Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with John Kotter, professor emeritus at Harvard Business School, co-founder of a management consulting firm Kotter International and a pioneer in organizational change. John Kotter is the author of 22 books on change, including his most recent book, Change: How Organizations Achieve Hard-to-Imagine Results in Uncertain and Volatile times. John Kotter talks about the struggles leaders and teams face when it comes to change and how to transform organizations to adapt to change effectively and rapidly.

Some highlights:

-John Kotter on the role of human nature on our resistance to change

-The essential components for initiating change in the organization

-Understanding the Survive and Thrive mode and how it impacts our ability to change

-The power of Guiding Coalition to help bring expertise, energy, and perspective across the organization

-The difference between management and leadership

Also mentioned in this episode:

Kelly King, Chairman, and CEO of Truist Financial

Book by John Kotter:

Change: How Organizations Achieve Hard-to-Imagine Results in Uncertain and Volatile Times

Connect with John Kotter:

John Kotter - Kotter International Inc

John Kotter on LinkedIn

John Kotter on Facebook

John Kotter on Twitter

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli first shares some of his perspectives on the transformation organizations and leaders will face due to advancements in artificial intelligence. Then Mahan welcomes Tom Taulli, AI author, investor, and advisor, to discuss the letter asking for a pause on the development of generative AI, the potential disruptive impact of generative AI, and the potential of AI agents built on top of Open AI's Chat GPT. They also discussed the need for serious conversations around AI ethics and the need for responsible AI. Next, Tom Taulli talked about the potential of generative AI, such as Chat GPT, for automation, customer service, and cybersecurity. He mentioned the concept of hallucination, where the AI can give false answers that seem convincing, and the importance of setting up prompts to get better responses. He also mentioned using generative AI for coding, image creation, and summarizing information. Mahan and Tom further discussed the implications of AI chat agents and voice cloning technology, including the potential for AI to deceive people and the need for regulation to protect privacy. Finally, Tom Taulli addressed some potential uses of AI in the workplace and what professionals need to do to stay ahead of the many changes resulting from AI applications in the workplace. 

Some Highlights:

- Generative AI and its Potential Disruptions

- Implications of the letter asking for a six months pause on the development of advanced generative AI

- AI agents such as AutoGPT, BabyAGI, and their potential uses 

- Applications of generative AI in marketing, customer service, image creation, and cybersecurity

- Rise of chat agents and potential social consequences 

- Implications of voice and video cloning technologies

- The necessity for human input in AI systems

- How and why professionals can develop new competencies as a result of advancements in artificial intelligence 

Connect with Tom Taulli:

Tom Taulli Website 

Tom Taulli 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 Edward D. Hess. Ed Hess is a Professor Emeritus of Business Administration at the Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia. Ed Hess is the author of 15 books, including OWN YOUR WORK JOURNEY: The Path to Meaningful Work and Happiness in the Age of Smart Technology and Radical Change. In the conversation, Ed Hess shares why the rapid speed of technological change drastically differs from the previous eras and the impact it will have on companies and individuals.   Ed Hess then shares the importance of becoming adaptive learners, its value to organizations, and strategies on how individuals can do that. Finally, Ed Hess shares specific ideas on becoming adaptive learners to keep up with the speed of change and quiet our egos for greater happiness and resilience through turbulence.    

Some Highlights: 

- The importance of being an adaptive learner

- Ed Hess on three ways to add value in a way that technology can't

- How to listen effectively and its importance

- Why quieting the ego is hard and why it's so important

- Ed Hess on three ways to add value in a way that technology can't 

- The importance of higher-order critical thinking 

- How to build caring, trusting, positive emotional relationships

- Ed Hess on the value of mindfulness and meditation

- How to become an iterative problem solver 

Mentioned in this episode:

Partnering Leadership Conversation with Professor Edward Hess on How to Adapt to the Speed of Change Through Hyper Learning and Humility

Connect with Professor Edward Hess:

OWN YOUR WORK JOURNEY!: The Path to Meaningful Work and Happiness in the Age of Smart Technology and Radical Change 

Ed Hess at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Ed Hess 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 Yuval Atsman, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. In the conversation, Yuval Atsman discusses the difference between good strategies and why many organizations have lousy strategies. Yuval Atsmon goes on to share why CEOs and executives must embrace and experiment with AI to improve decision-making in the strategic planning process. Yuval Atsman then shares potential applications of AI technologies, including generative AI. Finally, Yuval Atsmon talks about the importance of AI readiness for businesses and how CEOs and senior executives can move quickly on AI while bringing their team members along to align and effectively execute organizational strategy. 

