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What can today’s executives and business leaders learn from a ruler who lived 2,500 years ago? As it turns out, quite a lot. In this episode of Partnering Leadership, host Mahan Tavakoli welcomes Darius Lahoutifard, a seasoned entrepreneur, leadership expert, and the author of Leadership by Cyrus the Great: Unlocking Xenophon’s Cyropaedia. Drawing on the remarkable leadership legacy of Cyrus the Great, one of history’s most effective and visionary leaders, Darius reveals how Cyrus’s principles of governance, strategy, and influence remain strikingly relevant in today’s fast-changing business environment.
In this insightful conversation, Darius shares how Cyrus built and sustained one of the most diverse and resilient empires in history—not through brute force, but through strategic leadership, trust-building, and cultural intelligence. Unlike many rulers of his time, Cyrus understood that power was not about control but about creating unity through shared purpose. His ability to win wars without fighting, empower his people while maintaining oversight, and earn loyalty rather than demand it makes him a leadership model worth studying today.
Mahan and Darius also discuss how leaders today struggle with many of the same challenges Cyrus faced—gaining trust, balancing autonomy with accountability, and inspiring people to commit to a vision bigger than themselves. Through historical insights and modern applications, this episode explores how executives can apply Cyrus’s timeless leadership strategies to navigate uncertainty, foster high-performing cultures, and lead with clarity and purpose.
Whether you’re a CEO, an entrepreneur, or a leader guiding a team through transformation, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership. Listen in to discover how an ancient leader’s wisdom can help you make smarter strategic decisions, inspire your people, and build an organization that thrives beyond your tenure.
Actionable Takeaways:
🔹 What made Cyrus the Great one of history’s most effective leaders—and why his leadership principles are still relevant today.
🔹 The hidden leadership advantage of winning without war—how Cyrus secured victories through intelligence and strategy rather than brute force.
🔹 How to build unwavering trust as a leader—Cyrus’s secret to getting people to follow him willingly, and how modern leaders can apply it to earn loyalty and drive engagement.
🔹 The power of leading by example—why Cyrus’s discipline and personal ethics were key to his influence, and what leaders today can learn about credibility and consistency.
🔹 The balance between trust and oversight—Cyrus knew that empowering people didn’t mean letting go of accountability. Hear how he managed both—and how you can too.
🔹 Why repetition is a leadership necessity, not a weakness—Cyrus constantly reinforced his vision and values. Learn why leaders must repeat key messages far more than they think.
Connect with Darius Lahoutifard
Darius Lahoutifard Website
Darius Lahoutifard Linkedin
Leadership by Cyrus the Great: Unlocking Xenophon’s Cyropaedia
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website
In today’s fast-changing world, leaders are expected to navigate complexity, make high-stakes decisions, and provide clarity—even when certainty is impossible. But how can leaders embrace ambiguity without losing their strategic edge? In this episode of Partnering Leadership, host Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Jennifer Garvey Berger, a world-renowned leadership expert and the author of Changing on the Job: How Leaders Become Courageous, Wise, and Steady in an Anxious World.
Jennifer has spent decades studying leadership development, complexity theory, and the psychological barriers that hold leaders back. She challenges conventional leadership wisdom, arguing that the strategies that once worked—providing clear-cut answers, setting rigid goals, and optimizing efficiency—are now outdated. Instead, she offers a compelling vision for leaders who want to increase their adaptability, enhance their decision-making, and transform uncertainty into opportunity.
In this conversation, Jennifer and Mahan explore why leaders feel overwhelmed by complexity, how our brains instinctively react to uncertainty, and what it takes to break free from reactive leadership patterns. She introduces the three stages of leadership mindset evolution and explains why some leaders stay stuck in old ways of thinking while others thrive. Jennifer also discusses the pitfalls of chasing externally defined success and offers powerful questions leaders should be asking themselves to ensure they are driving meaningful impact.
If you’ve ever felt the pressure to have all the answers, struggled to balance clarity with ambiguity, or wondered how to lead when the future feels unpredictable, this episode is packed with insights designed to shift your perspective. Jennifer Garvey Berger’s expertise provides a practical and thought-provoking roadmap for leaders looking to navigate complexity with confidence.
