Partnering Leadership

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are more vital than ever for organizations today. But how can leaders move beyond good intentions to drive real impact? In this engaging episode, inclusion strategist Risha Grant, author of Be Better than Your BS: How Radical Acceptance Empowers Authenticity and Creates a Workplace Culture of Inclusion, offers paradigm-shifting insights for leaders seeking to foster authentic belonging in their teams.

Drawing on over two decades of experience guiding executives, Risha dives into the key traps that derail well-meaning leaders. You'll hear surprising takeaways like why your company's implementation matters more than your intent. Risha also shares how a "BS check" can reveal blindspots and how transparency drives trust when handled right.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Learn why "validate and act" is vital after employees report issues. Hear the common leadership pitfall that invalidates people's experiences.
• Find out how a simple "BS check" can help leaders connect with frontline realities they miss from the top floor.
• Discover why listening without assuming you already know the answers is key for inclusion efforts to work.
• Get examples of how to challenge your own potentially outdated mental models and see situations through others' eyes.
• Hear Risha's perspective on balancing inclusion with constructive debate so neither is compromised.
• Learn small ways we can all extend "radical acceptance" through everyday interactions on the elevator, in the office, and beyond titles.

Recommended Resources

Be Better than Your BS: How Radical Acceptance Empowers Authenticity and Creates a Workplace Culture of Inclusion

Partnering Leadership Conversation with Howard Ross on Belonging, Bias and Building Inclusive Cultures 

Connect with Risha Grant

Risha Grant Website 

Risha Grant LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

What if AI could free up bandwidth, spark creativity, and boost productivity for executives and teams? Jordan Wilson, Founder of Everyday AI and host of the Everyday AI podcast, joins Mahan Tavakoli, sharing pragmatic tips so leaders can harness cutting-edge generative AI. Jordan advises an agile, sprint-based approach to rapidly experiment rather than get stuck in opaque long-term AI projects that often trigger resistance. He recommends executives audit workflows to systematically evaluate where AI could automate tedious tasks - starting with their most time-consuming administrative work before expanding. Rather than reacting as generative AI enters offices, Jordan makes the case that executives can proactively embrace this change, unlocking new creative opportunities.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Learn a workflow auditing process to identify the fastest executive generative AI productivity gains

• Gain insights around behavioral change triggers that spark resistance to adopting these technologies  

• Understand how to structure ethical governance models that proactively upskill staff for positive AI integration

• Discover real-world examples of sprint-based experimentation approaches to find replicable quick wins

Connect with Jordan Wilson

Everyday AI 

Jordan Wilson 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 H.H. Leonards.  H.H. Leonards is the founder and chair of the O Street Museum Foundation, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and the Mansion on O Street, where Mrs. Rosa Parks called her home-away-from-home for the last decade of her life. H.H. Leonards is also the author of the book Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: Life, Lessons, and Leadership.  Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. In the conversation, H.H. Leonards shares why they connected on a deep level when she met Rosa Parks.  H.H. Leonards also shares both historical accounts recounted to her by Rosa Parks as well as her experience during the ten years Rosa Parks lived at the Mansion on O Street.  Finally, H.H. Leonards shares what Rosa Parks felt it would take to end racism and her hope for future generations.  The episode ends with the beautiful song “Enough” which was made to honor Rosa Parks.  The song lyrics are by Oscar-winning songwriter Paul Williams, and the music was written by Mark Bryan (lead guitarist for Hootie & the Blowfish) and Ranky Tanky, both Grammy winners. 

Some Highlights

-Why Rosa Parks came to Washington DC to live at the Mansion on O Street

-H.H. Leonards and Rosa Parks bonding over their shared values of family, love, and helping others

-Rosa Parks' role in the civil rights movement and the many challenges she faced after the Montgomery Bus Boycott

-The many myths surrounding Rosa Parks not giving up her seat on the bus and what really happened that fateful day and why

-H.H. Leonards on getting to know Rosa Parks even better, by accompanying her to meetings and through her touch

-Rosa Parks’ role in the founding of the National Organization for Women

-How Rosa Parks' meeting with Pope John Paul II came about and its significance

-Rosa Parks’ view on what it would take to help end racism

-The Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom

-The three-city funeral for Rosa Parks

-A message that Rosa Parks would want to be passed on to future generations

Resources:

YouTube Video of Enough 

Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: Life, Lessons, and Leadership on Amazon 

Connect with H.H. Leonards

The Mansion on O Street 

H.H. Leonards on LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, host Mahan Tavakoli interviews strategic thinking expert Rich Horwath, author of six books on strategy, including his latest Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence. 

Rich shares his decades of expertise, shining a light on common pitfalls that executives and leadership teams face as they approach strategic planning. He then outlines his practical 3A framework – Acumen, Allocation, Action – that leaders at any level can use to begin thinking and behaving more strategically daily. 

The conversation explores important concepts around strategic agility, competitive advantage, customer insight, and leading change during times of greater uncertainty. With so many models and approaches promising the "secret formula" to developing winning strategic plans, Rich cuts through the noise with relevant and impactful principles and perspectives. 

