Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, 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 13 books, including Learn or Die,  Humility is The New Smart, and his latest Hyper learning: How to adapt to the Speed of Change.

In the conversation, Professor Ed Hess shares why we need to accelerate our pace of learning in the digital age, some of the barriers and challenges we face in learning new ideas and concepts, and how leaders can implement hyperlearning in their organizations. Ed Hess also shares frameworks, practices, and mindsets individuals need to adapt to build trusting relationships and effectively collaborate.

Some highlights:

- Ed Hess on experiences which helped him understand the need for genuine humility in leadership

- The necessity for hyper-learning in a fast-changing world 

- Ed Hess on how our unique human emotions can help advance our thinking and our capability to adapt to change

- How ego and fear prevent us from learning

- Ed Hess on the necessity for modeling as a part of learning 

- The difference between old smart and new smart 

- How to create caring and trusting relationships 

- Ed Hess on the necessity to collaborate and tap into collective intelligence 

Books Mentioned:

- Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change by Edward D. Hess

- Learn or Die: Using Science to Build a Leading-Edge Learning Organization (Columbia Business School Publishing) by Edward D. Hess

- Humility Is the New Smart: Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age by Edward D. Hess

Also Mentioned:

- Robert Kennedy, 64th United States Attorney General

- Herb Kelleher, Co-Founder, and CEO of Southwest Airlines

- Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates

- Barbara Fredrickson, professor in the department of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Connect with Ed Hess:
Ed Hess 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

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Actor-Comedian Maz Jobrani. In addition to his comedy specials, Maz Jobrani has appeared on many of television's most popular shows, including Grey's Anatomy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Better Off Ted, and Shameless. He is also a regular on Stephen Colbert's late show, and he starred as the title character in the award-winning indie comedy, Jimmy Vestvood, which he co-wrote and co-produced.

Maz Jobrani spoke about his early days in Iran and upbringing in the US. How he fell in love with being on stage and why he decided to pursue acting and standup comedy full time. Maz Jobrani also shared his thoughts on the role of politics in comedy, why he has become a more vocal advocate for social justice, and how he wants to change perceptions many hold toward people of middle eastern descent.   

Some highlights:

- How Maz Jobrani's upbringing impacted his acting and comedy

- Maz Jobrani talks about his desire to work toward normalizing the image of Muslims, Middle Easterners, and "brown people" in Western media

- Why Maz Jobrani takes on bullies and advocates for the underdog

- Maz Jobrani on making a mark by bringing people together through humor and connecting them with their common humanity

- Maz Jobrani shares the challenges of defying prejudices in the aftermath of September 11th

- Maz Jobrani on how we can all play a role and make a difference

Also mentioned:

- David Rubenstein, co-founder & co-chairman of Carlyle Group & President of the Economic Club of Washington DC ( Listen to David's episode on Partnering Leadership Podcast )

- Tehran Von Ghasri

- Rabia Chaudry

- Frank Figliuzzi

Connect with Maz Jobrani:

Maz Jobrani on MazJobrani.Com

Maz Jobrani on Instagram

Maz Jobrani on Twitter 

Back to School Podcast with Maz Jobrani 

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 his thoughts and research on the importance of providing regular feedback in the work environment. Mahan shares why many leaders avoid giving feedback and how to incorporate it into frequent interactions. Finally, Mahan shares tips on how to provide better and more productive feedback.  

Some highlights:

- The thin line between feedback and coaching

- How to provide feedback rather than avoid it

- The challenges with feedback in the virtual environment

-  Importance of relationship in feedback

- How and why you should solicit feedback

- Feedback in one-on-one meetings

Mentioned:

-Georgetown University Webinar on Feedback:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeyeDiE1J-w

- Dr. John Gottman, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com

More information and resources are 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 LaTonya Wilkins. LaTonya Wilkins is the founder of The Change Coaches. She works with C-suite/executive leaders and their teams where human connection and cultural change happen: below the surface. LaTonya Wilkins is also the author of Leading Below The Surface: How To Build Real and Psychologically Safe Relationships With People Who Are Different From You. In this conversation, LaTonya shares how leaders can become more inclusive by creating cultures of belonging in the workplace. LaTonya Wilkins also shares concrete examples of how leaders can go below the surface to achieve a psychologically safe environment.