Actionable Takeaways:
Connect with Jennifer Garvey Berger
Jennifer Garvey Berger Website
Jennifer Garvey Berger LinkedIn
Changing on the Job: How Leaders Become Courageous, Wise, and Steady in an Anxious World
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli hosts Andrea Sampson, an expert in strategic storytelling and the co-founder of Talk Boutique. Andrea Sampson talks about the fascinating intersection of brain science and storytelling, emphasizing why humans are hardwired to respond to stories. As an experienced speaker's coach for TEDx Toronto and a thought leader in her own right, Andrea shares her journey from the advertising world to helping change-makers communicate their ideas effectively.
Andrea highlights the critical role storytelling plays in leadership and organizational success. She explains how stories, unlike mere data, engage multiple parts of the brain, making messages more memorable and impactful. Leaders are often trained to prioritize facts and figures, but Andrea argues that integrating storytelling into their communication strategies can significantly enhance their influence and connection with their audience.
Throughout the conversation, Andrea underscores the importance of starting with a clear strategic message before crafting the narrative. She shares practical insights on how leaders can identify and refine their core messages, ensuring that their stories are not only engaging but also aligned with their organizational goals. By drawing on examples from iconic brands like Apple and Disney, Andrea illustrates how a singular focus can drive brand consistency and loyalty.
Moreover, Andrea addresses the challenge of vulnerability in leadership. She advocates for sharing stories from a place of scars rather than wounds, enabling leaders to convey authenticity and empathy without retraumatizing themselves or their audience.
Actionable Takeaways:
Connect with the Andrea Sampson:
Talk Boutique Website
Andrea Sampson LinkedIn
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Anders Indset, a renowned business philosopher, leadership thinker, and author of The Viking Code. As organizations navigate the rapid rise of AI, economic volatility, and shifting workforce dynamics, Indset challenges leaders to rethink how they lead, make decisions, and create value in a world that increasingly rewards speed over wisdom.
Drawing on insights from The Viking Code and his broader work on leadership and philosophy, Indset explores why many leaders today are trapped in reaction mode—constantly responding to crises instead of shaping the future. He argues that leadership must evolve beyond traditional models of efficiency and optimization, as AI will always outperform humans in those areas. Instead, he makes a compelling case for leaders to cultivate deep thinking, creativity, and the ability to balance trust with friction—elements that AI cannot replicate.
Indset also introduces the idea of a “Declaration of Interdependence,” where leadership is no longer about individual success but the ability to foster collaboration, challenge assumptions, and navigate uncertainty. He breaks down how leaders can create high-performance cultures that embrace both collective intelligence and individual growth, ensuring that organizations don’t just keep up but stay ahead in an era of transformation.
Throughout the conversation, Indset and Tavakoli dive into how CEOs and senior executives can develop the mental models, frameworks, and mindset shifts needed to lead effectively in the years ahead.
Actionable Takeaways:
🔹 The Leadership Crisis: Why Most Executives Are Stuck in Reaction Mode – Hear why instant decision-making is overvalued, and why deep thinking and reflection are the new competitive edge.
🔹 The Optimization Trap – Discover why chasing efficiency is a losing game for human leaders—and where real leadership value lies in an AI-driven world.
🔹 Beyond Individualism: The Declaration of Interdependence – Learn why collaboration, trust, and friction are the key leadership forces shaping high-performing teams.
🔹 The Future Won’t Wait—How Leaders Must Anticipate, Not React – Find out why leaders who think in scenarios and prepare for multiple futures will outlast those who rely on past strategies.
🔹 Teaching People How to Think, Not What to Think – Explore how education and corporate training have failed to create adaptable leaders, and what needs to change.
🔹 Trust + Friction = Innovation – Hear why leaders must create environments where disagreement is encouraged, rather than feared.
🔹 How to Become an Uncatchable – Learn how elite leaders and organizations stay ahead by constantly learning, evolving, and thinking beyond their industry norms.
🔹 Why Leaders Must Prioritize Meaning Over Metrics – Understand why purpose, culture, and human insight matter more than data-driven decision-making alone.
Connect with Anders Indset
Anders Indset Website
Anders Indset LinkedIn
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website
What separates truly exceptional leaders from the rest? According to Kurt Strovink, it’s not just strategy, execution, or decision-making—it’s the ability to lead from within. As a senior partner at McKinsey & Company and a global advisor to CEOs, Kurt has spent decades studying the patterns of the most successful executives. In his latest book, The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out, he reveals what the best leaders do differently and why self-awareness is at the core of transformative leadership.
