This episode reveals why most teams underperform and how to fix it fast.

I sit down with Dr. Colin M. Fisher – Harvard-trained management professor, former jazz musician, and author of the brand new book The Collective Edge – to dismantle the myths most leaders believe about collaboration, trust, and leadership.

Forget forced fun, trust falls, and bloated org charts. 

Fisher explains why most teams are too big, too unclear, and too focused on individual performance – and what it actually takes to build a high-functioning team that delivers.

🔥 In this episode:

• Why adding more people makes your team slower, not smarter
• The difference between real trust and the fluff HR sells you
• How to reset broken teams without firing anyone
• What jazz improvisation can teach you about timing, leadership, and collaboration
• Why the lone genius narrative is toxic — and how to build systems that reward actual performance

If you're building teams, leading change, or scaling fast — this conversation will challenge your assumptions and give you a blueprint for team performance that actually works.

Fisher’s work isn’t theory – it’s been battle-tested in high-stakes environments.

👉 Learn more and grab the book at colinmfisher.com

💬 Like what you hear? Follow, share, and leave us a review.

Meet the man who scaled Kindle and turned McDonald’s, Volvo, and MGM into truly digital businesses. 

Atif Rafiq has helped reshape some of the world’s biggest brands by challenging how organizations make decisions and execute bold ideas. 

As the first Chief Digital Officer in the Fortune 500 and author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Decision Sprint, Atif believes the true competitive edge lies not in execution alone, but in mastering the messy, often misunderstood process of decision-making.

Atif breaks down how to foster a culture where problem-solving thrives, people feel heard, and collaboration leads to clarity. He knows what he talks about: Atif led the transformation of McDonald’s customer experience through self-service kiosks and shares how old school carmaker Volvo reimagined its digital strategy.

Now as founder of Ritual – an AI-native workspace designed for strategy, product, and cross-functional collaboration – Atif is building what some have called a “McKinsey Killer.” He offers a compelling take on how AI can democratize high-quality problem-solving and why consultants will need to evolve to stay relevant.

He also shares his most important piece of communication advice for leaders: seek clarity before you provide it. In a world moving faster than ever, Atif’s approach to thoughtful decision-making, human-centered innovation, and transparent leadership offers a powerful roadmap for change.

00:00 Welcome

00:19 Establishing a Culture of Problem Solving

01:31 Leadership and Cultural Shifts at McDonald's

04:12 Digital Transformation at McDonald's

07:48 Innovations at Volvo

09:18 Decision Sprint: The Book

16:58 Methodology for Effective Decision Making

18:25 AI and the Future of Decision Making

20:03 Introducing Ritual: AI Native Workspace

20:58 Key Questions for Exploration and Discovery

21:14 Ritual: AI-Powered Collaboration

21:38 Overcoming Information Sharing Challenges

22:10 Human-AI Collaboration in Ritual

22:32 Structuring Problem Spaces with AI

23:24 Measuring Confidence in Recommendations

23:37 Ritual vs. Traditional Consultants

24:44 Future of Consulting in the AI Era

28:38 Upskilling and the Next-Gen Knowledge Worker

32:47 Challenges and Opportunities for Founders

34:41 Building Long-Term Relationships

36:05 Advice for Younger Self and Community Building

38:39 Final Thoughts and Communication Advice

What makes someone unforgettable in today’s noisy, distracted world? Oliver Aust sits down with Lorraine K. Lee – author of Unforgettable Presence, globally recognized keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor with over 300,000 followers, and former editor at LinkedIn – to explore the art and science of becoming someone people remember, trust, and want to work with.

Lorraine shares her deeply personal and professional journey from being a high-performing, yet overlooked team member at LinkedIn to becoming one of the most in-demand voices on executive presence, virtual communication, and career visibility. 

Her transformation didn’t happen overnight – it was fueled by a clear realization: being good at your job isn’t enough if no one notices. You need presence – and that’s a skill anyone can learn.

She introduces listeners to her signature frameworks, starting with the EPIC career brand: Experiences, Personality, Identity, and Community. This framework helps you define and communicate your professional identity with intention, starting with your unique background and values, and extending to how others perceive and speak about you. 

She follows with the RAVE model for influence: Relationships, Appearance, Visibility, and Expertise. It’s a practical roadmap for building influence at any level, with or without a formal leadership title.

Lorraine also shares highly actionable tips for upgrading your video presence, leading meetings with impact, and navigating first impressions – both in person and online. 

You’ll learn why micro-behaviors matter more than you think, how to manage your energy like an athlete, and how to leverage LinkedIn not just to go viral, but to build meaningful professional relationships. Lorraine emphasizes that presence isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room – it’s about being the most intentional.

Find out more about Lorraine K. Lee: https://lorraineklee.com/

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

What if machines could read us better than people can? Blake Eastman is on a mission to make that a reality – and to ensure it serves humanity, not replaces it.

Blake is the founder of The Nonverbal Group, a former poker pro and psychology professor, and now a pioneering builder at the intersection of human behavior and AI. 

Blake pulls back the curtain on his decades-long obsession with decoding people, from micro-reactions and smiles to power dynamics and unspoken expectations.

He also previews his upcoming book, a science-backed reimagining of How to Win Friends and Influence People. It will break down the underlying psychological forces – like hierarchy, status, and value orientation – that shape how we communicate. His goal? To create a foundational guide for truly understanding human behavior at its most nuanced level.

