Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli engages in a powerful conversation with Lior Arussy, renowned author, speaker, and expert in organizational transformation and customer experience. Lior is the author of the thought-provoking book Dare to Author: Take Charge of the Narrative of Your Life. In this episode, he brings his compelling insights to life, challenging leaders to rethink how they approach storytelling, organizational change, and leadership in an era of rapid disruption.

Lior shares his journey of discovering the power of stories—not just in shaping customer experiences but in transforming individual and organizational mindsets. Drawing on decades of working with global companies, he unpacks why so many people resist change, how leaders can overcome that resistance, and why the ability to craft and evolve personal and organizational narratives is critical for thriving in uncertainty.

Listeners will be inspired by Lior's insights on how leaders can empower their teams to embrace change without feeling judged, how to separate purpose from tools to drive transformation, and why storytelling is no longer a nice-to-have skill but a necessity for effective leadership. His approach combines practical frameworks with deeply human insights, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking to unlock their team’s potential and elevate their leadership impact.

From redefining leadership as navigating the unknown to exploring how gratitude fuels resilience and innovation, this conversation is rich with actionable ideas. 

Actionable Takeaways:

• You’ll learn why storytelling is not just a communication tool but a leadership necessity in driving transformation and engagement.
• Hear how to overcome resistance to change by reframing it as evolution rather than judgment of past efforts.
• Discover why separating purpose from tools can help you and your team embrace innovation with less fear and more confidence.
• Gain insights into why victimhood is a choice—and how to rise to the higher version of yourself as a leader.
• Learn the surprising connection between gratitude and resilience, and how embracing gratitude can fuel your team’s energy for change.
• Understand why the leadership practices you inherited 30 years ago may no longer serve you in today’s fast-paced, dynamic workplace.
• Explore the concept of cultural readiness and why leaders must take responsibility for their organization’s capacity to adapt and thrive.
• Find out why perfectionism paralyzes teams—and how to give your people permission to experiment and innovate.
• Hear why the biggest companies miss the biggest trends and how to avoid the ‘best practices trap.’
• Learn how to author your own leadership story and turn past successes and failures into tools for future growth.

Connect with the Lior Arussy

Lior Arussy Website

Lior Arussy LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this insightful episode of Partnering Leadership, host Mahan Tavakoli welcomes back world-renowned futurist, best-selling author, and innovation expert Daniel Burrus. Known for his groundbreaking book The Anticipatory Organization, Daniel has spent decades helping leaders navigate transformative change by teaching them to anticipate disruptions and turn them into opportunities. As the author of numerous reports on hard trends and future technologies, including his latest on the hard trends shaping 2025 and beyond, Daniel offers a unique blend of clarity, practicality, and vision for leaders striving to stay ahead in a fast-changing world.

Daniel begins by distinguishing between two types of trends—hard trends, which are future certainties, and soft trends, which are based on assumptions. This crucial framework empowers leaders to confidently identify opportunities and mitigate risks. Through compelling examples, Daniel explains how focusing on hard trends enables organizations to shift from reactive crisis management to proactive opportunity management, transforming challenges into competitive advantages.

The conversation also dives into the productivity revolution fueled by generative AI, digital twins, and other technological advancements that are reshaping industries at exponential speeds. Daniel shares how leaders can harness these tools—not as overwhelming innovations but as accessible enablers of growth and transformation. His actionable insights will help listeners uncover opportunities, refine focus, and elevate their organizations’ relevance in a time of disruption.

Finally, Daniel challenges leaders to embrace the mindset of a positive disruptor. With a sharp focus on innovation, clarity in decision-making, and the courage to lead transformations and he emphasizes the importance of becoming an anticipatory leader. 

