Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Steve Polo, the Managing Partner at OPX, a design consultancy with a mission to help good companies work better. In addition to his leadership journey, Steve Polo shares his unique perspective on how to lead with authenticity and think about the future of the workplace enabling greater human connection and collaboration.   In the episode, Steve Polo also talks about leading OPX through the pandemic and leaders' role in employee engagement. Finally, Steve Polo shared leadership practices for becoming a better team and organizational leader.  

Some highlights:

- Growing up in a multicultural household and how it developed Steve Polo's ability to connect with people

- Steve Polo on the significant impact of leadership mentors 

- The opportunities and challenges as a new leader at OPX, looking to lead the turnaround of the organization

- Steve Polo on the challenges of leading OPX during the pandemic  

- The importance of connecting with team members and how to do it well

- Steve Polo on the importance of continually improving leadership skills 

Mentioned:

Dr. Vanessa Bohns (Listen to Dr. Vanessa Bohns’ episode on Partnering Leadership here)

Azeem Azhar (Listen to Azeem Azhar’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)

John Hunter: Teaching with the World Peace Game 

Connect Steve Polo

OPX Website

Steve Polo on Twitter

Steve Polo on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Gustavo Razzetti, CEO and Founder of Fearless Culture, creator of the Culture Design Canvas, and author of Remote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace. In the conversation, Gustavo Razzetti talked about the critical barriers to designing a great organizational culture and shared tools and approaches to intentionally design a great organizational culture.   Gustavo Razzetti also shared the challenge of maintaining organizational culture in a hybrid environment and the opportunity the greater flexibility of work provides for organizations to rethink how they approach culture and design a culture that helps individuals and teams thrive. Finally, Gustavo Razetti offers a framework for leaders to facilitate greater collaboration through shifting workplace dynamics.  

Some highlights:

- Gustavo Razzetti on the key influences on organizational culture 

- How to tackle the most significant organizational culture challenges

- The discipline and structure needed to make hybrid work environments succeed  

- The importance of rituals to culture and what kind of rituals to avoid 

- Gustavo Razzetti on how to build greater psychological safety in teams and its importance to organizational culture

- Gustavo Razzetti on the importance of collective feedback

- When and how to use asynchronous communication

- Gustavo Razzetti’s on the most critical elements of a thriving organizational culture

- The future of hybrid work and the opportunity for leaders to be intentional in designing their team and organizational culture 

Connect with Gustavo Razzetti

Fearless Culture Website 

Gustavo Razzetti Website

Remote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace on Amazon

Gustavo Razzetti on Twitter

Gustavo Razzetti on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

https://mahantavakoli.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

https://www.partneringleadership.com/

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. Monica Goldson, Chief Executive Officer of Prince George's County Public Schools. In the conversation, Dr. Monica Goldson shared the source of her love for education and why she decided not to pursue accounting and become an educator. Monica Goldson also shared the many challenges in leading the school system during the pandemic and the role the school system had to play in supporting families throughout the pandemic. Finally, Dr. Goldson also shared her thoughts on the school system's role in supporting families and preparing young adults for the next stage of their lives. 
 

Some highlights:

-Monica Goldson's upbringing and what led her to choose to study actuarial science

-The significant impact that teachers can have on students' lives

-The real reason why Monica Goldsons committed to becoming an educator

-Finding the balance between being an educator and a parent

-Dealing with the challenges of the pandemic one day at a time

-Dr. Monica Goldson on the important role of communication to keep all stakeholders engaged with the school system

-The fundamental problems that the school system needs to address

-Dr. Monica Goldson's thoughts on career opportunities and education post-high school

-What leaders and principals must do to be able to lead their teams and organizations


Connect with Dr. Monica Goldson:

Prince George's County Public Schools 

Monica Goldson on Twitter

Monica Goldson on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

https://mahantavakoli.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/

More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

https://www.partneringleadership.com/

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. Maja Zelihic, Dean at the Forbes School of Business and Technology at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Dr. Maja Zelihic is coauthor along with Dr. Diane Hamilton of The Power of Perception: Eliminating Boundaries to Create Successful Global Leaders. In this conversation, Dr. Maja Zelihic talks about the power of perception, its influence on the working environment, and perception's role in leadership. Maja Zelihic also shared factors affecting our perceptions and how perception affects our behaviors. Finally, Dr. Maja Zelihic shared practical ideas on how leaders can better account for perceptions to communicate better and lead their teams more effectively.