Blake explains why the popular ideas of “reading people” and “taking baselines” are misleading, and how even experts often misinterpret the subtle signals that govern human connection. 

He dives into the challenge of building machines that can identify social friction, coach people in real-time, and even outperform humans in behavioral prediction – without losing the ethical thread of care and responsibility.

Throughout the episode, you'll learn how AI can supercharge your social intelligence, why most communication advice fails without context, and how to develop the kind of communication range that makes leaders truly effective. 

Blake also shares actionable insight into how anyone – especially those with cross-disciplinary skills – can leverage AI to gain a massive edge in business and life.

Find out more about Blake Eastman: https://www.nonverbalgroup.com/

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

Can you win every pitch? No, but The Pitch Guy’s blueprint gets you close. 

Danny Fontaine aka The Pitch Guy is the author of “Pitch: How to Captivate and Convince Any Audience On The Planet” and host of the Pitch Masters podcast. 

Danny has redefined what it means to pitch an idea, product or business – not as a PowerPoint deck, but as an emotionally charged, strategically choreographed experience that makes people lean in, feel something, and say yes.

He shares his TITAN and Storycoaster frameworks that turn your pitch into a moment they’ll never forget. He unpacks how to tap into emotion before logic, why your audience’s trust matters more than your tech specs, and how to build stories and structures that cut through noise and leave a mark.

You’ll learn how to create “anomalies” that make people sit up, how to pitch even if you're introverted or nervous, and why the best presenters never rely on slides alone. 

Plus, you’ll hear the real story behind the most legendary pitch in British advertising history – and how it still shapes how great ideas are sold today.

This isn’t just about pitching better. It’s about learning how to be heard, how to build trust quickly, and how to turn your audience into champions for your message.

Find out more about Danny Fontaine: https://pitchguy.co.uk/

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

Oliver’s TEDx talk, “AI-Powered Leadership: Why Supercomputers Need Supercommunicators” just dropped. 

It sets the stage for a real talk on what AI means for leaders. 

Oliver and his bestie, serial founder Gerrit McGowan explore how emerging tech is reshaping communication, leadership, and trust, and how leaders can use AI without losing authenticity.  

From voice cloning to deepfakes, from 3D avatars to AI writing assistants to humans leading teams of AI agents – this conversation hits on the future that’s just arrived. 

They explore what leadership looks like when AI can seemingly outthink us in every domain. They examine where humans still have the edge, and how leaders can stay relevant.

Gerrit also reveals how he lost his voice hours before a keynote and created his virtual self overnight to go on stage. 

They talk trust, communication, and how to train AI tools to sound like you. Plus, Oliver shares the 10–80–10 rule for using AI to accelerate your work without outsourcing your voice.

And both wrestle with a critical question: where does the human edge still matter?

This is not a debate on whether AI is coming. It’s a field manual for staying human and relevant.

Oliver’s TEDx talk is live now: https://youtu.be/Va82je55WSU?si=P9DTsBlFBhqCwHcG

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

Oliver’s TEDx talk, “AI-Powered Leadership: Why Supercomputers Need Supercommunicators” just dropped. 

It sets the stage for a real talk on what AI means for leaders. 

Oliver and his bestie, serial founder Gerrit McGowan explore how emerging tech is reshaping communication, leadership, and trust, and how leaders can use AI without losing authenticity.  

From voice cloning to deepfakes, from 3D avatars to AI writing assistants to humans leading teams of AI agents – this conversation hits on the future that’s just arrived. 

They explore what leadership looks like when AI can seemingly outthink us in every domain. They examine where humans still have the edge, and how leaders can stay relevant.

Gerrit also reveals how he lost his voice hours before a keynote and created his virtual self overnight to go on stage. 

They talk trust, communication, and how to train AI tools to sound like you. Plus, Oliver shares the 10–80–10 rule for using AI to accelerate your work without outsourcing your voice.

And both wrestle with a critical question: where does the human edge still matter?

This is not a debate on whether AI is coming. It’s a field manual for staying human and relevant.

Oliver’s TEDx talk is live now:  https://youtu.be/Va82je55WSU?si=tjUI3OmIIs0WvsfV

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

What's the difference between a leader and a manager? Why should we avoid the industrial age-style race to the bottom? 

This week we are sharing a brief moment of Oliver’s conversation with Seth Godin, 21-time best-selling author and one of the leading business thinkers in the world.

Check out episode 263 for the full conversation.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

If you don’t have a point, everything you say is pointless.

Oliver speaks with Joel Schwartzberg, communication expert and author of “The Language of Leadership” and “Get to the Point” (updated edition out this month).

Let’s face it, there is too much rambling and hot air in business. 

Joel shares concepts such as the “I Believe That” Test and the “XY Test” that help leaders ensure they have a clearly defined point before they speak. 

This is a highly actionable episode about avoiding rambling for good, ditching the performance and instead delivering your message like a real human, and escaping the trap of truisms. 

Find out more about Joel Schwartzberg: https://www.joelschwartzberg.net/

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career.

https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

This week Oliver is a guest on the Amplified Leadership podcast hosted by Oliver Degnan. 

They discuss what it truly means to "Speak like a CEO", how to make your story sticky, how to create a compelling vision, how to communicate better as a team, how to build trust, and much more.  

This is a value-packed half an hour with lots of actionable advice! 

Get the 21 Storytelling Structures every leader should know: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/1f04d6ddfc

Find out more about Dr Oliver Degnan: https://www.drdegnan.com/

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/