positive change.
• Discover the importance of examining the entire leadership system, including enablers and context, to truly understand leadership failures.
• Understand why leadership cannot be reduced to a few simple lessons and the importance of lifelong learning in leadership development.
• Explore the diminishing authority of leaders and the rising importance of influence in effective leadership today.
• Gain insights into the challenges of leading in a world where power dynamics have drastically shifted due to cultural and technological changes.
• Find out how leaders can balance accessibility and authority to maintain effective leadership.
• Learn about the critical role of followership in both enabling and challenging bad leadership.
• Discover strategies for creating an organizational culture that supports transparency and accountability in leadership.
• Hear examples of how successful leaders navigate the complexities of modern leadership environments.

Connect with Barbara Kellerman

Leadership from Bad to Worse: What Happens When Bad Festers 

Barbara Kellerman Website 

Barbara Kellerman LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website