Some highlights:

-Maja Zelihic's upbringing, becoming a refugee, and the importance of a healthy support system

-How kind words can influence a person's perspective and life journey

-Maja Zelihic on why perceptions matter

-Critical factors that can impact our perceptions in a corporate setting

-What leaders need to do to understand their own perceptions 

-Maja Zelihic on how empathy plays a role in predicting and understanding perceptions

-The impact of hybrid work on perceptions of organizational leaders and colleagues 

Mentioned:

Dr. Maja Zelihic's Tedx talk: Perception is an E.P.I.C. reality

Dr. Diane Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Tonerra, co-author of The Power of Perception

Larry Robertson, author of Rebel Leadership  (Listen to Larry Robertson’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)

Connect with Maja Zelihic:

Maja Zelihic Website

The Power of Perception on Amazon

Maja Zelihic on Twitter

Maja Zelihic on LinkedIn


Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
https://mahantavakoli.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/

More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:
https://www.partneringleadership.com/

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jason Levin, Founder of Ready, Set, Launch and author of Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch. In the conversation, Jason Levin talks about the power of building authentic relationships and the importance of deep connections in the workplace. Jason also shares the importance of strengthening weak ties, reconnecting with dormant ties, and how to do it well. Jason also talks about social media's impact on how we form and maintain relationships and how to use it well. Finally, Jason lays out strategies for leaders to build a greater connection with and among team members.   

Some highlights:

- Jason Levin on recognizing the impact of relationships early on

- The importance of depth in relationships and how to achieve greater depth

- Jason Levin shares a systematic approach to reconnecting with dormant ties

- The self-imposed barriers to reaching out and how to remove them

- Jason Levin on how leaders can use the art and science of relationship building to enable greater collaboration in their organizations

- The power of connections and building a stronger social network

Books Mentioned:

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink 

Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success by Adam Grant

Connect with Jason Levin:

Ready Set Launch Website

Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch on Amazon

Jason Levin on Twitter

Jason Levin on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
https://mahantavakoli.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/

More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:
https://www.partneringleadership.com/

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jason Levin, Founder of Ready, Set, Launch and author of Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch. In the conversation, Jason Levin talks about the power of building authentic relationships and the importance of deep connections in the workplace. Jason also shares the importance of strengthening weak ties, reconnecting with dormant ties, and how to do it well. Jason also talks about social media's impact on how we form and maintain relationships and how to use it well. Finally, Jason lays out strategies for leaders to build a greater connection with and among team members.   

Some highlights:

-Jason Levin on recognizing the impact of relationships early on

-The importance of depth in relationships and how to achieve greater depth

-Jason Levin shares a systematic approach to reconnecting with dormant ties

-The self-imposed barriers to reaching out and how to remove them

-Jason Levin on how leaders can use the art and science of relationship building to enable greater collaboration in their organizations

-The power of connections and building a stronger social network

Books Mentioned:

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink 

Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success by Adam Grant

Connect with Jason Levin:

Ready Set Launch Website

Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch on Amazon

Jason Levin on Twitter

Jason Levin on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

https://mahantavakoli.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/

More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:

https://www.partneringleadership.com/

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Sophie Wade, founder of Flexcel Network, work futurist, speaker, and author of Empathy Works: The Key to Competitive Advantage in the New Era of Work. In the episode, Sophie Wade talks about why empathy is a crucial corporate value and how it enables workforce transformation. Sophie Wade also shared examples of leading with Empathy and Empathy's role in human collaboration. Finally, Sophie Wade talked about how leaders can gauge the appropriate level and role of empathy at work.  

Some highlights:

- How culture influences empathy in the workplace

- Sophie Wade's on how to develop greater empathy 

- How leaders can encourage greater empathy in their teams and organizations

- Sophie Wade on whether there is a "right" amount of empathy in the workplace 

- Why the future of work requires even greater levels of empathy 

- Sophie Wade on the impact of hybrid work on team collaboration

Mentioned:

- Satya Nadella, executive chairman and CEO of Microsoft

Connect with Sophie Wade:

Sophie Wade’s Website

Empathy Works on Amazon 

Sophie Wade on Twitter

Sophie Wade on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli shares thoughts on the importance of reducing our blind spots and letting others connect with our humanity. Then, Mahan briefly explains the Johari Window and how understanding it can help us better understand how to reduce blind spots and why showing more genuine vulnerability in leadership is crucial. Finally, Mahan shares specific actions we can take to reduce our blind spots and let others better connect with us as leaders.  

