Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

I have a special treat for this show. We have not one, but actually two guests.

The first is Martin Gonzalez. He is the creator of Google's Effective Founders Project, a global research program that decodes the factors that enable startup founders to succeed. He also works closely with Google's engineering and research leaders on org design, leadership, and culture challenges.

Joining him is Josh Yellin, who co-founded Google's first Startup Accelerator and spearheaded its growth, reaching founders in 70 countries. Along with Martin, he co-founded Google's Effective Founders Project, and he recently spent four years as Chief of Staff at Google Brain and is presently an organizational leader at Google DeepMind.

Martin and Josh are the authors of a new book called The Bonfire Moment.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… founders of startups who want to avoid common pitfalls.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… research shows that 65% of startups will fail due to people issues - not the product development, resourcing, or any of the other challenging parts of being a founder. In this episode, Martin and Josh share how they face the people issues head-on and have trained thousands of founders through Bonfire Moment workshops.

Key takeaways:

• Startups thrive when people issues are addressed alongside product and market challenges

• Structured reflection helps startups solve hidden problems

• Addressing people issues early on fosters long-term growth and stability

• Finding a co-founder should be a slow and deliberate decision

• Self-awareness is a critical character trait for founders to develop

WHAT I LOVE MOST… Josh and Martin's recommendation to not using the "maverick mindset" on the organizational side of things. Lean into innovative ideas for your product of service but rely on best practices when approaching leadership.

Running Time: 30:34

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Learn More About Martin and Josh:

The Bonfire Moment Website

Book: The Bonfire Moment

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I am very excited to bring back my first episode with an NFL coach, Michael Lombardi!

Michael is an American Football Executive and Media Analyst with over 30 years of experience who enjoyed front-row access to football titans Bill Walsh, Al Davis, and Bill Belichick. He was an assistant to the coaching staff of the New England Patriots and is a former Analyst for the NFL network. He previously served as an NFL executive for the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Philidelphia Eagles, and Oakland Raiders.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who loves football and wants a masterclass in leadership and culture building.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… culture is key. In an organization like football, the role of the Head Coach goes beyond making calls, training players, or winning games. It's the culture that the Head Coach develops that will ultimately determine how successful that team is. The same is true of business; it starts with your leadership and the culture set by that leadership. But, you can't sit around and wait for it to develop, you have to be deliberate about building your team's culture if you expect to be successful.

You have to figure out and know who you are as a person, as a team, as a business, and develop a plan to establish that culture as a leader. It starts with self-evaluation and planning. Whether you are 18 or 80, being self-aware and knowledgeable in your craft will make you a leader worth following, because you can develop a culture worth being a part of.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… Michael talks about the importance of self-evaluation in culture-building and working at the things that make you struggle, not merely following the "best light." When you are good at self-evaluating, you are better prepared to grow and change with your industry and your craft.

Running Time: 36:32

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Michael's Book

Michael on The Ringer

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

I'm thrilled to welcome Jeff Wetzler to the show today. He is Co-CEO of Transcend, where he combines unique leadership experiences spanning more than 25 years in business and education as a management consultant to the world's top corporations. He's also a learning facilitator for leaders around the world and the Chief Learning Officer at teach for America. Jeff is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and is an Edmund Hillary Fellow. And he's the author of a new book called Ask.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who wants to learn how to ask the types of questions that will tap into the thoughts and insights of the people around them.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… each of us is surrounded by people in our lives - customers, investors, colleagues, managers, people we manage, friends - who are filled with ideas, perspectives, insights, and feedback that could be incredibly helpful to us. But too often, we never uncover these things because we don't ask questions.

Key takeaways:

• The key barriers to asking questions

• Understanding what makes a clumsy question and what makes a quality question

• Jeff's five-step Ask Approach

• The most high-leverage thing you can do as a listener

• How leaders can implement this into the culture of an organization

WHAT I LOVE MOST… creating safety for a question asker. Question-asking is a muscle that needs to be built and for someone learning the skill, voicing those first few questions can be an uncomfortable or nervous experience. Jeff encourages everybody, especially leaders, to be considerate in how they answer questions so they can encourage more questions.

