Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Paul Rothenberg.  In the conversation, Paul Rothenberg shared why he came to Washington DC, how his career led him to an executive search career, and Paul joined the McCormick Group in 1994.   Paul Rothenberg went on to talk about his active involvement in the community, including serving as Chairman of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind; Chairman of Goodwill of Greater Washington; Executive Committee of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District (RBID); Chair of the RBID Urban Design Committee; Co-Chairman of TechMatch; Vice Chairman, United Negro College Fund; and member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Leadership Greater Washington, Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, D.C. Chamber of Commerce, and Big Brothers of Washington.  Finally, Paul Rothenberg shared the common attributes of the most successful CEOs and leadership lessons he has learned from his career in recruitment.  

Some highlights:

- Why Paul Rothenberg joined the Marine Corps

- The newspaper business and leading the Washington Times

- Contributing to the community through service as well as executive search

- Paul Rothenberg on the stories behind recruiting top-performing CEOs

- Joining the first class of Leadership Greater Washington

- Leadership lessons learned from board service as well as leading boards of directors

- Paul Rothenberg on the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships

Mentioned:

Partnering Leadership conversation with Lyles Carr

Partnering Leadership conversation with Barbara Davis Blum

Partnering Leadership conversation with Tony Canceloci

Partnering Leadership conversation with Catherine Meloy

Connect with Paul Rothenberg:

Paul Rothenberg at The McCormick Group 

Paul Rothenberg 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 Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman of WD-40.   In the conversation, Garry Ridge shared his origin story and how a quote from the Dalai Lama helped him focus on organizational purpose. Next, Garry explained his why and the how behind making WD-40 an organization where people can contribute, learn something new, and ultimately go home happy. Then, Garry Ridge shared the leadership wisdom he has gained from Ken Blanchard and Marshall Goldsmith and his focus on creating a ripple effect of happiness. Garry Ridge also laid out the leadership practices and approaches that led employee engagement at WD-40 to reach 93.5%, with 98% of the people working at the company loving to tell people they work there and 97% trusting or respecting their boss.   Finally, Garry Ridge talked about the importance of strategy and the most critical element in leading an organization to achieve its strategy and succeed.

Some highlights:

- How Garry Ridge ended up as CEO of WD-40 

- The importance of authentic purpose in building a global brand

- Creating a culture of engagement and accountability at WD-40

- The role of coaching in the organization

- Garry Ridge on leading WD-40 from a market cap of $300 million to over $2.5 billion.Timestamps

- Hierarchy of values and how best to use them in decision making

- How to embed organizational values

- Garry Ridge on his approach to succession planning at WD-40

- Building a culture that outlasts you

- The difference made by leadership

Mentioned:

Partnering Leadership conversation with Dr. Ken Blanchard on Simple Truths of Leadership 

Connect with Garry Ridge

Garry Ridge Website 

Garry Ridge 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 Dr. Anne Kress, President of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), the third-largest multi-campus community college in the United States and the largest educational institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the conversation, Anne Kress shares the origin of her passion for community college education and its impact on people's lives. Next, Anne Kress talked about the importance of bridging the gaps in the community by providing opportunities for more people to access education and onramps to rewarding careers. Anne Kress finally shared thoughts on partnerships to help develop the future workforce, meet business needs, and support a thriving community. 

Some highlights:

-Anne Kress on the impact of her father's certificate from the Milwaukee Institute of Technology

-The Paper Ceiling and why it's essential to break it!

-Benefits of hiring based on skillsets rather than four-year degree

-Anne Kress on leading NOVA through the pandemic 

-The role of community colleges in higher education and workforce development

-Anne Kress on NOVA's comprehensive support for learners

-The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the future of education

-How NOVA is shifting its curriculum to keep pace with changes in the economy and the needs of employers 

-Innovative partnerships to support students and meet business as well as community needs

-The importance of ensuring access to affordable, high-quality education and workforce training

Mentioned:

Partnering Leadership conversation with Dan Turchin on AI and The Future of Work 

Partnering Leadership conversation with Tom Taulli on AI Essentials for Leaders 

Connect with Anne Kress:

Northern Virginia Community College 

NOVA Presidents Office 

Anne Kress 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 Jonah Berger, Wharton School professor and internationally bestselling author of Magic Words, Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst. In the conversation, Jonah Berger talked about the role of influence in our lives and leadership. He explained why influence is a tool and how to use it for positive impact. Jonah Berger then addressed the role of language in influencing others, and the six types of research supported magic words for influence. Next, Jonah Beger shared the role of confidence in influence and how to use it appropriately, depending on the situation. Finally, Jonah Berger talked about the power of storytelling, the language of similarity and difference, and how to use personal hedges to show openness to other perspectives.

Some highlights:

- Why influence is neither positive nor negative

- How words influence behavior

- The research behind the power of 'because'

- How leaders can use influence for good

- The six types of magic words to influence

- How our environment impacts our behaviors

- How the language used in emails can predict whether you are likely going to get promoted or get fired

- The role that words can play in identity and agency

- The importance of certainty to influence and how to do it right

- How leaders can use influence to move their organization in a good direction. 