Some Highlights:

- The difference between good strategy and bad strategy and why so many organizations end up with a bad strategy

- The most common mistakes with organizational strategy and how to avoid them

- Yuval Atsmon on the most significant challenges in implementing strategic plans

- How to use AI to support strategic meetings and conversations

- Why team member awareness and readiness are critical factors that will determine the speed of AI adoption in organizations

- Yuval Atsmon on AI-enabled business strategies

- The importance of considering tolerance level for mistakes with generative AI

 - How to use AI to get insights on strategy relevance and align it to generate value-creation opportunities

- Yuval Atsmon on why AI readiness will be crucial for businesses 

- The human factors that support the adoption of AI in organizations

- How to use AI for a positive impact on the quality of decision-making in boardrooms.

- Why companies that don't make AI a default approach will quickly fall behind 

- How companies can balance the potential benefits of AI with the need for human oversight and awareness

- The most critical and time-sensitive actions CEOs and executives need to take on AI

Connect with Yuval Atsmon:

Yuval Atsmon at McKinsey & Company

Yuval Atsmon 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 Joseph Fuller, Professor of Management Practice in General Management at the Harvard Business School and co-lead of HBS's Managing the Future of Work initiative. In the conversation, Professor Fuller addressed the shifting nature of work and how organizations can attract, retain, and improve the productivity of their human assets. Joseph Fuller then shared research on hidden workers, degree inflation, and the necessity for partnerships between colleges and employers to bridge the chronic skills gap. Finally, Professor Joseph Fuller spoke about the evolution of leadership and the skillsets necessary for CEOs and leaders to succeed in the age of A.I.  

Some highlights:

-Joseph Fuller on the impact of workforce trends on U.S. competitiveness

-Why organizations will continue to struggle with finding talent until they change their approach to hiring

-Professor Fuller on the barbellization of the U.S. workforce

-Training and development's role in mitigating turnover rates

-Why many workers use remote work as a proxy for what they really seek

-How leaders can think about talent as a strategic differentiator

-The leadership skills most needed in the C-Suite

 -How A.I. is changing the CEOs role and who is best suited to become a CEO

Connect with Professor Joseph Fuller:

Joseph B. Fuller Faculty Page Harvard Business School 

Joseph Fuller on LinkedIn

Managing the Future of Work Podcast

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Carolyn Dewar. Carolyn is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, McKinsey's Global Practice Leader for CEO & Board Excellence, and co-author of the book CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest. In the conversation, Carolyn Dewar shared how the authors identified the world's highest-performing CEOs using empirical data and determined the six mindsets that set the best apart. The six mindsets are Corporate Strategy (focus on beating the odds), Organizational Alignment (manage performance and health), Team and Processes (put dynamics ahead of mechanics), Board Engagement (help directors help the business), External Stakeholders (center on the long-term "why?"), and Personal Working Norms (do what only you can do). Carolyn Dewar also went over some of the critical practices of CEO excellence and what organizational leaders need to consider as they plan for the future of work. 

Some highlights:

-The essential role of CEOs in the organization and how the CEO's role has changed over the years

-Carolyn Dewar on why purpose and core values matter 

-How top-performing CEOs approach their roles differently

-Carolyn Dewar on what being bold means for a CEO

-Why leaders should prioritize high functioning teams over individual performance 

-Carolyn Dewar on building trust and strong relationships in senior teams

-The role of ongoing growth, development, and coaching for CEOs

-How the pandemic has shifted our expectations from CEOs

Connect with Carolyn Dewar:

McKinsey & Company Website

CEO Excellence on Amazon

McKinsey & Company on Twitter

Carolyn Dewar on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli reflects on the impact of the accelerating speed of change due to artificial intelligence hitting the inflection point of its exponential curve. To discuss the latest in AI and how the developments will impact organizations, Mahan speaks with Tom Tulley, author of Artificial Intelligence Basics, who is also an investor and advisor to AI companies. First, Mahan and Tom discuss the significance of the release of GPT-4, its uses, and the importance of GPT-4 plugins. They also talk about Microsoft Bing, Microsoft's Co-Pilot, Google's Bard, and the impact of platforms incorporating AI technology into their office tools. Next, Tom and Mahan talked about how these tools will impact knowledge work and some of the concerns regarding the potential disruptive impact of AI. Then the discussion turns to how organizations and teams can approach experimentation with AI tools to take advantage of the opportunities and stay ahead of the competition. Finally, Tom Taulli shares what leaders must consider when implementing AI technology in their organizations.