Actionable Takeaways:

• Learn why strategic plans often lack traction and how to avoid pitfalls
• Discover a simple yet powerful model for strategic thinking
• Identify key blindspots even seasoned leaders have around strategy
• Understand how competitive advantage stems from being different, not better
• See why you must create space for strategic reflection
• Gain insight on customer needs versus feedback
• Find out why continual iterations matter more than annual planning
• Hear how to leverage AI and data for strategic advantage
• Foster strategic thinking at all levels of an organization
• Use a tactical approach to uncover opportunities

Partnering Leadership Episodes Referenced

Innovative Thinking & Strategy by Tapping Into the Science of Subtraction with University of Virginia Professor Leidy Klotz

Winning the Right Game: How to Disrupt, Defend, and Deliver in a Changing World with Ron Adner

Leading Through The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence with Professor Ajay Agrawal

How to Lead and Innovate by Learning from The Amazon Way with John Rossman

Connect with Rich Horwath

Strategy Skills Website 

Rich Horwath on LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Michael Thatcher shares insights from his extensive leadership experience spanning the nonprofit and technology sectors. As the CEO of Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in the U.S., he provides an inside look at leading this influential organization through a period of rapid growth and digital transformation. 

Touching on topics from building trust with boards to measuring nonprofit impact, Michael Thatcher offers thoughtful perspectives on leadership. He discusses the journey of evolving Charity Navigator's rating system to provide more holistic assessments focused on transparency, accountability, and tangible outcomes. 

With over 200,000 charities now rated, he looks ahead to further enhancing evaluation methods and considering international expansion. Thatcher also explores trends in philanthropy and optimistically envisions greater collaboration between sectors to drive social impact.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Learn how to gain board member trust as a new CEO
• Hear how to motivate staff and maintain culture while transitioning to fully remote work
• Discover effective strategies for measuring and improving nonprofit impact 
• Learn the approach behind Charity Navigator's upgraded evaluation methods assessing transparency, responsibility, and outcomes
• Gain insights on trends in philanthropy like impact investing and effective altruism
• Understand opportunities and ethical considerations for applying AI in the social sector

Referenced Partnering Leadership Conversations

AI Ethics, Leadership & Governance with Renee Cummings, Professor of Practice in Data Science at UVA 

Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, The Metaverse & AI's Impact on The Future of Work with Louis Rosenberg, AR/VR Pioneer & CEO Unanimous AI 

Connect with Michael Thatcher

Charity Navigator Website 

Michael Thatcher on LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership episode, host Mahan Tavakoli speaks with clarity expert Steve Woodruff about the importance of clear communication for leaders. As the torrent of digital information competes for our attention, Steve emphasizes how leaders must craft focused messages that cut through the noise. 

Drawing from decades of consulting experience, Steve shares the core principles from his book "The Point" on transmitting ideas effectively amidst the modern barrage of disruption. He outlines specific techniques like storytelling and analogies that make messages stick in the minds of listeners. With humor and humility, Steve advocates that the starting point begins with self-awareness – leaders first know their own strengths before trying to communicate them. 

The conversation revolves around neuroscience, explaining why unclear communication fails. Steve offers research on how our brains filter information, only latching onto what seems immediately relevant. This biological filtering system demands that leaders prioritize clarity, first having a clear point themselves. Steve provides thought-provoking ideas on how to sequence messages, using illustrations and examples so others can readily comprehend key concepts.

Steve analyzes common communication pitfalls that prevent alignment and action. He shares wisdom on the clarity necessary for personal branding, settling on the right descriptive words and stories that capture individual uniqueness. 

Actionable Takeaways:

• You'll learn the 4 core rules of effective communication and how to apply them to leadership messaging and meetings 

• Understand why you need analytical clarity about your own strengths and story before trying to communicate personal branding

• Learn ways symbolic language through metaphors, analogies, and anecdotes can make messages more memorable 

• Discover how sequencing information creates "brain-friendly" communications tuned to relevance 

• Find out why specificity is key and how telling leadership stories gives life to ideas

• See how constructive personal branding comes through identifying and settling on just a few core descriptive keywords

Connect with Steve Woodruff

Steve Woodruff Website 

Steve Woodruff LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership episode, host Mahan Tavakoli has an expansive dialogue on leadership and the future of work with serial entrepreneur and tech optimist Andy Tryba. As a 19x founder and CEO, Andy currently leads private equity firm Ionic Partners and two of its high-growth acquisitions, Gigster and Sparkrock. 

Andy previously built and led software juggernaut Think3, acquiring and optimizing 12 SaaS companies. He also founded one of the world's largest online talent marketplaces, Crossover, which grew to over $500 million in revenue before its acquisition.

In addition, Andy served as an advisor to President Obama on spurring job creation and competitiveness. 

