Today we are joined by Salvatore Manzi, a communication and leadership coach who helps data-driven leaders turn expertise into influence.

For over 20 years, Salvatore has guided executives and founders through high-stakes moments, from boardrooms and investor meetings to global stages such as SXSW and the United Nations, and even a U.S. presidential campaign. His work focuses on one critical shift. Moving from information delivery to human connection.

In this episode, he explores why empathy is not a soft skill but a leadership advantage, and introduces his powerful You-Then-Me Principle, starting with acknowledgment, validation, and reflection before sharing your own message. The result is collaboration instead of resistance.

In his book Clear and Compelling: Communication Strategies for Big Thinkers with Bold Ideas, he distills two decades of experience into practical tools that help leaders transform complex ideas into messages that resonate, inspire, and drive action.

Show Links
Find out more about Salvatore Manzi and his work here
Find Salvatore on LinkedIn here

The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.

The Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audible.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and discover more at curiousadvantage.com.

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross | Video editing by Jessica Wickham. 

In this episode of The Curious Advantage, Art Kleiner — author of The AI Dilemma — joins Simon Brown & Garrick Jones for a conversation about what it really means to build Responsible AI.

Together, they explore the tensions at the heart of today’s AI landscape: rapid innovation vs accountability, efficiency vs empathy, and the risks of bias, misinformation and unintended consequences. Drawing on the “five fundamental principles” from The AI Dilemma, Art explains why responsible technology requires human judgment, transparency, and a deep understanding of our social systems.

The discussion dives into:

A thoughtful, human conversation about technology, responsibility and how we navigate the future.

Lean More about Art Kleiner and his work here

About The Curious Advantage
The Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audible.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and discover more at curiousadvantage.com.

The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross | Video editing by Jessica Wickham. 

FBF -- Flashback Friday 

In this throwback episode of The Curious Advantage Podcast, Simon Brown, Paul Ashcroft and Garrick Jones speak with Alexia Cambon, Senior Director of Research at Microsoft, about how AI is transforming work and what sets today’s Frontier Firms apart.

They explore insights from Microsoft’s Work Trend Index—including Agent Bosses, digital labour, and Intelligence on Tap—and discuss how curiosity, leadership, and HR are evolving in an AI-powered world.

🎧 Listen & explore the 2025 Work Trend Index:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/2025-the-year-the-frontier-firm-is-born

FBF -- Flashback Friday

In this episode, global HR and HR technology analyst Josh Bersin, Founder & CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, joins the authors of The Curious Advantage — Paul Ashcroft, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones — to explore curiosity in the flow of work.

They discuss the role of curiosity in learning and people development, how curiosity supports adaptability in a digital-first world, and why curious leaders are critical during periods of disruption.

This episode was originally published on 5th May 2020. 

Want to go deeper?
Get your copy on Amazon
The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on audible

#FlashbackFriday #CuriousAdvantage #CuriosityAtWork #Learning #7Cs

FBF — Flashback Friday

In this episode, Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor at Harvard Business School, explores curiosity, leadership, and psychological safety in the digital age.

Drawing on The Right Kind of Wrong (named the Financial Times’ #1 Business Book), she shares practical insights on productive failure, learning, and building high-performing teams.

This episode was originally published January 2024.

Want to go deeper?
Discover Amy Edmondson’s work in Right Kind of Wrong or  3 book collection of the Right Kind of Wrong, Leader as Healer & Staring Down the Wolf

Follow Amy Edmondson on LinkedIn here

Get your copy of The Curious Advantage on Amazon
The Curious Advantage Audiobook is also available on Audible
Follow The Curious Advantage on LinkedIn and Instagram