Some highlights:

-Accepting the fact that we all have blind spots

-Why do our blind spots tend to grow as we gain more experience and move up in leadership roles

-Why general feedback tools and 360s are not helpful and often counter-productive in reducing blind spots

-The questions to ask and the people to ask those questions of to start reducing our blind spots

-Why it's important to reduce what we keep hidden from others through showing genuine vulnerability 

-The types of experiences to share that are relevant to showing greater vulnerability and helping others connect with our humanity

Mentioned:

-Ed Hess (Listen to Ed Hess's episode on Partnering Leadership here)

- Ken Blanchard (Listen to Ken Blanchard's episode on Partnering Leadership here)

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

https://mahantavakoli.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/

More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:

https://www.partneringleadership.com/

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Richard Carthon, CEO of Crypto Current and host of the Crypto Current podcast. Richard Carthon talks about blockchain technology, Web3, DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations), DeFi (Decentralised Finance), NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and cryptocurrency. Richard shares the basics of the technology behind each and their impact on the future of organizations.   Finally, Richard Carthon discusses how leaders can use blockchain to transform business operations. 

Some highlights:

- Richard Carthon on his upbringing and connecting with people of different cultures and perspectives

- The conversation that started Richard Carthon’s path to understanding the blockchain and cryptocurrency

- Richard Carthon on the definitions of blockchain and metaverse

- How organizations and businesses are currently using blockchain technology and potential future applications

- Richard Carthon shares examples of organizations from various industries and how they are using blockchain technology 

- Cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin & Ethereum), NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), DeFi (Decentralized Finance), and the five elements of blockchain technology

- Richard Carthon on DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) 

 Mentioned:

Azeem Azhar (Listen to Azeem Azhar’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)

Connect with Richard Carthon:

Crypto Current Podcast 

Richard Carthon on Twitter

Richard Carthon on LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

https://mahantavakoli.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/

More information and resources are available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

https://www.partneringleadership.com/

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Tony Pierce. Tony Pierce is Akin Gump's Washington DC office partner in charge. He has more than three decades of experience in trial and litigation. In addition to his leadership at Akin Gump and impactful work on behalf of his clients, Tony Pierce has played a crucial leadership role in advancing business and philanthropic initiatives in the Greater Washington DC DMV region. Tony Pierce has served as past chair of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, serves on the Greater Washington Partnership board, and has played a leadership role in other civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Legal Aid Society of District of Columbia. In this conversation, Tony Pierce shares his leadership journey and the reason for his involvement to give back to the community through his involvement with many regional organizations.  

Some highlights:

- Tony Pierce on why he decided to become a lawyer and his initial successes in litigation

- Why Washington DC DMV region put together a bid for the 2024 Olympics and the reasons the region didn't get the Olympics

- Why Tony Pierce initiated a strategic review at the Greater Washington Board of Trade 

- The role of the Greater Washington Partnership in the Greater Washington DC DMV regional ecosystem

- How nurturing talent in the Greater Washington DC DMV region can attract more business to the region

- Tony Pierce's leadership of Akin Gump through challenging times

- The importance of in-person connections and interaction to organizational culture and talent development 

Also mentioned in this episode:

- Vernon Jordan, former adviser to President Bill Clinton

- Robert “Bob” Strauss, founder of Akin Gump

- Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards

- Linda Rabbitt, founder and chairman of Rand Construction (Listen to Linda’s episode on Partnering Leadership)

- Rosie Allen Herring, CEO of the United Way (Listen to Rosie’s episode on Partnering Leadership) 

- Trond Undheim, author and futurist (Listen to Trond’s episode on Partnering Leadership)

- Below Deck, reality television series

- Married at First Sight, reality television series

Connect with Tony Pierce:

Tony Pierce on LinkedIn

Akin Gump Official Website

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website 

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn 

Partnering Leadership Website