In this insightful conversation, Kurt unpacks the critical contradictions every CEO must navigate—balancing short-term and long-term priorities, managing gut instincts with data-driven analysis, and fostering trust while making tough calls. He also explores the human-centric aspects of leadership, showing why the most effective CEOs focus not just on financial performance but on culture, dissent, and psychological safety to drive long-term success.
Mahan Tavakoli and Kurt also discuss practical frameworks for leadership development, including how CEOs can create cultures that encourage truth-telling, manage their energy instead of just their time, and make bold decisions that define their legacies. Drawing on insights from 500+ CEO forums and top leaders worldwide, Kurt shares the strategies that help executives avoid common pitfalls and unlock their full leadership potential.
Actionable Takeaways from This Episode
Connect with Kurt Strovink
Kurt Strovink LinkedIn
Kurt Strovink McKinsey & Company
The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website
Culture is often cited as a competitive advantage, yet many leaders fail to shape it with intention. In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Chris Dyer, a globally recognized company culture expert and the author of The Power of Company Culture. With years of hands-on experience advising leaders on how to build high-performance organizations, Chris shares why most leaders think they have a great culture—until cracks begin to show.
Many executives believe culture is about mission statements, values, and engagement surveys—but Chris breaks down why it’s really about what leadership tolerates, ignores, and reinforces on a daily basis. Through sharp insights and real-world examples, he reveals the biggest blind spots CEOs and leadership teams have when it comes to culture and why those blind spots can lead to disengaged employees, stalled innovation, and underperformance.
Rather than offering theoretical concepts, Chris lays out practical, high-impact shifts that any leader can implement—starting with transparency, accountability, and a relentless focus on amplifying what’s working instead of constantly fixing what’s broken. He also challenges leaders to rethink how they approach mistakes, talent retention, and performance management, emphasizing that protecting top performers is just as critical—if not more—than managing struggling employees.
This conversation is packed with actionable leadership insights that go beyond culture as a buzzword and get into how leaders can build workplaces that drive engagement, innovation, and results. Whether you're leading a fast-growing company or steering an established organization through transformation, this episode will leave you with immediately applicable strategies to strengthen your leadership and build a culture that delivers.
Actionable Takeaways from This Episode:
Connect with Chris Dyer
Chris Dyer Website
Chris Dyer 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 Steve Cadigan, renowned talent strategist, leadership advisor, and author of the acclaimed book Workquake. Steve brings decades of experience shaping talent strategies for some of the most innovative companies in the world, including Cisco, Electronic Arts, and LinkedIn, where he played a pivotal role as the company’s first Chief HR Officer during its meteoric rise.
Steve Cadigan explores the seismic shifts reshaping the workplace, from the unprecedented power shift toward employees to the increasing necessity for organizations to embrace agility in a high-turnover world. In a lively and insightful conversation, he challenges traditional leadership paradigms, emphasizing the importance of rethinking outdated systems designed for a workforce that no longer exists. Whether it's hiring for potential, fostering cultures of continuous learning, or preparing for the impacts of AI, Steve delivers actionable strategies for CEOs and senior executives navigating the future of work.
As the world moves at an accelerating pace, Steve highlights the critical need for organizations to adapt to the realities of shorter employee tenure and heightened workforce expectations. He shares stories and examples from his extensive career to illustrate how leaders can position their organizations to thrive by creating environments where people want to stay—not because they have to, but because they’re inspired to.
Actionable Takeaways
Connect with Steve Cadigan
Steve Cadigan Website
Steve Cadigan LinkedIn
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website
John Livesay, The Pitch Whisperer and author of best-selling books, including Better Selling Through Storytelling and The Sale is In the Tale, joins Mahan Tavakoli on the Partnering Leadership podcast to share his insights on storytelling for leaders. In the conversation, John Livesay shares practical techniques to craft compelling stories that motivate teams, win business, and drive change. Additionally, John provides memorable examples and easy-to-apply storytelling frameworks, including the 3Cs model and four-part story structure.
