The Leadership Spark

As a former McKinsey senior partner in charge of the Strategy practice and as Professor at HEC in Paris, Olivier is Sibony is both an Academic and practitioner of Strategy and Decision making. In his book “Noise”, co-authored with the Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman, Olivier explains how "noise", random variability in human judgment, causes significant decision-making errors alongside bias. He explores noise types, its organizational impact, and reduction strategies. Our conversation also examines AI's limitations in eliminating noise, the importance of human accountability, and leadership qualities needed in an increasingly automated world. 

Show notes:

• Olivier Sibony – Personal website
• Book „Noise“, by Daniel Kahneman, Oliver Sibony and Cass Sunstein
• Book “Thinking, Fast and Slow“ by Daniel Kahneman
• Book “Leadership Intelligence” by Caroline Webb
• Book “Faut-il encore decider?” by Oliver Sibony and Eric Hazan

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Paul Saunders is a global leadership expert and adjunct professor at INSEAD. We discuss how cultural diversity in teams can drive high performance when managed deliberately through inclusion. Paul distinguishes between organizational culture (a stable "house") and climate (adjustable "rooms" shaped by leaders), emphasizing that leaders influence 60-80% of team climate, which directly impacts performance. The conversation also covers innovation, virtual team dynamics, and the importance of building trust and community.

Show notes:

• Paul Saunders LinkedIn profile
• Paul Saunders Insead Faculty profile
• Book “The Happiness Advantage” by  Shawn Achor
• Book “Design Love In” by Marcus Buckingham
• The Nancy Adler curve about effectiveness in multicultural teams
• Team questionnaire “View”
• Innovation questionnaire “SOQ”

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Impression (mis)management: the mistakes we make when we want to impress others. This is the topic of Övül Sezer’s research. She is an assistant professor of management and organizations at the Cornell School of Business. We explore why everyone engages in impression management, common mistakes like humblebragging and hiding success, and the balance between appearing warm versus competent. Övül explains how social media amplifies these challenges and how cultural differences shape self-promotion norms. And beyond her work in research, Övül shares an unexpected passion for stand-up comedy. This might be why she is able to read human beings so acutely!

Show notes:

• Övül Sezer - Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
• Article “Impression (mis)management: When what you say is not what they hear” by Övül Sezer
• Article “Humblebragging: A distinct—and ineffective—self-presentation strategy.” by Övül Sezer
• Book “Thinking, Fast and Slow“ by Daniel Kahneman
• Book “The Odyssey” by Homer
• Book “Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty” by Harris Wittels

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Bernie Jaworski holds the Drucker Chair at Claremont's Drucker School and recently wrote “The Soul of Strategy”. Inspired by Peter Drucker's principle that organizations exist to create customers, Bernie critiques traditional strategy frameworks for neglecting customer centricity. He explores how companies lose customer focus as they scale, how AI accelerates insights generation, and why abandoning outdated practices is critical. The conversation also covers the risk of being overly customer-centric and concludes with a rapid-fire round highlighting Drucker's enduring management philosophy.

Show notes:

• Bernie Jaworski - Drucker School of Management
• Book “The Soul of Strategy” by Bernie Jaworski
• The “Organic Growth Playbook” by Bernie Jaworski
• Book “Why we buy” by Paco Underhill
• Video “Shopping cart Design process” by Ideo
• Joseph Schumpeter in Wikipedia

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George Kohlrieser is a renowned IMD Leadership professor and former hostage negotiator. In this episode he shares compelling stories from his career, illustrating how principles from hostage negotiation, such as emotional bonding, managing grief, and honest communication, can transform leadership. The conversation explores the psychology behind high-performance leadership, the importance of secure relationships, and the need for empathy in today’s rapidly changing world. You will gain practical insights on handling conflict, organizational change, and the emotional challenges leaders face.