Key Insights and Actionable Takeaways:

•  Learn Andy's tactics for optimizing asynchronous decision-making in remote environments
• Hear Andy's perspective on the "human cloud" future of work and economic opportunity
• Understand why Andy sees global remote hiring as a gamechanger most companies fail to utilize
• Learn why hybrid work models are often "the worst of both worlds" 
• Discover Andy's approach to acquiring and scaling companies through private equity
• Find out why reading classics on relating well to people is an unexpected Andy leadership habit 
• Get Andy's optimistic view that AI will augment rather than replace most knowledge worker roles

Connect with Andy Tryba

Andy Tryba on X 

Andy Tryba 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 David Marquet. David served as the commander of the US Navy nuclear submarine, USS Santa Fe. When he took over, he changed the command-and-control leadership style and empowered his crew to turn the lowest-performing sub into the best performer in the fleet. David Marquet shared leadership lessons from this experience, which he also wrote in his bestselling book Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders. 

David Marquet also shared leadership insights from his latest book, Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don't. In it, David Marquet highlights how choosing your words can dramatically improve organizational decision-making and execution. 

Some Highlights:

- David Marquet on becoming the commander of the lowest-performing submarine in the US Navy 

- Why it's not the lack of leadership but the wrong kind of leadership that results in poor team performance

- David Marquet on moving beyond the traditional approach to leadership 

- How David Marquet shifted his own and his crew's mindset to transition from permission-based decision making to intent-based decision making

- Why leadership in most organizations still operates using outdated mindsets and approaches

- David Marquet on what all leaders can learn from the communications breakdowns on the El Farro 

- The importance of language in leading organizations to better decision making and execution in the business

Books Mentioned:

- Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders - L. David Marquet

- Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don't - L. David Marquet

Connect with L. David Marquet:

LinkedIn: 

David Marquet

Intent-based Leadership International

Websites: 

https://davidmarquet.com/

https://intentbasedleadership.com/what-is-intent-based-leadership/

YouTube:

Leadership Nudges

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

Hal Elrod, the international bestselling author of The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life, which has been translated into 37 languages and has sold over 2.5 million copies, brings his unique perspectives on establishing daily practices that foster personal growth and leadership excellence based on his recently updated and expanded edition of The Miracle Morning. 

Drawing on personal experiences overcoming adversity, including life-threatening events, Hal developed the acclaimed Miracle Morning methodology to optimize and actualize his full potential intentionally.  

In this inspiring discussion, Hal shares the origins of Miracle Morning's "6 Saver" routine of silence, affirmation, visualization, exercise, reading, and writing. He offers compelling insights on leveraging these personal development pillars for individual growth to elevate teams and build organizational culture. From establishing new habits to sustainability tactics and the neuroscience validating this methodology, Hal provides an often overlooked formula to embody more empowered, activated life and leadership.

With insightful examples, Hal translates proven self-optimization techniques into accessible daily actions that yield exponential dividends over time for conscious, purposeful leaders ready to partner at higher levels.

Actionable Takeaways:

- Hear Hal's incredible story of personal tragedy becoming a transformational purpose

- Learn the "5 Minute Rule" for processing adversity and finding freedom  

- Understand the power and common pitfalls of correctly practicing affirmations

- Apply visualization rehearsals to ensure execution and peak performance 

- Realize how the Miracle Morning fuels individual and collective actualization

- Discover principles and strategies to shift from morning reluctance to ritual advocate

- Grasp how to customize and scaffold the 6 Saver practices for beginners to advanced

- Utilize emotional optimization meditation for programmed, on-demand mindset activation

Recommended Resources

The Miracle Morning Website 

The Miracle Morning (Updated and Expanded Edition): The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) (Miracle Morning Book Series) 

Connect with Hal Elrod

Hal Elrod Website 

Hal Elrod 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 Warren Berger. Warren is the author of multiple books on innovation and the power of questioning in leadership and everyday life. The conversation focused on Warren Berger's books A More Beautiful Question and The Book of Beautiful Questions. Warren shared thoughts on his study of the world's foremost innovators and creative thinkers, revealing what he has learned. Warren Berger also shared his insights into the natural tendency of questioning as a young child, the connection between curiosity and questioning, and why we suppress our questioning ability as we get older. Warren shared what leaders can do differently to encourage a culture of curiosity and tap into the power of inquiry. Finally, Warren Berger shared thoughts on developing the questioning skills critical for innovation, collaboration, and leading through uncertainty.  

Some Highlights:

- Why we become more reluctant to ask questions as we grow up

 - The external factors that shape our behavior and discourage us from asking questions

- Warren Berger on the power of questioning and how to do it well  

- Reasons why we tend to want leaders to have answers

 - The importance of questioning in the workplace

 - How leaders can encourage more effective questioning in the workplace 

 - Warren Berger on the relationship between curiosity and questioning 

- How to ask better questions and collaborate for innovation.   

Referenced:

Partnering Leadership conversation with David McRaney on How Minds Change 

Connect with Warren Berger:

Warren Berger Website 

Warren Berger on LinkedIn 

A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas on Amazon 

The Book of Beautiful Questions: The Powerful Questions That Will Help You Decide, Create, Connect, and Lead on Amazon 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website