Running Time: 26:47

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Jeff's Book:

Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

I'm inviting Steve Dennis, a long-time social media friend to the show. Steve is a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, podcast host, and the bestselling author of his previous book, Remarkable Retail. He has been named a top global retail influencer by multiple organizations and his thoughts on the future of shopping are regularly shared in his role as a Forbes Senior Contributor. He is the president and founder of Sage Berry Consulting, but prior to that, he was Chief Strategy Officer and SVP of Multichannel Marketing at the Neiman Marcus Group. He serves on multiple nonprofit boards and has a new book out, Leaders Leap.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… leaders seeking insights on navigating industry disruption and fostering innovation in their organizations.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… making incremental changes is a risky strategy in this day and age and the organizations that don't adapt to the accelerating pace of change risk falling behind in competitiveness. Steve explores how to get ahead.

Key takeaways:

• How to prepare for "leaps" and drive powerful innovation.

• How to embrace discomfort and manage fear around change.

• The role of ego in limiting innovation.

• Why it's important to incorporate both bold leaps and incremental changes based on an industry's disruption levels

WHAT I LOVE MOST… change can be really scary. Steve shares some great reminders on how fear often precedes the greatest innovations.

Running Time: 31:16

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Steve's Book:

Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

I have the honor and pleasure of welcoming Ty Wiggins to the show today. He advises leading companies on leadership transitions and executive onboarding to ensure more expedient paths to effectiveness. His new book, The New CEO, is based on original research and candid conversations with world-leading CEOs. In the book, Ty offers a backstage pass to nailing your first year as a leader and sometimes CEO, whether it's your first, second, or third time in the role.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… leaders who want to learn from the experiences of the most successful CEOs.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… stepping into the role of CEO is a big step, whether it's your first time or not. After working with many CEOs on their transitions, Ty has picked up on patterns and lessons. In this episode, he underscores the nuanced nature of CEO transitions and the need for thoughtful, strategic approaches to leadership.

Key takeaways:

• The significance of early actions and decision-making during the first 12 to 24 months of a CEO's tenure.

• The two most common regrets CEOs have about their transitions.

• How to strike a balance between addressing immediate challenges and investing in long-term growth.

• How to navigate the complexities of organizational culture and communication.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… the decisions you make at the senior leadership level end up somewhere. They aren't just problems solved in the boardroom. Ty asks the question, "Is your decision landing well? Is it theoretical, or is it actually helping?". Add these questions into your decision-making process to understand the full effect.

Running Time: 30:56

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Ty's Book:

The New CEO: Lessons from CEOs on How to Start Well and Perform Quickly (Minus the Common Mistakes)

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week, I'm reflecting on a great conversation I had with Andrew Grill a little while ago. Andrew is an experienced corporate leader and a former IBM Global Managing Partner. He has launched and run technology companies in Europe and Australia and worked with (and for) some of the world's leading companies, including Vodafone, Nestle, BBC, American Express, and Unilever. He is also a seasoned speaker and has presented at four separate TEDx events. He speaks to and consults for organizations to develop their strategy around digital disruption, social selling, the workplace of the future, emerging technologies, and digital diversity.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… believers of Andrew's motto: if you want to get digital, you have to be digital.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Andrew and I live in the thought leadership space and share similar viewpoints on innovation and disruption. We both believe that the nature of work is changing, especially as technology continues to lead our lives and as Millennials begin to speak their voices in the professional world.

WHEN YOU WORK FOR A COMPANY AND YOU WANT TO GROW YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT… never forget that your employer doesn't own you. No matter what, we're all building our personal brands. Of course, it's helpful to be attached to a brand that already has a following, but you're still growing your own brand while you're renting your time to that employer.

LET YOUR DIGITAL SELF FLOURISH… sharing your life online and being a consumer/seller in the gig economy is not going anywhere. When you (and businesses ) begin to see this, you can shape your digital self around this changing workforce. Andrew believes that when you allow your digital persona to morph between private, public, and inside the organization, there will be broken rules but more human interaction. Are you ready for this kind of disruption?

Running Time: 29:43

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Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

I'm eager to share my conversion with this week's guest, Marga Hoek. Marga is a rare combination. She's a true visionary on sustainable business, capital and technology, and a successful business leader. As a three-time CEO, board member, chair and founder of Business for Good, she applies her vision on how businesses can be a true force for good in practice. She's also a bestselling and multi-award-winning author of Trillion Dollar Shift and now her latest book, Tech for Good. She continues to champion a phrase she coined: "Business for good is good business."

