In this new episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Katarina Berg, a leader who has redefined HR and culture for the digital age. 

As the long-time CHRO of Spotify and now Chief People Officer at On, Katarina has been at the helm of some of the most intense “hyper-growth” stories in tech history. But her journey started long before boardrooms—growing up sailing the world and being homeschooled on the ocean taught her a vital lesson: You cannot control the waves, you can only adjust your sails. 

In our conversation, we dive deep into her philosophy of “Controlled Chaos,” a bold approach that challenges the traditional command-and-control models of corporate leadership. 

Together, we explore a fascinating reality: What happens when you trust your employees enough to let them work from anywhere—not just as a perk, but as a business strategy? Katarina reveals how the “Work From Anywhere” policy at Spotify unlocked talent globally, and how she is now applying similar principles of trust and speed at On. 

But the real revolution isn't just about policy. It is about connection. We discuss her famous “Walk and Talks”—solving complex business problems on mountain trails rather than in meeting rooms—and how staying close to nature makes us better decision-makers. 

In this episode, we cover: 

• The Origin Story: How a childhood spent navigating high seas shaped her resilience and adaptability as a leader. 
• The Philosophy: Why “Controlled Chaos” is essential for innovation, and why rigidity is the enemy of growth. 
• The Strategy: How to implement a “Work From Anywhere” culture that actually works (and isn’t just hybrid theater). 
• The Method: The power of the “Walk and Talk” to break down barriers and foster deep human connection. 
• The Future: Her advice for the leaders of 2030: “Dare to be bold, lead with your heart, and always lift others as you rise.” 

Katarina reminds us that Positive Leadership is not about choosing between high performance and human care. It is about realizing that you cannot have one without the other. 

I hope you’ll enjoy this energizing conversation with Katarina Berg. 

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

• Hubert Joly: On “The Human Magic” and leading with purpose: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/fr-liberer-la-magie-humaine-pour-reussir-avec-hubert-joly 
• Jesper Brodin: Learning to embrace risk at IKEA: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/learning-to-embrace-risk-with-jesper-brodin 
• Kathleen Hogan: On building a people-first culture at Microsoft: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/empowering-people-and-organizations-with-kathleen-hogan 

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 final episode of our special series dedicated to AI, I’m delighted to welcome MacKenzie Price, a Stanford-trained psychologist turned education revolutionary and co-founder of Alpha School. 

We often hear that AI might disrupt education, but MacKenzie is proving that it can actually save it. After her own daughter told her that school was “boring,” MacKenzie didn’t just complain—she built a radical new solution from scratch. 

In our conversation, we dive deep into the Alpha School model, a bold approach that challenges the industrial “factory model” of education we’ve accepted for a century. 

Together, we explore a fascinating reality: What happens when you use adaptive AI to handle core academic learning? MacKenzie reveals that her students achieve mastery in just two hours a day. 

But the real revolution isn't the speed. It is what happens with the rest of the time. We discuss how this efficiency frees up space for what makes us truly human: “Life Skills.” From public speaking and financial literacy to resilience and high-impact collaboration, we explore how to raise children who are not just good test-takers, but changemakers. 

In this episode, we cover: 

• The Origin Story: How a moment of frustration sparked a movement to rethink K-12 education. 
• The Mechanics: How AI tutors allow teachers to stop being "lecturers" and start being "Guides" and mentors. 
• The "2-Hour" Paradox: How accelerating academic learning actually creates more room for creativity, connection, and depth. 
• Agency & Leadership: How to give children the autonomy to own their learning journey. 
• The Future: What the world looks like when we raise a generation of purpose-driven, self-aware leaders. 

MacKenzie reminds us that Positive Leadership is about having the courage to rethink systems that no longer serve us. Whether you are a parent, an educator, or a leader interested in the future of human potential, this conversation offers a blueprint for a world where technology amplifies our humanity rather than replacing it. 

I hope you’ll enjoy this visionary conversation with MacKenzie Price. 

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

• Peggy Johnson: Leading a Human-Centric Future of AI and Robotics https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/peggy-johnson-leading-a-human-centric-future-of-ai-and-robotics  
• Human centric AI (with Rana el Kaliouby): https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/human-centric-ai-with-rana-el-kaliouby  
• Revolutionizing Education with Sal Khan 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 episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast, second edit ofthis special series dedicacted to AI, I’m delighted to welcome Navrina Singh, Founder and CEO of Credo AI, and one of the most influential voices shaping the future of responsible artificial intelligence. 

Navrina is a technology leader with nearly two decades of experience at Qualcomm and Microsoft, and today she stands at the crossroads of AI, leadership, and public policy. She advises governments and global institutions on AI governance, serves on the U.S. National AI Advisory Committee, works with the United Nations and the OECD, and was recently named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI. 

In our conversation, Navrina shares her remarkable journey — from growing up in India in a family that instilled resilience and courage, to moving to the United States at 19, and eventually becoming a global advocate for trust, accountability, and human values in AI. 

We explore the pivotal moment when she realized that AI systems were making women and other groups “invisible,” and how that awakening shaped her mission. Together, we discuss why the real risks of AI are not about the power of the technology itself, but about the absence of governance, measurement, and responsibility. 

