He’s the only leader to serve as CEO of two Fortune 500 giants—Siemens in Germany and Alcoa in the U.S. He’s advised U.S. presidents, mentored leaders worldwide, and now invests in cutting-edge biotech and technology. But what drives Klaus Kleinfeld isn’t just business success, it’s leading to thrive.

In this masterclass conversation, Klaus shares the lessons from nearly 40 years at the top: why emotional intelligence often trumps IQ, how to manage energy (not just time), the four energy quadrants every leader must master, and the importance of purpose in business and life.

His insights on leadership, resilience, and balance will leave you rethinking how you lead and how you live.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

💡 Why EQ matters more than IQ in today’s war for talent.

💡 The #1 leadership mistake: holding onto people too long.

💡 How to manage energy across physical, emotional, mental & spiritual quadrants.

💡 Daily peak-performance habits from a Fortune 500 CEO.

💡 The truth about alcohol, sleep, and burnout.

💡 Why life is not a dress rehearsal and how to live like it.

💡 How AI will reshape business in the next 3 years.

Main Points:

00:00 Intro

02:49 Why emotional intelligence matters in leadership

04:28 Effective leadership & communication skills

05:30 How to measure emotional intelligence

08:15 The trap of holding onto people too long

13:20 Energy management vs. time management

15:53 The four energy quadrants

26:30 Avoiding burnout

35:00 Balancing work & family as a global CEO

36:33 Filtering thoughts & quieting the monkey mind

38:05 Daily habits for peak performance

40:25 The role of alcohol in high performance

43:09 Why sleep & light exposure are critical

45:51 Work-life integration vs. balance

49:03 Life is not a dress rehearsal

50:25 Lessons learned as a global CEO

54:18 Founding K2 Elevation & personal mission

55:34 The future of AI in business

59:13 Final thoughts on leadership & purpose

💬 Which insight from Klaus hit you hardest—EQ, energy management, or living with purpose? Let us know in the comments 👇

🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes with world-class guests who help you live, lead, and thrive at the highest level.

Connect With Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly.siegel.71/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-siegel-0146a3/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysiegel71

Connect with Klaus:

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

Book Website: https://www.leading-to-thrive.com/

Subscribe To The Podcast Here:

Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harder-than-life/id1725989697

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/29NOnhItmCLkZ9sLswABKS?si=d81915ddabc0420a

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCncVFeA5P2LrAovuofQQcDg

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