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… leaders who want to utilize technology for societal impact.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… business growth and societal impact are not an either/or decision. In this episode, Marga highlights how embracing technology allows leaders to address global challenges while driving business growth.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… Marga cites the statistic that 69 of the 100 largest economies by revenue are businesses, not countries. This is a wake-up call to business leaders who have the power to drive change to create a better future.

Running Time: 26:42

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Marga's Book:

Tech For Good: Imagine Solving the World's Greatest Challenges

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I have the pleasure of welcoming Jeremy Utley to the show. He is the Director of Executive education at Stanford's d.school and an adjunct professor at Stanford School of Engineering. He is also the co-host of the school's widely popular program, Stanford's Masters of Creativity. He's the co-author of Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric That Matters.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who wants to develop their creative muscle.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… everyone has the capacity to be creative, but over time, many lose touch with these instincts. Jeremy brings a refreshing take on how to regain a mindset of exploration in a world that often prioritizes conformity over innovation. He challenges listeners to push beyond the seemingly "bad" ideas, and even the first idea that seems good enough, to unlock new possibilities.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… so much of our thinking is about our environment. I love when Jeremy says, "If you want to think outside the box, get out of the box." He shares the story of Steve Jobs, who, frustrated by the design challenges of the first Macintosh computer, drove to Macy's, bought a food processor, and presented that to his team as the vision for the design. He sought out a new and unexpected input to trigger his imagination and was able to create something new and innovative.

Running Time: 21:27

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How To Fix It

Beyond The Prompt

Jeremy's Book:

Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric That Matters

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week, I'm excited to share a replay of a great conversation with Maria Konnikova.

Maria graduated from Harvard and earned her Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia. She's written two New York Times bestsellers: The Confidence Game and Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes. While she had zero poker experience before her first trip to Las Vegas in the fall of 2016, she has now won multiple tournaments, including the PCA National Championship, and finished second at an Asian Pacific Tour, Macau event.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… those looking to be confident when facing change.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… you might think that it's all about luck when it comes to being successful in life, but Maria differs. The old adage that luck is opportunity and preparedness meeting sounds great in theory but is only applied to positive aspects of people's lives.

Luck just happens. It's not personal. It's not about a linear career path that led you to a moment of success. In fact, successful people often come from the outside. They have a true advantage because their mind is more flexible; they are not hemmed in by convention to behave in a certain way. They are free from preconceptions.

IF YOU'RE A BUSINESS LEADER… be willing to make good decisions right now and being willing to change later. Many leaders don't want to change once they've already invested significant resources into a project, but change will always come.

IF YOU'RE A STUDENT (OR PARENT OF A STUDENT)… Maria encourages you to read fiction and poetry. Get curious about the world, beyond your current interests and skill-sets. Consider what you'll learn from taking the "outsider" courses that make you more curious.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… the marriage of psychology, game theory and poker that uncovers insights to be a better leader and change agent. Being an outsider may come with challenges, but having a fresh perspective on the established set of wisdom may be the key to unlocking the unmet potential in yourself and your company.

Get uncomfortable - seriously, it makes you (and your business) better.

Running time: 42:17

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Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I have the honor and privilege of welcoming Bob Sutton to the show. We've been social media buddies for many, many years and I thought it was about time that Bob would join me on the podcast.

Bob is an organizational psychologist and professor of Management Science and Engineering at the Stanford Engineering School. He has written eight books, including his latest, The Friction Project, which is what we're going to talk about today. He also wrote other bestselling books, including The No Asshole Rule; Good Boss, Bad Boss, and Scaling Up Excellence.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… any leader or individual contributor who wants to become a friction fixer in their sphere of influence.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… there's friction in every organization. Some friction is good and fosters creativity and innovation but bad friction can seriously impede progress. Often, areas of friction are unresolved for long periods of time and if they get attention, it's often by addition, which just piles on layers of complexity. Bob strips things back and describes how anybody at any level can make a difference in reducing inefficiencies.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… Bob's example of how the DMV has reduced friction through a single person, a greeter, who helps cut down the dreaded time that people spend waiting. As Bob says, "If the DMV can do it, so you can you!".

Running Time: 27:27

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Bob's Book:

The Friction Project