Some Highlights:

- LaTonya Wilkins on what leading below the surface is all about

- Why people have a hard time getting below the surface, and why leaders need to become below the surface leaders

- LaTonya Wilkins on questioning the way the world operates and challenging the dominant leadership standard 

- How creating a culture of belonging helps in promoting psychological safety

- Understanding the difference between Person to Person Listening and Person to Belonging Listening

- LaTonya Wilkins on how to effectively approach diversity and inclusion in the organization

Also mentioned in this episode:

Amy Edmondson - The Importance of Psychological Safety; author and current Novartis Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School

Books Mentioned:

- Leading Below the surface: How to Lead Real and Psychologically Safe Relationships with People who are Different from You by LaTonya Wilkins

- You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion, and Why It Matters by Vanessa Bohns (Listen to Vanessa Bohn’s episode on Partnering Leadership)

- Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation by Jasmine Syedullah, Lama Rod Owens, and Angel Kyodo Williams

Connect with LaTonya Wilkins:

Website: https://latonyawilkins.com/leading-below-the-surface/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latonyawilkins/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latonyacoaching/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaTonyaWilkins

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 Luanne Gutermuth. Luanne formerly serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Washington Gas. In addition to co-founding Good Spirit Farm Winery with her husband, Luanne Gutermuth serves as Chair of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Luanne serves on the Washington Performing Arts and Northern Virginia Family Services board of directors. 

Some highlights:

- Luanne Gutermuth on her struggles maintaining work-life balance 

- Rising through the ranks at Washington Gas and the challenge of leading shared services 

- The importance of transparency in leadership

- Luanne on the difference between transparency of facts versus transparency of feelings 

- Luanne Gutermuth on her priorities as Chair of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce

- Why Luanne and her husband started a winery

Connect with Luanne Gutermuth:

Luanne Gutermuth 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 Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley. Ken is the founder of the Ken Blanchard Companies and has co-authored more than 65 books on leadership, including all-time classics such as The One Minute Manager and Who Moved My Cheese, each with over 20 million copies sold. In this conversation, Ken Blanchard is joined by Randy Conley, Vice President of global professional services for the Ken Blanchard Companies. The discussion focuses on the leadership lessons from Ken Blancard and Randy Conley's latest book:   Simple Truths of Leadership: 52 Ways to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust, which he co-wrote with Randy Conley. Ken and Randy share how to apply the leadership principles to build trust and become the kind of leader others would want to follow.  

Some Highlights:

- Ken Blanchard on the impact of his upbringing on his leadership thinking and approach

- Randy Conley on models for servant leadership

- The importance of humility in leadership

- Randy Conley on the complexity of leadership and the need to focus on fundamental principles

- Ken Blanchard on how to build on your team's desire to contribute 

- Randy Conley on authenticity and its importance to servant leadership 

- Ken Blanchard on why "love" powers leadership

- Randy Conley on extending trust 

- How leaders can encourage feedback from their teams

- The ABCD model of trust 

- Ken Blanchard's breakdown of the servant leadership mindset

- Putting situational leadership into practice

- Ken Blanchard on having the reflective self versus the task-oriented self 

- Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley on the future of work 

Also mentioned in this episode:

- Jim Collins, Level 5 Leadership

- Garry O. Ridge, Chairman of the Board and chief executive officer of the WD-40 Company

- Dale Carnegie, author

- Rick Tate, author

Books Mentioned:

- Simple Truths of Leadership: 52 Ways to Be a Servant Leader and Build Trust by Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley

- The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

- The Power of Ethical Management by Ken Blanchard & Norman Vincent Peale

- 10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times: Coaching Your Team Through Immense Change and Challenge by Ken Blanchard and Zig Ziglar

- Everyone's a Coach by Ken Blanchard and Don Shula

Connect with Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley:

Ken Blanchard Official Website

Randy Conley’s Blog

The Ken Blanchard Companies on LinkedIn

The Ken Blanchard on Facebook

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 Judy Samuelson. Judy Samuelson is the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program's founder and executive director. Judy Samuelson is also the author of The Six New Rules of Business: Creating Real Value in a Changing World. In this conversation, Judy shares how societal shifts have changed traditional approaches to how businesses operate, a greater need for purpose, and the role of business in society. Judy also shares what leaders of organizations can do to create greater value and ensure success in the changing environment. Finally, Judy Samuelson also shares why we need to redesign the attitudes and mindsets that define leadership and business success.

Some Highlights:

- How and why the Aspen Institute gathers, supports, develops, and challenges leaders across various sectors

- Judy Samuelson on embracing the "new rules" that are already in play in business

- How human intervention plays a vital role in overcoming shareholder primacy to ignite change in the system

- Judy Samuelson on designing a new company culture more suitable to the societal changes taking place

- Why shareholder primacy only works for a few, and how to change it

- Judy Samuelson on examples of purpose-driven companies  

- The government's role in regulating business

- The need for more collaboration between companies 

- Judy Samuelson on why employees are crucial in keeping organizations accountable

- Trust as the number one intangible asset that drives business value

- Judy Samuelson's perspective on the future of business

Also mentioned in this episode:

- Anand Giridharadas, journalist and author of Winners Take All 

- P. Roy Vagelos, president and chief executive officer and chairman of Merck 

- Peter Drucker, educator, business and leadership author

Books Mentioned:

The Six New Rules of Business: Creating Real Value in a Changing World by Judy Samuelson

Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas

Connect with Judy Samuelson:

Judy Samuelson Website

Judy Samuelson on LinkedIn

Judy Samuelson on Twitter

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 Patrick McGinnis. Patrick coined the term FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and FOBO (Fear of a Better Option) while attending Harvard Business School. Patrick McGinnis is the author of two international bestsellers, including Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice, and the host of the hit podcast FOMO Sapiens. In this conversation, Patrick McGinnis discusses why our need to be included can be overwhelming and what we can do to overcome it. He also talks about FOBO (Fear of a Better Option) and its adverse impacts on our mental health and the quality and speed of our decision-making. 

