Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Leidy Klotz, a professor at the University of Virginia appointed in the Schools of Engineering, Architecture, and Business and author of the book Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less. Leidy Klotz shares some of the reasons why we typically look to add rather than consider subtraction when looking to solve problems and improve systems. Leidy Klotz also discusses how subtraction can benefit leaders of organizations and managers of teams. Finally, Leidy Klotz shares how we can ensure that we don't overlook the power of subtraction in our organizations and daily lives.   
 

Some highlights:

-Why Leidy Klotz left professional soccer to pursue his education and become a professor

-Leidy Klotz on finding patterns and how they impact the world

-Why do we typically miss subtraction and look first to addition

-Leidy Klotz on the biological and social contributors to a desire to add 

-How organizations can benefit from the power of subtraction 

-How leaders can use subtraction during the decision-making process

-Leidy Klotz on effectively achieving the organization's purpose through subtraction

Mentioned:

-Annie Paul, author of The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain 

Connect with Leidy Klotz:

Leidy Klotz website

Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less on Amazon

Leidy Klotz on Twitter

Leidy Klotz on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Conor Grennan, Dean of Students at NYU Stern and co-host of the AI Applied Podcast. Conor shares insider perspectives on where generative AI is headed and how organizations, teams, and professionals can fully tap the opportunities it provides.

You’ll learn about the vital role change management plays in integrating generative AI across your company, how to prioritize AI fluency, govern usage responsibly, and stay on top of constant AI advancements. Conor makes a compelling case that developing AI capabilities needs to be urgent, providing tangible examples of techniques you can activate now. He sheds light on the sweeping impacts of AI on remaking talent strategies and even the nature of management roles themselves.

Key lessons you’ll take away include how to:

• Lead change initiatives that adapt workflows, job roles, and organizational structures for the AI age
• Create training programs focused on boosting AI fluency while tied to employee productivity goals
• Install appropriate guardrails and oversight that enable beneficial experimentation but ensure ethical AI use
• Pinpoint tasks and processes ripe for AI augmentation to accelerate value
• Continually learn about the latest generative AI advances to get in front of possibilities

Connect with Conor Grennan

Conor Grennan LinkedIn 

AI Applied Podcast 

Recommended Episodes

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli talked with Dr. Timothy Clark, the founder and CEO of LeaderFactor and author of Four Stages of Psychological Safety. Dr. Clark has broken down the different stages to ensure psychological safety in teams.  Dr. Timothy Clark shares how teams can build on the understanding of each stages in order to boost psychological safety in the workplace.

Some highlights:

-Dr. Timothy Clark on why leaders cannot be neutral

-The skills that leaders need to cultivate

-Dr. Timothy Clark on his definition of psychological safety

-The barriers to creating psychological safety in the workplace

-Improving the learning process by disconnecting fear from failure

-Dr. Timothy Clark on how leaders can ensure employee accountability

-How to achieve the highest level of psychological safety by challenging and changing the status quo

Also mentioned in this episode:

Partnering Leadership podcast conversation with Dr. Michelle McQuaid, best-seller author (Listen to Dr. Michelle McQuaid’s episode here)

The Four Stages of Psychological Safety Behavioral Guide

Four Stages of Psychological Safety Book

Connect with Dr. Timothy Clark:

LeaderFactor Official Website

Dr. Timothy Clark on LinkedIn

Dr. Timothy Clark on Twitter

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli explores the concept of agility with his guest, Joshua Kerievsky, CEO of Industrial Logic and author of Joy of Agility: How to Solve Problems and Succeed Sooner. They discuss why agility is far more than speed and how leaders can hone the mindset and skillset of agility. 

Joshua Kerievsky provides a crisp definition of agility and shares why it highlights how agility is crucial in all aspects of business and life. He also shares balanced ways leaders can enable experimentation and learning without the hurry and pressure that leads to mistakes. Through sharing his agility mantras and powerful examples, Joshua Kerievsky makes agility accessible and practical for leaders across organizations.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Hear how agility applies across industries and all of life. 
• Learn the true meaning of agility beyond just speed.
• Understand balanced ways to experiment and adapt quickly.  
• Discover how to drive out toxic fear hindering your team.
• Master mantras like "Be quick, don't hurry" for business and life.
• Find out how psychological safety enables prudent risk-taking.
• Learn how Amazon's culture empowered an intern to override an executive.
• Appreciate the role leaders play in enabling organizational agility.