Storytelling Takeaways from This Episode:
- Telling your origin story and values-in-action stories to establish trust
- Structuring pitches around client-focused stories, not just facts
- Using analogies and vulnerability to smoothly guide teams through change
- Capturing relatable stories from your team to build connection and brand loyalty
- Applying the "5-5-5" model to reframe challenges and build resilience rapidly
- Practicing consistently to hone your skills as a persuasive communicator
Connect with John Livesay
John Livesay Website
John Livesay on LinkedIn
The Sale is In the Tale on Amazon
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website
In this insightful episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli welcomes James Lawrence, a seasoned entrepreneur, leadership expert, and the driving force behind Happy Companies. With a dynamic career that includes founding multiple successful businesses, James has developed a passion for blending behavioral science, leadership, and innovative technology to create stronger, more aligned organizations. As the co-creator of Happy Companies, an AI-powered coaching platform, James shares his expertise on democratizing leadership development, creating meaningful manager-employee relationships, and building cultures where people and productivity thrive.
In this engaging conversation, James reflects on the critical role of emotional intelligence in leadership and why he believes the relationship between a manager and their employee is the single most important factor in an organization’s success. He also shares personal leadership lessons, revealing the mistakes he made early in his career and how he transformed his approach to focus on individual team members’ unique strengths and motivations. From adapting leadership styles to investing in your people, James delivers a treasure trove of actionable insights for senior executives seeking to build lasting organizational impact.
James also delves into the power of technology in leadership, explaining how Happy Companies leverages AI to provide real-time, personalized coaching for every employee in an organization. He challenges traditional notions of coaching as exclusive to senior leaders and instead advocates for a holistic approach that empowers every individual to grow. Throughout the episode, James shares practical advice and thought-provoking perspectives that will inspire leaders to rethink how they build and lead their teams.
Actionable Takeaways
Connect with James Lawrence
Happy Companies
James Lawrence LinkedIn
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website
In this compelling episode of Partnering Leadership, host Mahan Tavakoli dives into a fascinating conversation with Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter, authors of Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future. As leaders at Stanford's d.school, Scott and Carissa bring a wealth of expertise on design thinking, adaptability, and systems thinking that is uniquely relevant for CEOs and senior executives facing today’s complex challenges. Their insights are a timely reminder of the importance of embracing curiosity, imperfection, and collaboration to lead effectively in a fast-changing world.
Throughout the conversation, Scott and Carissa reveal how design principles can transform the way leaders think, act, and guide their teams. They delve into practical strategies for noticing what others might miss, addressing systemic challenges, and preparing for uncertainty. Their unique perspectives on shaping leadership in turbulent times challenge conventional approaches and inspire listeners to adopt new mindsets that drive innovation and adaptability.
As the conversation unfolds, Scott and Carissa explore topics like “shape-shifting” leadership, balancing confidence with curiosity, and harnessing discomfort as a powerful design tool. They share practical advice and real-world examples, making the conversation rich with actionable insights. Whether you’re looking to improve your team’s creativity, foster systems thinking, or simply become a more intentional leader, this episode offers ideas and strategies you can apply immediately.
Actionable Takeaways:
Connect with Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter:
Stanford d. School Website
Scott Doorley LinkedIn
Carissa Carter LinkedIn
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website
From the publisher's feed
Partnering Leadership is an award-winning global podcast for CEOs, board members, and senior executives who want to think more clearly about what is changing, what may be coming next, and what it…
Hosted by Mahan Tavakoli, the podcast draws on 450+ conversations with CEOs, founders, researchers, futurists, and leading thinkers on strategy, leadership, organizational transformation, innovation, and AI.
The conversations go beyond generic leadership advice.
They explore the questions senior leaders increasingly need to wrestle with:
What is changing that could reshape our business?
Which assumptions about strategy, customers, work, and organizations may no longer hold?
What will AI change beyond productivity?
Where might value move next?
How should organizations and leadership evolve as the answers change?
Guests have included Ram Charan, John Kotter, Stephen M.R. Covey, Ajay Agrawal, Azeem Azhar, Ranjay Gulati, Sangeet Paul Choudary, David Marquet, Bob Johansen, David Rubenstein, Jean Case, Paul Daugherty, Carolyn Dewar, Whitney Johnson, Ron Adner, and many others shaping how leaders think about strategy, organizations, technology, and the future of business.
Mahan brings an advisor’s perspective to each conversation, pushing beyond surface-level answers to explore the choices, trade-offs, and implications that matter in the C-suite and boardroom.
The result is a broader, more forward-looking perspective on the decisions leaders are making today and the ones they may need to make sooner than they think.
Available on all major podcast platforms and at PartneringLeadership.com.