- The one type of question that makes you seem more intelligent and competent.

- The Power of words in influencing others

- Leaders should be aware of the power of words and their use in influencing others 

- The importance of follow-up questions and how to do them well

- What do the best storytellers do differently than the others

- How to lead for positive influence 

Connect with Jonah Berger:

Jonah Berger Website 

Jonah Berger on LinkedIn 

Magic Words on Amazon 

Mentioned:

Partnering Leadership conversation with Warren Berger on the Power of Questions and Questioning 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can transform the future of work and leadership. Mahan first addresses the hype around AI and urges caution while also mentioning the long-term transformative impact of AI on organizations and the future of work. Next, Mahan shares why he believes the future of work will be an augmented one where human intelligence will be augmented through the use of Artificial Intelligence. Then, to help listeners visualize the potential applications of AI, Mahan shares ten AI tools and their current applications. Finally, Mahan reiterates the exponential changes that we will see as a result of AI and urges listeners to look at potential uses of AI in their organizations and daily workflow, highlighting the many more Partnering Leadership conversations with leading practitioners and thinkers in AI ahead.  

Some highlights:

- Why we should be mindful of the hype cycle and stay focused on the substantial changes brought about by the use of artificial intelligence  

- The side hustle phenomenon around ChatGPT

- How using AI tools can help us see potential applications for augmenting our work and leading our teams and organizations 

- Why AI will be more transformative than the internet 

- Ten AI tools for possible experimentation

- Mahan on why the future of work is going to be augmented with AI

Mentioned:

Partnering Leadership podcast conversation with Dan Turchin, CEO of PeopleReign and host of AI and the Future of Work Podcast

AI tools:

Notion: a single space where you can think, write, and plan. 

Tome : AI-Powered Storytelling App creating visually stunning and engaging presentations with ease

Spirit Me: Instant video production with digital avatars

AskAI: Build your own AI Q&A with any content in minutes

WithDelphi: Talk to your favorite experts

Jasper: AI Copywriter and content generator

Tool Tips: Get simple, contextual explanations of any highlighted text on the web and PDFs

Rationale: AI decision-making tool

Fireflies: AI meeting assistant 

Boomy: AI generative music creator

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Caren Kenney. Caren Kenney is the CEO and Founder of Evolve Leadership and coauthor of Leading with Character: 10 Minutes a Day to a Brilliant Legacy. In the conversation, Caren shared why she cofounded a business focused on wellness and mental health, which was then bought by Johnson & Johnson and became part of their Human Performance Institute. Next, Caren Kenney spoke about how leaders can develop their skills and become more capable leaders and balance that with their emotional well-being to avoid burnout. Caren Kenney shared why character can be developed like a muscle and how leaders can better develop their leadership character. Finally, Caren Kenney shared thoughts on how leaders can build their purpose in alignment with their organization's purpose for better results with less anxiety and pressure.  

Some Highlights:

-How Caren Kenney's personal challenges made her a better leader by increasing her empathy and understanding of people 

-Cofounding a business focused on developing digital health coaching programs for people with mental health issues.

-Caren Kenney on the importance of leading with character, having a growth mindset, and maintaining emotional well-being and flexibility

-How to better tap into our experiences to better understand and relate to others.

-How leaders can communicate to build greater trust, and collaboration in their teams and organizations

-Caren Kenney on creating an environment of trust and respect to encourage open dialogue and collaboration.

-The importance of aligning personal purpose with organizational purpose

-Why leaders are feeling more anxiety and stress than ever before and what to do about it

-Caren Kenney on practices that contribute to improvement in mental health and well-being of leaders

-The most significant contributors to imposter syndrome and how to overcome them 

Connect with Caren Kenney:

Evolve Leadership Website 

Caren Kenney on LinkedIn 

Leading with Character 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 Debbi Jarvis, Vice President & Chief Communications Officer at AltaGas.  Debbi Jarvis talked about the impact of her upbringing as a Midwestern girl from Kalamazoo, Michigan. How her sales career led her to pursue journalism and becoming a TV anchor, eventually bringing her to Washington, DC. Debbi Jarvis went on to share about her transition to Pepco, why she was asked to start a Corporate Social Responsibility group while there, and the need for CSR in organizations. Debbi Jarvis eventually went on to create Howard University's Office of Corporate Relations to focus on corporate relationship building and then was recruited as Chief Communications Officer of AltaGas, responsible for all corporate communications functions, focusing on the design and execution of a multifaceted communications strategy to promote Washington Gas and the broader AltaGas enterprise. Finally, Debbi shared the need for community engagement for leaders and organizations and how she prioritizes her community involvement to have the most significant impact possible.  