Recommended Resources

The Joy of Agility by Joshua Kerievsky 

Testing Business Ideas by David J. Bland 

Connect with Joshua Kerievsky 

The Joy of Agility Website

Industrial Logic Website 

Joshua Kerievksy LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Jim McCormick, bestselling author of The First Time Manager, shares his decades of management wisdom perfected through diverse leadership roles. In addition to covering fundamentals vital for first-time managers, Jim's book provides essential insights for veteran leaders on managing well, covering critical practices like delegation, transparency, accountability, and confronting underperformance. Jim also details how mindsets and risk filters shape outcomes from his experience directing the Research Institute for Risk Intelligence. Finally, Jim McCormick addresses how managers can achieve work-life balance, prevent burnout contagion, and customize their management styles.

Key Takeaways: 

- Learn a structured technique for confronting performance issues while maintaining empathy

- Discover tactics to empower your team through aligning individual development with organizational goals  

- Gain insight into work-life balance tactics leveraged by legendary leaders like Eisenhower  

- Understand when transparency versus confidentiality is appropriate with direct reports

- Appreciate why entrepreneurial risk-taking links to the intuitive decisiveness vital for successful CEOs

- Master ways to foster career motivation by connecting employee aspirations to company mission

- Become equipped to shift from micromanagement to supportive accountability

Connect with Jim McCormick

Research Institute for Risk Intelligence 

The First Time Manager 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 Steven Sasson who invented the digital camera while working at Kodak, earning him The National Medal of Technology and Innovation award. Steven Sasson shares the story of how digital photography came to be, the many inventions that made it more accessible to eventually take the place of film photography.  Steven Sasson also talks about the support for the invention at Kodak and the many cultural and leadership challenges that got in the way of Kodak taking full advantage of the technology.  

Some highlights:

- Steven Sasson’s love for tinkering with technology

- Why Steven Sasson chose to work at Kodak

- Conceptualizing and envisioning the first handheld electronic camera

- The first image taken with the first prototype of the portable digital camera

- Kodak’s initial reaction to Steven Sasson’s invention and questions for the future of digital technology

- How the support and belief of Steven Sasson’s supervisor motivated him to push his idea forward despite doubts from Kodak executives

- Why Steven Sasson’s project was kept secret by Kodak for many years

- The story behind ECAM, the first operational DSLR camera 

- The story behind QuickTake 100, Kodak’s collaboration with Apple 

- Cultural and leadership challenges preventing Kodak from being able to take full advantage of digital photography

- How internal struggles, and short-sighted decisions impacted Kodak

- Steven Sasson’s experience receiving The National Medal of Technology and Innovation award from President Barack Obama in 2009

Mentioned:

Don Reinertsen, author

Gareth Lloyd, former supervisor at Kodak

Jim Sheckler, former technician at Kodak

Gilda Radner, actress and comedian

Joy Marshall, former laboratory technician at Kodak

Steve Jobs, co-founder and former chairman and CEO of Apple

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple

Dr. Majid Rabbani, former fellow at Kodak

Dr. Brad Paxton, former director at Kodak

Robert Hills, co-inventor of the first DSLR camera

Jim McGarvey, former lead engineer at Kodak

George M. C. Fisher, former CEO of Kodak

Daniel Allen Carp, former chairman and CEO of Kodak

Antonio M. Pérez, former CEO of Kodak

Barack Obama, 44th U.S. President

Pete Souza, former Chief Official White House Photographer

Connect with Steven Sasson:

Steven Sasson on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

The AI revolution promises to reshape business in the years ahead. Are you ready to lead your organization into this intelligence era? In this compelling episode, David DeWolf, President and Chief Executive Officer of Knownwell, shares invaluable insights to help leaders navigate the AI transformation. Having deeply researched AI's potential while launching his latest venture, David sees both tremendous opportunity and some real perils if AI is not stewarded responsibly.  

You'll hear David bust myths about AI only impacting technical roles. He explains why AI readiness must start from the top, shaping strategy and culture. Tune in to discover why leaders shouldn't resist AI disruption but rather prepare employees to thrive alongside smart technology. David also reveals the keys to building an AI-ready culture, taking an experimentation mindset, and determining where human skills remain irreplaceable. 

Actionable Takeaways:

- Learn why David urges leaders not to run from AI disruption but to prepare people for the workforce changes it will spur. 

- Hear David explain how AI can automate internal business operations so humans can focus on irreplaceable strengths.

- Discover why David believes AI will spark a resurgence of nimble mid-market companies. 

- Understand what an AI-ready culture looks like and why learning is a key ingredient. 