Actionable Takeaways:

• Hear how distinguishing between hard and soft trends can revolutionize your strategic planning by revealing certainties and shaping possibilities.
• Learn why focusing on one area of transformation can unlock hidden opportunities and drive exponential results.
• Discover how generative AI is driving a productivity revolution—and what leaders must do to harness its potential for their teams.
• Explore the power of digital twins in testing, predicting, and solving problems before they happen, saving time and resources.
• Find out why waiting for your competitors to disrupt you is a recipe for failure—and how to proactively disrupt yourself.
• Hear Daniel’s framework for refining overwhelming choices into actionable opportunities with maximum impact.
• Learn how to combine trends like AI, robotics, and augmented reality to create transformative solutions for your organization.
• Gain insight into why the boundaries between industries are breaking down—and how leaders can leverage cross-industry innovation.
• Discover the leadership mindset required to move from reactive agility to anticipatory decision-making in a time of exponential change.
• Understand how augmented thinking—where AI enhances human cognition—will shape the future of leadership and decision-making.

Connect with the Daniel Burrus:

Daniel Burrus Website 

Daniel Burrus LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Jeremy Caplan, an expert in innovation and productivity and the author of "Wonder Tools," shares transformative insights into how leaders can leverage AI to amplify creativity, streamline processes, and empower their teams. As the creator of the popular "Wonder Tools" Substack and a thought leader in using AI to enhance productivity, Jeremy offers a practical and inspiring approach to integrating technology into leadership.

Throughout the conversation, Jeremy dives deep into the practical applications of AI in the workplace. From improving strategic planning and communication to fostering creativity, he demonstrates how leaders can harness AI to enhance their decision-making and drive impactful outcomes. Part of the discussion also focuses on the wide range of AI tools available for executives, offering actionable ways to boost productivity and simplify complex workflows.

Listeners will hear about Jeremy’s unique approach to using AI as a "cognitive sparring partner" and how leaders can foster a culture of experimentation within their organizations. By highlighting real-world examples and actionable strategies—including recommendations for tools that can transform productivity—he provides a roadmap for leaders to navigate the ever-evolving technological landscape.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Discover how AI can act as a cognitive sparring partner to expand your strategic thinking and enhance decision-making.
• Hear how leaders can overcome barriers to AI adoption, including time constraints and fear of complexity, and create space for experimentation.
• Learn why fostering a culture of shared learning and collaboration is critical for unlocking AI’s potential in your organization.
• Find out how AI tools can elevate creativity and productivity by generating multiple solutions and enabling higher-quality outcomes.
• Explore Jeremy’s top productivity tool recommendations for executives, from email management to presentation creation, and learn how to simplify your workflows.
• Understand the transformative power of AI in strategic planning and how it can help leaders avoid common pitfalls.
• Hear practical examples of AI tools that can streamline email management, enhance presentations, and improve team collaboration.
• Gain insights into the AI adoption curve and what it means for leaders navigating the technological shift.
• Discover how to use AI for high-value tasks, like board communication and competitive analysis, to save time and improve outcomes.
• Learn about simple, actionable steps to start experimenting with AI today and why dedicating just 10 hours can make a significant difference.

Connect with the Jeremy Caplan

Jeremy Caplan Website 

Wonder Tools Substack 

Jeremy Caplan LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Louis Rosenberg. Louis Rosenberg is a pioneer in virtual and augmented reality with over 300 patents; he has started multiple businesses, including Founder Immersion Corp, Founder Outland Research, and Unanimous A.I., for which he currently serves as CEO and Chief Scientist.     Louis Rosenberg has focused his work on the boundary between technology and human perception, aiming to enhance human performance with technology. In the conversation, Louis Rosenberg shared why he is wary of the potential for technology to dehumanize people and works to push the boundaries to augment rather than replace human intelligence.   Louis Rosenberg shared why he believes A.R. will be the primary way people access digital lives, replacing mobile phones with eyewear that spatially registers content to the real world. In addition, augmented reality and mixed reality will become more prevalent as society progresses. Finally, Louis Rosenberg shared his perspectives on the power of human swarm intelligence through Swarm technology as an example of the potential positives for the future of humanity in the collaborative use of artificial intelligence.  

