In this episode, I speak with Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, global leadership expert, Thinkers50 Hall of Famer, and a pioneer of gender-balanced and age-ready organizations. 

We explore her unique journey across cultures, what she’s learned from advising leaders on four continents, and why cultural and contextual awareness is now essential for anyone leading across genders, generations — and even within couples. 

Avivah also shares why longevity will redefine careers, how companies can prepare for 100-year lives, and what positive leaders should focus on as AI, geopolitics, and demographics reshape the future of work. 

A sharp, inspiring conversation on building more balanced, human-centered organizations. 

If you enjoyed this episode, listen also to: 

• A Defiant Optimist Transforming Global Finance (with Durreen Shahnaz): https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/a-defiant-optimist-transforming-global-finance-with-durreen-shahnaz  
• Not the End of the World (with Hannah Ritchie): https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/not-the-end-of-the-world-with-hannah-ritchie  
• Human centric AI (with Rana el Kaliouby): https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/human-centric-ai-with-rana-el-kaliouby  

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

From transforming how business thinks about nature, to mapping the first global plan to reverse global warming, Paul Hawken has spent his life showing us that regeneration isn’t just possible — it’s already happening. 

As the author of landmark books like The Ecology of Commerce, Natural Capitalism, Drawdown, and Regeneration, and now Carbon: The Book of Life, Paul has inspired generations of leaders to see the economy not as something separate from nature — but as part of it. 

In this powerful episode, we explore how his vision has evolved from early entrepreneurship to global systems thinking — and what it truly means to lead for life in an age of crisis. 

💡 In this conversation, you’ll discover: 

• How listening — to people, places, and the planet — became one of Paul’s most transformative leadership practices. 
• What it takes to move from despair to agency, and how joy can become a regenerative force. 
• How leaders can reframe carbon, biodiversity, and business as interconnected pathways to prosperity. 
• The habits and mindsets that help sustain optimism after decades of environmental work. 

Throughout our dialogue, I was reminded of earlier conversations on this podcast —
👉 with Hannah Ritchie, who shared how data can fuel urgent optimism about the planet’s future: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/not-the-end-of-the-world-with-hannah-ritchie 
👉 with John Elkington, whose Triple Bottom Line challenged business to account for people, planet, and profit: https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/17471215-rethinking-capitalism-a-conversation-with-the-godfather-of-sustainability-with-john-elkington 
👉 and with Paul Polman, who showed how courageous corporate leadership can accelerate the shift to a net-positive world: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/becoming-a-courageous-leader-with-paul-polman-ex-unilever-ceo-and-imagine-co-founder

Together, these conversations reveal a truth that Paul embodies: that regeneration begins not in policy or technology, but in perspective — in the decision to see life as our ultimate stakeholder. 

🎧 Tune in to this episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast to hear Paul Hawken’s extraordinary journey — and his call to all of us to answer the question he once asked graduates: “What is the Earth asking of you?” 

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

What if the biggest risk in leadership wasn’t failure — but success that blinds us to change? 

In this episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast, I had the great pleasure of welcoming Rita McGrath, one of the world’s most influential voices on strategy and innovation. A professor at Columbia Business School and author of The End of Competitive Advantage, Discovery-Driven Growth, and Seeing Around Corners, Rita has transformed how leaders think about disruption, renewal, and adaptability. 

Together, we explore how to spot inflection points before they upend your business, why discovery-driven learning is the antidote to overconfidence, and how purpose and curiosity can keep teams resilient in uncertain times. Rita also shares a warning for today’s executives: when companies rush to go fast and big in complex environments — without room to test and learn — it’s almost always a recipe for disaster. 

From AI and education to human adaptability and leadership humility, this conversation will change the way you think about strategy in a world where advantage is always transient. 

🎧 Listen now — and discover why I believe that good strategy isn’t about predicting the future, but about preparing to learn from it. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: 

• Amy Edmondson – How to fail well: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/how-to-fail-well-with-amy-edmondson  
• Jean-Pascal Tricoire – Turning Sustainability into a Growth Engine: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/jean-pascal-tricoire-turning-sustainability-into-a-growth-engine  
• Sal Khan – Revolutionizing Education: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/revolutionizing-education-with-sal-khan  

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

In this new episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast, I have the pleasure of welcoming Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and former CEO of Schneider Electric. 

From his humble beginnings in rural France to leading one of the world’s most influential industrial companies, Jean-Pascal’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose. For nearly two decades as CEO, he reimagined Schneider Electric’s role in society — turning sustainability from a side note into a core business driver, championing digital transformation, and fostering a culture of inclusion and empowerment. 