Some Highlights:

- How the rapid advancement in artificial intelligence is transforming the world

- The difference between GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 and the potential uses for GPT-4

- Microsoft Co-pilot and examples of how to use generative AI in teams and organizations 

- Tom Taulli on using AI-based technologies to automate repetitive tasks and the use of chatbots in organizations

- Potential applications of AI in knowledge management

- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's concerns about AI and the need for conversation around AI's future applications

- What generative AI doing well in various tests means for various professions

- Generative AI's impact on jobs, including coding

- AI applications in the workplace 

Additional Partnering Leadership episodes on Artificial Intelligence:

Tom Taulli: AI Bootcamp for Leaders

Dan Turchin: AI & The Future of Work

Mahan Tavakoli: AI & The Augmented Future of Work

Louis Rosenberg: AI, Augmented and Virtual Reality

Emily Yu: AI Technology to Support Social Changemakers

Connect with Tom Taulli:

Tom Taulli Website 

Tom Taulli on LinkedIn 

Artificial Intelligence Basics: A Non-Technical Introduction 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 Dave Ulrich. Known as the Father of modern-day HR, Dave Ulrich is the Rensis Likert Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and a partner at the RBL Group, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations and leaders deliver value. Dave Ulrich has published over 30 leadership, organization, and human resource books.    The discussion with Dave Ulrich touches on measuring a leader's effectiveness, the difference between being a leader and leadership, and how HR has evolved to become more crucial to company success. Next, Dave Ulrich addresses why leaders should focus on certainty while leading through greater uncertainty. Dave Ulrich went on to talk about the importance of positive accountability and emphasized the value of creating leadership brands that cater to customers' expectations. Finally, Dave Ulrich shared why good leadership involves empowering others and building their brands rather than just promoting the leader's brand and how that connects to the concept of value creation for stakeholders.

Some Highlights:

- Dave Ulrich on the characteristics of good leaders-

-The role and importance of HR in creating value for stakeholders

- How leaders can focus on creating value in uncertain times- 

-Why positive accountability is a necessity in outstanding leadership and how to do it well

-Dave Ulrich on how to empower others to build their brands

- Why the receiver defines value and the importance of that perspective in leadership

- The role of human resources in creating value for stakeholders through talent, organization, and leadership.

- The necessity of focusing on customer expectations in creating successful leadership models.

- Dave Ulrich on the one trait that all great leaders have in common

Connect with Dave Ulrich:

The RBL Group Website 

Dave Ulrich on LinkedIn 

Dave Ulrich at University of Michigan Ross 

Dave Ulrich books on Amazon

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Emily Yu, Founder & CEO of AI Priori. AI Priori is a technology startup that offers social changemakers a compelling new way to understand and address the world's most pressing challenges using AI technology. Emily Yu talked about how her background made her passionate about social change and using technology to understand better and address social needs. Emily Yu finally shared her vision for AI Priori and the positive potential of AI applications in the social sector to surface insights and drive action for a more significant positive impact.

Some Highlights:

- From Georgetown School of Foreign Service to pursuit of culinary arts

- Emily Yu on working at Ogilvy on the  Heart Truth Campaign

- The Case Foundation--at the intersection of technology & innovation for social good

- The importance of taking calculated risks to create more robust programs to generate ideas for social good

- Emily Yu on the benefits of entrepreneurial approaches in philanthropy

- The value of taking risks with intention in order to push the envelope with programs

- The challenges that philanthropy faces in addressing inequity

- Emily Yu on the dynamics of trust-based philanthropy

- The potential for philanthropy to scale its impact through AI-driven social change 

- AI Priori's vision and potential for foundations and program officers

- AI and bias in social sector funding 

- How to leverage AI to tackle social challenges

Mentioned:

Partnering Leadership conversation with Jonah Berger on Magic Words

Partnering Leadership conversation with Jean Case on Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose

Partnering Leadership episode  Augmented Future of Work with Artificial Intelligence, Going Beyond the AI Hype to Visualizing & Embracing Possibilities with 10 AI Tools

Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI by Paul R. Daugherty and H. James Wilson on Amazon

Andrew Ng Website and AI Resources

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Connect with Emily Yu:

AI Priori Website 

Emily Yu on LinkedIn 

Emily Yu on Twitter

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