Some Highlights:

- Louis Rosenberg on the Potential of Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies

- The inevitability of Augmented and Mixed Reality in the digital age

- Use of Augmented Reality in the medical space 

- The impact of Augmented Reality on different professions 

- Louis Rosenberg on Augmented Reality's potential in education and training 

- Why there is a need for policy solutions in Augmented Reality 

- The positive potential of the Metaverse

- Dangers of unregulated AI-driven persuasion in the Metaverse

- Louis Rosenberg on using Swarm Intelligence for smarter decision making 

- The use of Swarm Technology to forecast the future 

- How to use A.I. to harness the power of the human brain and the knowledge and information it contains

Mentioned:

Partnering Leadership conversation with Tom Taulli on A.I. Bootcamp for Leaders

Partnering Leadership conversation with Dan Turchin on A.I. & The Future of Work

Connect with Louis Rosenberg:

Unanimous A.I. Website 

Louis Rosenberg's articles on BIG THINK 

Louis Rosenberg's articles on Venture Beat

Louis Rosenberg on LinkedIn 

Louis Rosenberg's TEDx Talk New hope for humans in an A.I. world

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

Get ready for a fascinating discussion on the overlooked leadership skill of listening, featuring Oscar Trimboli, author of the book How to Listen: Discover the Hidden Key to Better Communication. Oscar Trimboli draws on decades of research and over 24,000 workplace interviews to provide science-backed insights on how leaders can become exceptional listeners. You'll discover why most of us are only hearing 14% of what people actually say and how to tap into the other 86%. Learn simple but powerful techniques to tune into conversations, avoid assumptions, and strengthen relationships through mindful listening. Whether leading teams or tackling complex challenges, this episode provides leaders the tools to listen their way to better outcomes.  

Actionable Takeaways:

- Hear Oscar's origin story and how a jaw condition as a teenager shaped his listening superpower.

- Learn why listening starts with focusing on yourself first, not the speaker. 

- Discover Oscar's "listening battery" technique and how to recharge before conversations.

- Get simple meeting tweaks to arrive fully present and boost listening.

- Find out the three magic numbers behind listening dilemmas at work.

- Learn to recognize your listening orientation and when to shift approaches.  

- Hear how self-assessment biases hinder our listening abilities.

- Discover questions to uncover what hasn't been said.

- Get Oscar's top recommended practice for better listening right away.

Recommended Resources 

How to Listen: Discover the Hidden Key to Better Communication 

The Listening Quiz  

How to Use Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas with the Author of A More Beautiful Question & The Book of Beautiful Questions with Warren Berger 

Connect with Oscar Trimboli

Oscar Trimboli Website 

Oscar Trimboli 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 Renee Cummings, Data Science Professor of Practice at the University of Virginia. In the conversation, Professor Renee Cummings, a criminologist and AI ethicist discusses the importance of bringing responsible, ethical thinking to deploying AI technology. She stresses the need for due process, recognizing the various forms of bias, ethical use and transparency in deployment, and good governance and oversight. Renee Cummings also addresses the need for considering diversity, equity, and inclusion in AI development and deployment and how we can ensure that AI benefits society instead of harming it.

Some highlights:

- Why diversity of experience and perspective is crucial in AI

- The role that data plays in AI and data as a store of both positive and negative aspects of humanity.

differently, and the difference that makes in AI development and deployment

- Renee Cummings on the role AI has played in law enforcement for the past 20-plus years 

- Why it's important to keep humans involved in the decision-making loop rather than allowing extreme decision-making autonomy for AI systems

- How to design technology ethically to avoid extreme prejudice and further persecution of certain groups

- Professor Renee Cummings on the many opportunities created by AI 

Connect with Renee Cummings

Renee Cummings on LinkedIn 

Renee Cummings at UVA 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this insightful episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Tricia Brouk, an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and leadership communication strategist. Tricia is the author of The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy, a powerful book that explores how leaders can use their voices to connect, inspire, and leave a meaningful impact. Drawing from her background as a professional dancer, choreographer, and director, Tricia shares how her experiences have shaped her approach to leadership and communication, offering actionable advice to help leaders connect more authentically with their teams and audiences.

Throughout the conversation, Tricia emphasizes the importance of personal storytelling in leadership, showing how even the most accomplished CEOs and executives can strengthen their influence by sharing their authentic selves. She delves into how vulnerability and empathy, when paired with courage, create the foundation for building trust and inspiring others to follow. Tricia also highlights the transformative power of active listening—not just as a communication tool, but as a discipline that leaders must master to elevate their teams and drive meaningful results.