In our conversation, we explore the lessons he learned from a truly global career, the importance of empathy and cultural intelligence in leadership, and how businesses can reconcile growth with climate responsibility. Today, as Chairman, he continues to shape the company’s mission and inspire the next generation of leaders to put people and planet at the heart of performance. 

🎧 I invite you to listen and discover how Jean-Pascal Tricoire embodies positive leadership — leading with vision, humility, and purpose. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also want to listen to: 

• Paul Polman "Becoming a courageous leader: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/10311167-becoming-a-courageous-leader-with-paul-polman-ex-unilever-ceo-and-imagine-co-founder 
• Erin Meyer “Unlocking the Secrets to Leading Across Borders: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/16477213-unlocking-the-secrets-to-leading-across-borders-with-erin-meyer  
• Indra Nooyi “Driving performance with purpose”: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/14002537-driving-performance-with-purpose-with-indra-nooyi  

To explore all episodes of the Positive Leadership Podcast and dive deeper into my universe of ideas, stories, and resources, I invite you to visit www.jpcourtois.com.  

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

In this episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast, I have the great pleasure of welcoming Gianpiero Petriglieri, one of the world’s leading voices in leadership development. A professor of Organizational Behavior at INSEAD, Gianpiero’s work bridges psychology, management, and education. 

Trained first as a medical doctor and psychiatrist in Italy, he later reinvented himself as a leadership scholar and educator. His unique journey brings a rare depth to his teaching and research, which focus on how we lead, how we learn, and—most importantly—how we stay human in times of constant change. 

We explore together: 

• His childhood influences and formative years in Sicily. 
• The lessons he carried from psychiatry into leadership education. 
• Why he believes leadership is not just about skills, but about “the inner work” of becoming yourself—on purpose. 
• How bravery, humility, and emotional courage are reshaping leadership today. 
• Why he describes leadership as “a kind of love”, and what that means for organizations navigating uncertainty and reinvention. 

Gianpiero’s voice is poetic, deeply human, and a powerful reminder that leadership is not about perfection or performance—but about presence, purpose, and connection. 

🎧 If you enjoyed this conversation, you might also like these episodes: 

• Amy Edmondson – How to fail well: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/how-to-fail-well-with-amy-edmondson  
• Mellody Hobson – Mastering Your Destiny: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/mastering-your-destiny-with-mellody-hobson  
• Reshma Saujani – The Power of Bravery: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/the-power-of-bravery-with-reshma-saujani  

And don’t forget: please rate and review the podcast on your favorite platform. Your support helps us reach even more leaders who want to create impact with meaning and humanity.  

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

Méditation, neurosciences et leadership spirituel 

Dans cet épisode du Positive Leadership Podcast, j’ai le plaisir d’accueillir Hermès Garanger : Lama, conférencière, auteure et productrice de télévision. 

À seulement 19 ans, elle est devenue la plus jeune femme Lama occidentale après une retraite spirituelle de plus de 1 000 jours. Depuis, elle a consacré plus de 30 000 heures à la méditation et plus de 25 ans à une carrière dans l’audiovisuel, réussissant à allier deux univers : la spiritualité et la production télévisuelle. 

Nous parlons ensemble de son parcours unique, des enseignements tirés de ses recherches en neurosciences, et de la manière dont elle intègre la méditation dans les entreprises pour transformer le bien-être, la gestion du stress et la performance collective. Hermès partage également sa vision du rôle des femmes dans la société, de l’équilibre entre vie spirituelle et vie professionnelle, ainsi que de l’avenir de la méditation dans nos sociétés modernes. 

👉 Si cet échange vous inspire, laissez-nous un avis 5⭐ et abonnez-vous pour ne manquer aucun épisode. 

🔎 Pour prolonger la réflexion, découvrez aussi : 

• Dandapani – Sur l’art de diriger son énergie et son attention : https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/12989229-improving-your-focus-with-dandapani  
• Daniel Goleman – Sur l’intelligence émotionnelle et le leadership : https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/14940410-optimizing-your-performance-with-emotional-intelligence-with-daniel-goleman  
• Amy Edmondson – Sur la sécurité psychologique et la performance des équipes : https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/15687150-how-to-fail-well-with-amy-edmondson 

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

In this special summer bonus episode, I want to offer you something a little different. This is a chance to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters. Leadership that goes beyond profit to create lasting impact is what drives change, and in this 40-minute episode, I’ve gathered powerful moments from past conversations on the Positive Leadership Podcast—voices that remind us how purpose-driven leadership can change the world. 