- Get David's advice on taking an experimental approach to piloting AI rather than seeking the perfect solution.

- Find out why David says leaders need to incorporate more silence and reflection to discern the signals amidst the noise.

Resources:

Partnering Leadership Episode 215: How to Evolve as a Leader in a Fast-Growing Organization with David DeWolf 

Connect with David DeWolf:

Knownwell 

AI Knowhow Podcast 

David DeWolf LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with diversity trailblazer Juana Bordas, author of The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion, and Contribution. Drawing from her inspiring journey, Juana provides a rare insider's view into leadership techniques forged through centuries of struggle. Juana Bordas makes a compelling case for the power of collective leadership in our multicultural age. From reconciling the past to preparing for the future, Juana provides a blueprint for leading beyond self-interest, grounded in timeless principles of care, service, and belonging. 

Actionable Takeaways:

- Hear the wisdom behind why "a leader is equal" and how this evolves organizational culture.

- Learn how to shift from "I" to "we" in leadership to unlock greater cooperation and community. 

- Understand why immigrants bring vital assets and how to embrace our multicultural opportunities. 

- Discover principles to inspire leadership at all levels and by the many, not the few

- Appreciate how recalling history helps us reconcile the past to progress together. 

- Realize why self-sacrifice and service are cornerstones of transformative leadership.

- Grasp how "power to the people" creates care, belonging, and organizations that uplift.

- Find out how intergenerational leadership can prepare and engage younger generations. 

- See why stewarding the future matters more than self-interest in leadership roles.

Connect with Juana Bordas

Juana Bordas Website 

Juana Bordas LinkedIn 

The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion, and Contribution 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Irene Butter, a professor, peace activist, and holocaust survivor. Irene Butter shares why she decided to break her silence and tell the story of her family's experience through the Holocaust, first by sharing her story on stages and at schools and by eventually publishing her book: Shores Beyond Shores - from Holocaust to Hope, My True Story: A Bergen-Belsen Survivor's story of Hope over Adversity. Irene ends the conversation with a powerful message for all!

Some highlights:

-Irene Butter’s memory of a happy childhood with her family in Berlin, Germany

-What a simple bar of chocolate represented for the Hasenberg family

-Irene Butter on the trauma, fear, and sadness in the Westerbork Camp

-Starvation and death in the Bergen-Belsen Camp 

-Irene Butter on her encounter with Anne Frank

-How Irene Butter and the Hasenberg family managed to leave Bergen-Belsen

-What motivated Irene Butter finally to share her family’s holocaust experience 

-Irene Butter on stories of triumph over trauma

-Irene Butter on why you should never be a bystander

Also mentioned in this episode:

-Werner Hasenberg, Irene Butter's older brother and Holocaust Survivor

-Hanneli Goslar, a close friend of Anne Frank, Holocaust Survivor

-Anne Frank, Annelies Marie Frank was a German-Dutch diarist. She gained fame posthumously with the 1947 publication of The Diary of a Young Girl documenting her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944, during the German occupation of the Netherlands. 

-Elie Wiesel, Author, Philosopher, Humanist and World's leading spokesman on the Holocaust

Book Recommendations:

Shores Beyond Shores: From Holocaust to Hope, My True Story by Irene Butter

Connect with Irene Butter:

Irene Butter Website

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli interviews entrepreneur Julie Rosenthal, CEO of strategic communications agency JR Communications, about her 20-plus-year journey building her business. Julie candidly shares the story of starting the company after getting laid off and joining a leadership program that connected her with her first client. 

Julie Rosenthal provides insights into pivoting her firm's offerings to stay relevant in a changing industry and forging trusted client partnerships over time. Julie reflects openly on mistakes made early on and how she transformed obstacles into growth opportunities.

Women leaders will especially appreciate Julie's transparent advice on setting boundaries with clients, seeking help from mentors, standing up for fair compensation, and evolving her leadership approach to empower others. Her journey offers an inspirational model for building an agile, purpose-driven services business.

Actionable Takeaways:

- Hear how a significant career setback inspired Julie to launch her company and the surprising catalyst that brought her first client.

- Learn how Julie spearheaded a financial turnaround as board chair by seeking help, building consensus, and persevering.

- Discover Julie's approach to bringing value through relationship-building and intangibles like "providing therapy."

- Understand why women entrepreneurs must "think like men" and self-promote more.

- Get insights on Julie's tips for younger women leaders to "stick to your guns."

Connect with Julie Rosenthal

JR Communications Website      

Julie Rosenthal LinkedIn     

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website