Leaders navigating today’s noisy and fast-paced world will appreciate Tricia's perspective on cutting through distractions and communicating with purpose. Her actionable insights on recognizing and overcoming limiting beliefs and leveraging feedback loops will resonate with executives looking to foster growth and innovation within their organizations. Whether you’re leading a boardroom discussion, presenting at a conference, or managing a team, this conversation offers a masterclass on how to elevate your voice and leadership impact.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Learn why personal storytelling is a leader’s most underutilized tool and how sharing your origin story can inspire trust and connection.
• Hear how active listening transforms leadership and why it’s not just about hearing words but creating a culture of understanding and empathy.
• Discover how to have courageous conversations with your team by balancing radical honesty with empathy to build trust and alignment.
• Find out why recognizing truth versus lies is critical for overcoming self-doubt and how reframing limiting beliefs can unlock your leadership potential.
• Understand the power of feedback loops in leadership and how to create a culture where feedback is freely given, received, and acted upon.
• Explore the art of cutting through noise and distractions to communicate with clarity, purpose, and impact in today’s fast-paced environment.
• Learn how to embrace vulnerability as a leadership strength, allowing you to foster deeper connections while maintaining credibility and authority.
• Hear Tricia’s advice on amplifying others’ voices and how supporting your team can naturally elevate your own leadership influence.
• Discover why active listening is the ultimate leadership discipline and how it can become your superpower for solving complex challenges.
• Gain actionable insights on leading with purpose, clarity, and authenticity in a world that demands more from leaders than ever before.

Connect with Tricia Brouk:

Tricia Brouk Website

Tricia Brouk’s free visualization guide to becoming an influential voice

Tricia Brouk LinkedIn 

The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this engaging episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Jeff Gothelf, a globally recognized author, speaker, and coach known for his expertise in organizational agility, product design, and customer-centricity. Jeff is the co-author of the insightful book Who Does What By How Much? A Practical Guide to Customer-Centric OKRs. Drawing on decades of experience and collaboration with leading organizations, Jeff shares practical strategies to help leaders implement Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) in ways that drive meaningful outcomes.

The conversation explores why OKRs, often misunderstood as just another goal-setting framework, are in fact a transformative tool for aligning teams, fostering collaboration, and focusing on outcomes that truly matter. Jeff delves into the critical difference between outputs and outcomes, highlighting how focusing on behavior changes in customers creates measurable impact. His practical advice is grounded in real-world examples, making this episode a must-listen for leaders seeking to elevate organizational performance.

Jeff also shares actionable steps for starting small with OKRs, experimenting with pilot teams, and scaling successful initiatives across the organization. He provides a nuanced perspective on the common pitfalls that derail OKR adoption, including the temptation to prioritize outputs over outcomes and the misalignment of accountability. This candid discussion offers a roadmap for leaders to overcome these challenges and create a culture of agility and continuous learning.

From balancing transparency with accountability to maintaining alignment with an organization’s brand promise, this episode equips CEOs and senior executives with the tools and frameworks needed to navigate strategic change effectively. Whether you're familiar with OKRs or exploring them for the first time, Jeff's insights will challenge conventional thinking and inspire leaders to rethink their approach to goal-setting and customer success.

Actionable Takeaways

• You'll learn why OKRs are more than just another framework—they're a mirror for your organization's ability to deliver on its brand promise.
• Hear how to differentiate between outputs (what you make) and outcomes (the changes you create) and why this shift is crucial for organizational success.
• Discover why starting small with OKR implementation—through pilot teams—leads to greater long-term success.
• Explore Jeff’s perspective on the most common mistake leaders make with OKRs and how avoiding it can transform your team's performance.
• Learn the secret to transparency in goal-setting without sacrificing accountability or collaboration within teams.
• Find out how OKRs enable agility, empowering organizations to adapt quickly to change while staying customer-focused.
• Uncover the importance of clarity, starting with the 'why' behind transformations, and how it strengthens buy-in from teams.
• Hear Jeff’s take on aligning OKRs with strategic priorities, even during moments of crisis or market disruption.
• Understand how OKRs differ from KPIs and how they serve as a bridge between strategy and execution.