You’ll hear from leaders who have used their positions to elevate society, innovate for the future, and make a lasting difference for both people and the planet. From Fábio Barbosa’s transformation of corporate culture to Durreen Shahnaz’s pioneering work with the first Social Stock Exchange, from John Elkington’s early advocacy for sustainability to Laurence Tubiana’s critical role in securing the Paris Agreement—each story highlights how leadership with purpose can ignite change. 

I hope this episode inspires you to take time not just to relax this summer, but to also reconnect with your own leadership purpose. Thank you for being part of this Positive Leadership community, and enjoy the episode. 

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

In this episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast, we sit down with John Elkington, the trailblazing thinker who coined the concept of the Triple Bottom Line and helped shape the global sustainability agenda for over four decades. 

From his early influences to his latest provocations like Green Swans and Tickling Sharks, John shares his journey, his frameworks, and his vision for a future where business becomes a force for regeneration—not just resilience. 

What does it take to lead systemic change? 
 Why did he “recall” the Triple Bottom Line? 
 And how do we tickle the sharks—aka the world’s most powerful institutions—into shifting course? 

A powerful, thoughtful, and sometimes surprising conversation with one of the world’s most influential sustainability voices. 

💬 If you enjoy this episode, you may also like: 

• Becoming a courageous leader (with Paul Polman, ex-Unilever CEO and IMAGINE Co-Founder):  https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/10311167-becoming-a-courageous-leader-with-paul-polman-ex-unilever-ceo-and-imagine-co-founder  
• Not the End of the World (with Hannah Ritchie): https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/15848278-not-the-end-of-the-world-with-hannah-ritchie  
• [FR] Le courage du changement (avec Laurence Tubiana): https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/16090358-fr-le-courage-du-changement-avec-laurence-tubiana 

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

Back by popular demand! 🎧
  In this new conversation, Michael Bungay Stanier—author of The Coaching Habit, The Advice Trap, and How to Begin—returns to the podcast to go deeper than ever before.

With his signature mix of warmth, clarity, and wit, MBS and Jean-Philippe Courtois explore:

💡 How to lead with less control and more curiosity
  🔥 Why “being lazy” is a radical act of trust and growth
  🎯 The difference between SMART goals… and worthy goals
  🧠 What neuroscience teaches us about emotional connection, change, and resilience
  🌍 And how to serve something greater than yourself—while letting go of control

This episode isn’t just for coaches—it’s for anyone navigating meaningful transformation, in life or at work.

🎧 Listen now.

More inspiration? Check out these related episodes:

-              Dr. Caroline Leaf – on rewiring your brain for clarity, emotional regulation & growth: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/15018482-managing-your-mind-with-dr-caroline-leaf
- Pete Carroll – Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks, on Learning to ‘always compete’: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/9268299-learning-to-always-compete-with-pete-carroll-seattle-seahawks-head-coach

-              Charles Duhigg on The Power of Habit: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/16315344-the-power-of-habit-with-charles-duhigg

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

Et si le pouvoir de transformer notre système alimentaire se trouvait… dans notre caddie ? 

Dans cet épisode du Positive Leadership Podcast, je reçois Nicolas Chabanne, fondateur de C’est qui le Patron ?!, la "marque du consommateur" qui a redonné du pouvoir à des millions de citoyens pour mieux rémunérer les producteurs. 

Avec honnêteté et conviction, Nicolas revient sur son parcours atypique, son engagement en faveur d’une consommation solidaire, et sa volonté de faire de l’agriculture une grande cause nationale. Ensemble, nous abordons : 

• Comment les consommateurs peuvent soutenir les agriculteurs en orientant leurs choix d’achat, 
• Pourquoi il a cédé toutes ses actions à une fondation pour préserver l’indépendance du projet, 
• Le sens du leadership collectif et les défis d’une économie plus juste. 

Une conversation qui réconcilie valeurs, action concrète et espoir. 

🎙 À écouter aussi : 

• Albert Moukheiber – Savoir déjouer les pièges de son cerveau ? https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/15768633-fr-savoir-dejouer-les-pieges-de-son-cerveau-avec-albert-moukheiber  
• Florent Menegaux – I’m Michelin: making every individual matter
  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/16252992-i-m-michelin-making-every-individual-matter-with-florent-menegaux  
• Boyan Slat – Leading an ocean clean-up https://www.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/13329790-leading-an-ocean-clean-up-with-boyan-slat  

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/