Navrina also explains why she founded Credo AI in the middle of a global pandemic, and how her company is helping organizations turn AI ethics into practical, measurable, and auditable systems of trust. We dive into the evolution of global AI governance, the importance of diversity in AI development, and the leadership mindsets required to thrive in an AI-driven world. 

Throughout the episode, Navrina reminds us that AI will inevitably reflect the values of those who build it, and that positive leadership — grounded in empathy, accountability, and courage — is essential if we want AI to truly serve humanity. 

This conversation is for leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and anyone who believes technology must be guided by purpose, trust, and human-centered values. 

I hope you’ll enjoy this deep and inspiring conversation with Navrina Singh. 

To extend the conversation, I invite you to revisit three previous episodes of the Positive Leadership Podcast:  

• Peggy Johnson: Leading a Human-Centric Future of AI and Robotics https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/peggy-johnson-leading-a-human-centric-future-of-ai-and-robotics  
• Human centric AI (with Rana el Kaliouby): https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/human-centric-ai-with-rana-el-kaliouby  
• How to fail well (with Amy Edmondson): https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/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 first episode of our special AI series, I have the pleasure of welcoming Peggy Johnson — a remarkable leader whose career spans mobile innovation, augmented reality, and now humanoid robotics. 

What struck me in our conversation is how deeply human her approach to technology has always been. 

Peggy grew up as one of fifteen children, in a family where every voice mattered. Later, she became one of the very few women studying engineering in the 1980s. These early experiences shaped her belief that inclusion is not optional — it is the foundation of innovation. 

Throughout her journey — from Qualcomm and Microsoft to Magic Leap and now Agility Robotics — Peggy has championed a simple but powerful idea: 

👉 Technology must enhance human life, not replace it. 

In this episode, we explore: 
• how her upbringing and early career forged her inclusive leadership style 
• what she learned from AR, mixed reality, and the hype cycles around emerging technology 
• why humanoid robotics should serve society by addressing painful labour gaps 
• how responsible leaders can build human-centric, safe, and trustworthy technologies 
• what it will take to design a positive future for human–machine collaboration 

Peggy’s clarity, integrity, and optimism make this a fascinating conversation on the future of tech — grounded in humanity and purpose. 

At the end of the day, the question she leaves us with is essential:
Will we lead AI and robotics toward a future that makes life better for everyone?
Or will we let the technology lead us? 

I hope this episode inspires you as much as it inspired me.

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

• Kevin Scott — Empowering people with AI: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/empowering-people-with-ai-with-kevin-scott  
• Laurence Tubiana – Le courage du changement 
• : https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/fr-le-courage-du-changement-avec-laurence-tubiana  
• Dorie Clark — Reinventing yourself: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/reinventing-yourself-with-dorie-clark  

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/

Pour célébrer les 10 ans de Live for Good, j’ai souhaité enregistrer un épisode très spécial du Positive Leadership Podcast.
J’y reçois deux entrepreneurs que j’admire profondément et qui incarnent, chacun à leur manière, l’esprit de notre communauté : Anne-Sophie Thomas, fondatrice de Gestia Solidaire, et Marius Hamelot, cofondateur du Pavé®. 

Depuis dix ans, avec Live for Good, nous soutenons une nouvelle génération de jeunes qui entreprennent pour le bien commun. Anne-Sophie et Marius en sont deux magnifiques exemples : 

• l’un transforme les déchets plastiques en matériaux innovants pour décarboner le secteur du bâtiment, 
• l’autre réinvente l’accès au logement abordable pour les publics qui n’ont souvent aucune solution dans le parc privé. 

Avec eux, je reviens sur leurs déclics, leurs missions personnelles, les obstacles des débuts, la puissance de l’accompagnement, leurs modèles d’impact, leurs engagements citoyens et leur vision d’un leadership authentique et positif. 
Ils nous partagent aussi leurs plus grandes fiertés… et leur vision du futur, pour 2030 et au-delà. 

🎧 Et pour prolonger l’inspiration, je vous recommande également : 

• mon échange avec Laurence Tubiana, pour comprendre comment naissent les grandes transformations collectives : https://www.jpcourtois.com/fr/podcast/fr-le-courage-du-changement-avec-laurence-tubiana  
• l’épisode avec Daniel Goleman, sur les compétences émotionnelles au cœur du leadership moderne : https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/optimizing-your-performance-with-emotional-intelligence-with-daniel-goleman  
• ma discussion avec Lucie Basch, fondatrice de Too Good To Go, pour découvrir comment elle a transformé le gaspillage alimentaire en opportunité et construit une entreprise sociale rentable grâce à l’énergie positive : https://www.jpcourtois.com/fr/podcast/fr-construire-une-entreprise-pour-un-monde-meilleur-avec-lucie-basch
• et ma discussion avec Paul Hawken, qui explore comment la régénération peut devenir un nouveau modèle de société: https://www.jpcourtois.com/podcast/paul-hawken----regenerating-the-world-one-idea-at-a-time 

Cet épisode est un hommage à dix années d’engagement, d’audace et d’impact partagé. 
Merci à Anne-Sophie, à Marius… et à toutes celles et ceux qui font vivre la mission de Live for Good depuis 10 ans. 

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, 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/