Connect with Jeff Gothelf

Jeff Gothelf Website

Jeff Gothelf LinkedIn 

Who Does What By How Much? A Practical Guide to Customer-Centric OKRs 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of the Partnering Leadership podcast, Mahan Tavakoli interviews Daniel Burrus, a world-renowned futurist, strategist, and author of The Anticipatory Organization: Turn Disruption and Change into Opportunity and Advantage.

In the conversation, Daniel Burrus shares his powerful framework for anticipating the future and shaping strategies accordingly, emphasizing the importance of identifying hard and soft trends to gain certainty in an uncertain world.

Throughout the conversation, Daniel Burrus dives deep into the principles and mindsets that enable leaders to become anticipatory rather than reactionary. He highlights the transformative power of the "both/and" principle, the "ideal use" principle, and the concept of disrupting yourself and your organization before others do. Daniel's expertise and engaging storytelling make this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to create a better future for themselves and their organization.

Key Insights You'll Gain:

• Discover the difference between hard trends and soft trends and how they can help you develop low-risk, high-reward strategies
• Learn how to become anticipatory and proactively identify and solve problems before they occur
• Understand the importance of embracing the "both/and" principle for accurate predictions and innovative thinking
• Explore the "ideal use" principle and how it can help you cut through the hype surrounding new technologies and innovations
• Gain insights into the power of disrupting yourself and your business before others do
• Uncover the potential of AI and how to harness its benefits while protecting against its risks
• Discover why humans are infinitely upgradable and the importance of staying open-minded to learning new things
• Learn how to apply the "both/and" principle to various scenarios, from paper vs. digital to gas vs. electric cars

Connect with Daniel Burrus

The Anticipatory Organization: Turn Disruption and Change into Opportunity and Advantage 

Daniel Burrus Website 

Daniel Burrus LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this compelling episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Misha Glouberman, a celebrated expert in communication and collaboration, to explore the vital role of effective communication in leadership. Misha, author of The Chairs Are Where the People Go, draws on years of experience helping organizations improve team dynamics, resolve conflicts, and foster trust. His refreshing insights challenge traditional notions of leadership and offer a more human-centric approach to managing teams and driving change.

Throughout the conversation, Misha emphasizes the importance of aligning actions with values, both for individuals and organizations. He delves into the often-overlooked barriers to effective communication, from unspoken assumptions to misaligned priorities, and shares practical tools for overcoming these challenges. His nuanced approach to building trust, fostering collaboration, and addressing conflict resonates deeply with the complexities of modern leadership.

Misha's unique ability to break down abstract concepts into actionable steps sets this conversation apart. Whether it’s designing gatherings that truly connect people or addressing the hidden dynamics that fuel workplace silos, his advice is as practical as it is transformative. Leaders at all levels will find value in his guidance on how to create environments where feedback flows freely and trust becomes the foundation for success.

Actionable Takeaways

• Discover why most organizational problems are rooted in communication breakdowns—and how to address them.
• Hear how to create an environment where feedback is not only welcomed but becomes a cornerstone of team growth.
• Learn why trust isn’t built overnight and the consistent actions leaders must take to foster it.
• Explore Misha’s counterintuitive advice on breaking silos by letting go of control.
• Uncover the key to aligning team actions with their core values and principles for sustained success.
• Find out how to turn gatherings into meaningful experiences that drive connection and collaboration—not just more presentations.
• Gain insights on navigating team conflict by focusing on role clarity and accountability.
• Understand how leaders can model a growth mindset by owning their role in organizational dynamics.
• Hear Misha’s practical framework for aligning your leadership approach with the challenges and goals of today’s workforce.
• Learn why the best communication tools are built on transparency, curiosity, and empathy—and how to apply them.

Connect with Misha Glouberman

Misha Glouberman Website 

Misha Glouberman LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website