How can today’s CEOs evolve fast enough to lead through AI disruption, generational complexity, and outdated incentive systems? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, Natalie Nathanson sits down with executive coach Maximos Lih to unpack how leadership must fundamentally change as companies scale. Drawing from his experience at Google Ventures and coaching hundreds of founders, Maximos explores why ecosystem thinking now matters more than playbooks, how rising complexity is overwhelming leaders, and why many incentive structures quietly undermine collaboration and trust. Together, they examine the shift from hero leadership to architectural leadership, the importance of deep listening, and how human-first approaches to AI, hiring, and performance can unlock both stronger cultures and sustainable growth.

Takeaways:

• Leadership today requires collapsing complexity by focusing on what only the CEO can do, not everything they can do.
• Ecosystem-level thinking matters: scaling tools like AI without rethinking systems can create congestion, chaos, and cultural damage.
• Modern leaders must design clarity, helping teams say “no” more often in an environment obsessed with urgency.
• Managing across five generations requires abandoning one-size-fits-all definitions of professionalism, engagement, and success.
• Hero-style leadership undermines accountability and growth; architecting systems empowers teams to solve problems independently.
• Incentive structures drive behavior, misaligned rewards can unintentionally encourage hoarding, fear, and disengagement.
• Human-first AI and impact-based incentives can increase both employee purpose and long-term business value.

Quote of the Show:

• “Recognize that the things you're complaining about may actually be your own blind spots. Listening to that instead of feeling frustrated will help unlock the things that can actually get you to the next level.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximoslih/ 
• Email: [email protected] 

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change 
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 
• Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  

This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency. 

Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com