Show notes:

• George Kohlrieser – IMD Business school
• Book “Care to Dare” by George Kohlrieser
• Book “Hostage at the table” by George Kohlrieser
• Book “On becoming a leader” by Warren Bennis
• Gallup research on Hope
• High-Performance Leadership program at IMD

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Summary:

In this episode of the Leadership Spark Podcast, Sylvain interviews Harvard professor Rakesh Khurana. Together they discuss about leadership, humility, and organizational culture. Drawing on personal stories and academic insights, Khurana explores the role of serendipity, the importance of adaptive and humble leadership, and the challenges facing modern institutions. He reflects on bureaucracy, the need for community and belonging, and the evolution of business education. The conversation highlights the value of courage, deep listening, and embracing discomfort as essential leadership qualities for navigating today’s complex world.

Show notes:

• Rakesh Khurana’s Faculty profile
• Book “Searching for a Corporate Savior: The Irrational Quest For Charismatic Ceos” by Rakesh Khurana
• Book “From Higher Aims to Hired Hands” by Rakesh Khurana
• Book “Inequality" by Christopher Jencks
• Book “The Strength of Weak Ties" by Mark Granovetter
• Book “Politics and Vision" by Sheldon Wolin
• The MBA Oath Initiative

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In this episode of the Leadership Spark Podcast, Sylvain interviews famous psychologist and author Robert Holden, known for "The Happiness Project." They explore redefining success beyond money and status, emphasizing clarity, authenticity, and love. Robert shares insights on positive psychology, the importance of inner wisdom, and how leadership is an attitude rooted in respect and connection. The conversation covers overcoming busyness, the evolving role of ego, and the need for soulful leadership, especially as technology advances.

Show notes:

• Robert Holden’s website
• Book “Authentic Success” by Robert Holden
• Book “Loveability” by Robert Holden
• The Enneagram of personality
• Book “Servant Leadership” by Robert Greenleaf
• Book “The Great Work” by Thomas Berry

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In this episode of the Leadership Spark Podcast, Sylvain discussed with Harvard Business School professor Linda Hill about her new book "Genius at Scale", and her research on innovation and leadership. Hill emphasizes that innovation is a collective effort, requiring leaders to foster environments of collaboration, experimentation, and learning. She introduces the roles of Architect, Bridger, and Catalyst, sharing case studies like Mastercard’s transformation under Ajay Banga. Hill highlights the importance of curiosity, psychological safety, and systemic thinking, offering practical insights on building innovative cultures and leading change in complex, rapidly evolving organizations.

Show notes:

• Linda Hill Faculty profile
• Book “Genius at Scale” by Linda Hill
• Book “Collective Genius” by Linda Hill
• Book “The Reflective Practitioner” by Donald Schön
• Video “How to Build Teams of Innovators” with Linda Hill
• HBR article “Why Great Innovations Fail to Scale” by Linda Hill, Emily Tedards and Jason Wild

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In this episode of the Leadership Spark Podcast, Ludovic Subran, Group Chief Investment Officer at Allianz and Senior Fellow at Harvard University, shares insights on leadership, economics, and innovation. He discusses the power of storytelling in economics, the transformative potential of AI and alternative data, and Europe’s evolving global role. Ludovic emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, the importance of clear frameworks, and the balance between kindness and accountability in leadership. He highlights how empathy, adaptability, and intellectual curiosity drive effective teams and decision-making.

 Show notes:

• Ludovic Subran LinkedIn profile
• United Nations Worldfood Programme
• Book: "Grit” by Angela Duckworth
• Book “First 90 Days” by Michael D. Watkins
• Book “Investing in a Changing Climate” by Ludovic Subran

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In this Leadership Spark Podcast episode, Sylvain welcomes back Harvard professor Ranjay Gulati to discuss his new book, Courage: How to Be Bold. They explore the difference between risk and uncertainty, and how courage means acting purposefully despite fear. Ranjay shares multiple stories of everyday and extraordinary courage, from disaster response to personal challenges. The episode highlights that courage is a learnable skill, essential for leaders and individuals navigating today’s unpredictable world, and is deeply connected to purpose and human connection. 

Show notes:

• Book: "Courage: How to be bold” by Ranjay Gulati
• HBR Article: “Now is the time for courage” by Ranjay Gulati
• Book: “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin de Becker
• Book: “Radical uncertainty” by John Kay and Mervyn King

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