The Perkins Platform

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz for a deeply reflective conversation inspired by her new book, The Archaeology of Self. We explore why meaningful leadership begins with understanding ourselves, what it means to excavate the experiences and beliefs that shape who we are and why introspection is essential rather than optional for those who lead others. Our conversation examines the connection between self-awareness and organizational culture, the role of humanity and authenticity in leadership and why understanding ourselves may become even more critical in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Ultimately, Dr. Sealey-Ruiz challenges us to consider a powerful idea.

In this episode, I sit down with Betsy Kauffman, author of The Fix, for a compelling conversation about why so many of our solutions fail to solve the problems they're intended to address. We explore the human tendency to rush toward answers, the dangers of treating symptoms instead of root causes and why curiosity, careful diagnosis and systems thinking are essential leadership skills. Betsy shares practical insights from her book that challenge leaders to ask better questions, resist the lure of quick fixes and approach complex challenges with greater clarity and intention. Whether you're leading a school, a business, a nonprofit or a community, this episode will change the way you think about problem-solving and lasting change.

In this episode, I sit down with Christine Miles, author, entrepreneur and founder of The Listening Path®, to explore why listening may be one of the most overlooked leadership skills. Drawing on her research and experience, Christine challenges the assumption that listening is a passive activity and argues that many of us are not truly listening to understand, but rather listening to respond, solve or persuade. We discuss the hidden role that assumptions play in communication.  We also discuss how poor listening impacts trust and decision-making and what leaders can do to create stronger relationships and healthier organizational cultures. Whether you lead a team, an organization or simply want to become a more effective communicator, this conversation offers practical insights into the transformative power of truly hearing others.

In this episode, I sit down with Yasar Ahmad, leadership coach, people leader and one of social media's most influential voices on career growth and workplace success. Known for his engaging content on TikTok and LinkedIn, Yasar has helped millions of professionals better understand topics such as executive presence, strategic thinking, influence, workplace dynamics and leadership effectiveness. Our conversation explores why great work alone is not always enough, how leaders can build influence without relying on authority and what separates professionals who consistently advance from those who remain overlooked. Whether you're an aspiring leader or a seasoned executive, this discussion offers practical insights into navigating organizations, increasing your impact and leading more strategically.

In this episode, leadership advisor and executive coach Dr. Julie Staggs joins me for a practical conversation about one of the most important realities of leadership: teams follow behavior, not intention. Drawing on her experience coaching executives and advising organizations across the corporate, nonprofit and higher education sectors, Julie explains why even well-intentioned leaders can struggle to build trust, accountability and strong cultures when their actions don't align with their aspirations. We explore the impact of assumptions, consistency and everyday leadership behaviors and discuss how leaders can close the gap between what they intend and what their teams actually experience.

In this episode, leadership author and thought leader, Mark C. Crowley joins me to discuss why the future of leadership may depend less on managing performance and more on supporting human well-being. Drawing on lessons from his books Lead From The Heart and The Power of Employee Well-Being, Mark shares how his experience in the high-pressure world of financial services challenged conventional leadership wisdom and led him to a different conclusion: that caring for people is not at odds with performance, but a key driver of it. We explore the connection between employee well-being, engagement, loyalty and organizational success.  We wrap up the conversation with what leaders across industries can do to create workplaces where people and performance flourish together.

In this episode, I sit down with David C. Banks, former Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, to unpack what it really takes to lead a large, complex organization. Drawing on his experience leading New York City Public Schools, we explore decision-making under pressure, managing competing priorities, and building culture at scale. This is a candid conversation about leadership when the stakes are high, the spotlight is constant, and every move matters.

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Rotherham, co-founder and senior partner at Bellwether and the longtime voice behind Eduwonk, for a conversation about the uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence and its potential impact on education. Drawing on a recent essay, Andy compares the current moment with AI to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when signals of major disruption were emerging, but institutions had not yet fully grasped what was coming. We discuss what leaders in education should be watching for, how to separate meaningful developments from hype, and what lessons from the pandemic might help schools and universities navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

In this episode, I sit down with cybersecurity expert Suresh Sankaran Srinivasan to unpack what today’s organizational leaders need to understand about digital risk. We explore the different levels of the internet (what exists on the surface web, the deep web, and the dark web) and how those layers shape real-world threats. We discuss who should be concerned about cybersecurity breaches, why no organization is too small to be targeted, and the practical steps leaders must take to strengthen oversight, culture, and resilience in an increasingly connected world.

In this episode, Punya Mishra joins me to discuss his chapter, “Beyond Boundaries: Transdisciplinary Creativity with Generative Artificial Intelligence,” from the edited volume Generative Artificial Intelligence and Creativity: Precautions, Perspectives, and Possibilities. We explore what the rise of generative AI means for human creativity, moving beyond simplistic utopian or dystopian narratives. Punya explains how AI can serve as a creative partner while underscoring the essential role of human judgment. Through concrete creative examples, the conversation bridges theory and practice to examine how AI can expand, challenge, and reshape creative work across disciplines.