Some Highlights:

- Debbi Jarvis on how she ended up in sales and the lessons learned from her early sales career

- Cheerleading in roles, including as a professional cheerleader for the Cincinnati Bengals

- Transferring sales skills to the newsroom and becoming an anchor

- Debbi Jarvis on her move to DC, interviewing Charlene Drew Jarvis and meeting Ernie Jarvis

- Helping establish Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Pepco

- Establishing Howard University's Office of Corporate Relations to focus on corporate relationship building 

- Communications at Washington Gas (AltaGas)

- Why and how to prioritize needs in the community

Mentioned:

Partnering Leadership conversation with Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis

Partnering Leadership conversation with Ernie Jarvis 

Connect with Debbi Jarvis:

Debbi Jarvis 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 Dan Turchin. Dan Turchin is the CEO of the AI company PeopleReign and host of the podcast AI & The Future of Work. First, Dan shared thoughts on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Silicon Valley and the potential of hybrid or fully remote work in organizations. Next, Dan Turchin mentioned a Worknet future where organizations hire the best talent and create a fluid work structure. The conversation then turned to AI advancements and applications in organizations, including PeopleReign, the world's smartest virtual agent for IT and HR employee service. Dan Turchin also shared his thought on why humanity and empathy are essential in the age of AI. Finally, Dan shared potential applications of AI in the workplace and resources for organizational leaders to stay on top of the fast-moving developments in the field.  

Some Highlights:

- The impact of remote work on the tech ecosystem and the future of work

- The necessity to rethink education and invest in human skills as a 

- Dan Turchin on the impact of AI on the future of work

- How AI can enhance employee productivity

- The vision behind PeopleReign, the intelligent virtual agent for IT and HR employee services 

- Dan Turchin on the Turning Test and whether it's still relevant

- The potential of AI technologies to benefit humans

- The need to set guardrails for AI to ensure responsible AI practices

- Limitations of AI technology and the need for responsible use, including facial recognition

- Dan Turchin on the use of AI for augmenting human intelligence

- The power of data and the power of algorithms to make human life better

- What organizations and policymakers need to consider before blessing AI models and sending them off into the wild 

Mentioned in the episode:

Partnering Leadership conversation with Gary Bolles on The Future of Work

Partnering Leadership conversation with John Rossman on The Amazon Way

Partnering Leadership conversation with Ed Hess on How to Adapt to the Speed of Change

Partnering Leadership conversation with Tom Tully on Artificial Intelligence Basics

Partnering Leadership episode on The Future is Now: Open AI's Chat GPT and the Exponential Changes Ahead

Partnering Leadership episode on Three mindsets of Top CEOs, Thoughts on Team Alignment & Collaboration, and a Strategic Challenge Posed by AI

Connect with Dan Turchin

AI & the Future of Work Podcast 

PeopleReign Website 

Dan

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Khari Brown, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Spark the Journey. In the conversation, Khari Brown shared the impact of his upbringing, what drew him to basketball, and the leadership lessons he learned in playing the game.    Khari shared the origin of his passion for educating youth and his involvement in Capital Partners for Education, rebranded last year as Spark the Journey. Khari Brown talked about the impact of the organization and the need for the community to rethink the approach to education for greater equity and access to opportunities for all. Finally, Khari Brown shared thoughts on the necessity for and benefits of sabbaticals by leaders, especially leaders in the nonprofit sector, who work tirelessly to meet the community's needs.  

Some highlights:

- Khari Brown on why investing in youth sports matters

- Playing professional basketball in Finland and the lessons learned from the experience

- The challenges of the education system, especially when it comes to students of color

- Khari Brown's strategies for growing a nonprofit and scaling its impact

- Spark the Journey's focus on supporting the "academic middle" students in low-income communities

- The value of upstream thinking in tackling issues in the community

- Why Khari Brown led the effort to rebrand Capital Partners for Education to Spark the Journey 

- Business's role in the community to service and making a difference

- The need for sabbaticals, especially in the nonprofit sector

- Khari Brown on playing basketball with President Barack Obama at Camp David

- The need for lifelong learning and education for organizational leaders

Connect with Khari Brown

Spark the Journey Website 

Khari Brown on LinkedIn 

Khari Brown on Twitter 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Mark C Crowley, author of Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century. In the conversation, Mark C Crowley shared how his tough childhood contributed to his leadership practice of leading from the heart. Mark also shared why the heart is more than just a muscle and how leaders can balance mind and heart in their leadership. Mark C Crowley finally shared how leaders can encourage leading from the heart in their teams and organizations as well as practices to help make a more balanced leadership, including leading from the heart of the organization's culture.  

Some highlights:

- How Mark C Crowley's upbringing shaped his view of leadership

- The results of leading from the heart in the financial services sector

- The science behind the heart's role in leadership

- Mark C Crowley on the need for balance between the brain and the heart

- How leaders can nurture an organizational culture that encourages leading from the heart

Connect with Mark C Crowley:

Mark C Crowley Website 

Mark C Crowley on LinkedIn 

Mark C Crowley on Twitter 

Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century on Amazon 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website