Some Highlights:

- Patrick McGinnis on what led him to write about “FOMO” and “FOBO” while attending Harvard Business School

- How FOMO or the fear of missing out can be beneficial and destructive at the same time

- Patrick McGinnis on controlling the negative consequences of the Fear of Missing Out

- The common triggers of FOMO and how to manage the triggers

- Patrick McGinnis on overcoming FOMO at work 

- Understanding the impact of the Fear of a Better Option (FOBO) on decision-making

- Patrick McGinnis on controlling the desire for optimization that leads to FOBO

Also mentioned in this episode:

- Carl Jung, psychiatrist, The wounded healer Archetype

- Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Leader

- Mahatma Gandhi, Leader of Indian Independence Movement

Books Mentioned:

- Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice by Patrick McGinnis 

- System Failure by Joe Zieja

- Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind what Makes People Take a Chance on You by Carlye Adler and Suneel Gupta

- Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age by Bruce Feiler

- The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work by Shawn Achor

- Flourish by Martin Seligman

- Lost in the Valley of Death: A Story of Obsession and Danger in the Himalayas by Harley Rustad

- The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self by Martha Beck

- Entrepreneurial You: Monetize Your Expertise, Create Multiple Income Streams, and Thrive by Dorie Clark

- Ask for More: 10 Questions to Negotiate Anything by Alexandra Carter

- Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life by Luke Burgis

- The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz

- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Connect with Patrick McGinnis:

Patrick McGinnis on Podcast

Patrick McGinnis Website

Patrick McGinnis on LinkedIn

Patrick McGinnis on Instagram

Patrick McGinnis on Twitter

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 Tien Wong. Tien is the Chairman and CEO of Opus8 - private investment and strategic advisory firm. He is also Chairman of Lore Systems, an IT services company, Chairman of tech 2000, Inc., an Edtech company. Tien Wong is also the founder and host of the Big idea CONNECTprenuer Forum, a community of over 7,000 founders, CEOs, angels, and VCs.

Tien Wong is a successful entrepreneur who has founded many firms, served on the boards of numerous organizations and established a community that supports and encourages other entrepreneurs to succeed.

Some highlights:

- Tien Wong, on his early entrepreneurial experience and lessons learned from a failed start-up

- The driving force behind Tien Wong’s involvement in many different initiatives and organizations

- Tien Wong on the origin story of CONNECTpreneur 

- Tien Wong on elevating entrepreneurial activity in the Greater Washington DC DMV region.

- The most critical factors for entrepreneurial success  

Mentioned:

Justin Kan

Wayne Gretzky

Connect with Tien Wong:

Tien Wong on LinkedIn

Tien Wong @ Opus8

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 Sarah Stein Greenberg, executive director of Stanford D.school. Sarah leads a community of designers, faculty, and other innovative thinkers who help people uncover their creative potential and apply them to the world. She is also the author of Creative Acts for Curious People. In the conversation, Sarah Stein Greenberg shares ideas from the book and exercises that can bring out the creativity in any individual or team. Sarah also shares how design can help while leading through uncertainty.  

Some highlights:

- Leading with creativity in a world of uncertainty

- Navigating ambiguity: A whole new area of skill development

- Bridging creativity with curiosity

- The what, why, and how of Parallel Prototyping

- How leaders can become more aware of the world around them

- Forging connections with team members to nurture curiosity and creativity

- How to be more empathetic by understanding the different forms of empathy

- The role design can play in ensuring equity

Also mentioned in this episode:

Creative Acts for Curious People: How to Think, Create, and Lead in Unconventional Ways by Sarah Stein Greenberg

-Peter Senge, author of “The Fifth Discipline”

-Carissa Carter, director of teaching and learning at Stanford D School

-Leah Siebert, designer

-Chanel Miller, illustrator

-Michael Barry & Michelle JIA

-Omayeli Arenyeka, Senior Software Engineer, wrote about the creative savior complex

-Juliet Funt, CEO of White Space at Work, author of “A minute to think”

-Malia Rothchild Kita, researcher 

-Michael “Mike” Hirshon, Illustrator, Web Designer

- Azeem Azhar, author of The Exponential Age (Listen to Azeem’s episode on Partnering Leadership here)

Connect with Sarah Stein Greenberg:

Sarah Stein Greenberg on LinkedIn

Sarah Stein Greenberg on Instagram

Stanford D School Official Website

D School Books

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

https://mahantavakoli.com/

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