Episodes
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In this episode of the 'Pfeffer on Power' podcast, host Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, is joined by John Rossman, author of four books on leadership and business innovation, including The Amazon Way and his new book Big Bet Leadership. He is an early Amazon executive who played a key role in launching the Amazon marketplace business in 2002. Today, he is a leading keynote speaker on leadership for innovation and transformation. He has served as the senior technology advisor at the Gates Foundation and senior innovation advisor at T-Mobile and is the founder of Rossman Partners, a strategy & leadership solutions firm.
John and Jeffrey discuss how corporate titans like Amazon sculpt their industry-dominating strategies. John Rossman helped mold Amazon's colossal marketplace. John tells Jeffrey his six cardinal rules for skillfully navigating Amazonâs early days and the pivotal role of trust in accelerating one's career. John also shares insights into using memo crafting as a clarity tool and customer happiness as the central dogma. Check out this episode for some real insight on navigating corporate power.
00:00 Welcome to Pfeffer on Power: Introducing Jon Rossman02:42 Jon Rossman's Journey: From Amazon to Author06:37 Rules to Navigating Corporate America: Rule 1: Earn Trust07:53 Rule 2: Be an Active and Early Risk Manager09:54 Rule 3: You Have to Manage Dependencies12:19 Rule 4: Having the Right Sense of Urgency14:50 Rule 5: Manage Up17:04 Rule 6: Clarify in Your Communications21:29 Amazon as a Political Place23:26 Why Jon Left Amazon25:11 Wrapping Up: The Essence of Power and AutonomyPfeffer on Power is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:You have to manage dependencies
10:00: So, the 14th leadership principle at Amazon is "deliver results." And the other ones tend to get the fanfare, but I'm telling you, the 14th is the one that differentiates Amazon. Like, you have to deliver results. Well, most things are not within your control; then you're really managing dependencies, and so you see this very active dependency management process. And so it's all based off of kind of "trust, but verify," like, you're always featuring the bad news. You're always having check-in meetings. You don't trust what they say. You ask more for proof points and demonstrations, and you don't assume anything. And so, sometimes, that gets into hedging and creating alternate paths. But people that are successful at Amazon are extremely good at managing dependencies upon others.
Why clear expectations are the cornerstone of trust
06:42: Trust and transparency sound like such great attributes to have, but most people don't really understand what trust is. Trust is about setting expectations and hitting expectations. And if you can trust that somebody sets good expectations and then hits those expectations, you can work together through almost anything. And most people don't actually understand what that word "trust" is; they think it means something like, you know, trustworthy or something like that, but you can actually create a formula. And what most people don't do well is they don't set expectations very well. And when you don't set expectations very well, then you each have a vague understanding of what the expectation is. And that's where so many things go sideways.
Without risk, there are no new innovations
08:20: Alpha risk is where we create new innovations. And so, you have to be extremely good at communicating your concept and where it's going. You also have to be very good at teaming networks and internal negotiating relative to this. So, this builds off of the trust aspect of setting expectations.
Show Links:JohnRossman.comProfile on LinkedinAmazon Author PageBig Bet Leadership: Your Transformation Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital EraThe Amazon Way: Amazon's 14 Leadership PrinciplesThink Like Amazon: 50 1/2 Ideas to Become a Digital LeaderThe Amazon Way on IoT: 10 Principles for Every Leader from the World's Leading Internet of Things Strategies -
In this episode of the 'Pfeffer on Power' podcast, host Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, is joined by Deborah Gruenfeld, professor at Stanford Universityâs Graduate School of Business and author of the book Acting with Power: Why We Are More Powerful Than We Believe.
Deborah emphasizes the impact of physical body language and personal presence on the perception of power. The discussion further delves into the utilization of 'outside-in' and 'inside-out' techniques for asserting power and the notion of differentiating between status and power.
Deborah argues that possessing power comes with responsibilities that may not appeal to all while striving for status is universal. From the width of your stance to the tempo of your speech, the nuances of body language speak volumes about your place in the social hierarchy. Deborah and Jeff examine the choreography of powerâhow to enter a room, how to take up space, and how to pace your movements to nonverbally assert dominance. For those who've ever felt overlooked or underestimated, this episode is a toolbox for crafting the presence you deserve.
00:00 Introduction00:53 Understanding Power and Body Language01:42 The Evolution of the 'Acting with Power' Class and Book02:20 The Impact of Visuals and Nonverbal Cues on Power03:22 The Role of Personal Growth in Power08:50 The Power of Imagination in Power Dynamics11:46 The Importance of Taking Up Space22:31 The Role of Status and Power in Hierarchies23:53 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Power27:59 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsPfeffer on Power is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:A technique on how to show up more powerful
06:31: One set of tactics or techniques is what I call outside-in techniques, and they have to do with just changing how you carry yourself: your physical body, how you stand, how you use your arms, how you use your eyes, and how you sit. The other set of tactics that I really think is equally important, maybe even more important in some cases, is what I call inside-out tactics. The inside-out tactics have to do with having ways to reframe situations and our role in those situations that are empowering. One of the things I like to say in my classes is that there are a lot of things about power and social life that are not under our control. We can't, for example, control directly how people perceive us, but we can always control, once we know how, where our attention goes.
How do you act powerful?
12:26: Being open in some ways feels very vulnerable, and it is. But when you have a lot of power, you can afford to be vulnerable. This is why the alpha gorillas sit with everything exposed because nobody's coming for them. It's the lower-down-ranking animals that have to protect their bodies. So having an open chest, in particular, conveys a lot of authority and power. That's an especially important technique for people who are smaller in stature. People always ask me if I can't carry myself like a tall person and I can't dominate someone physically with my height, what options do I have? I often tell them that the most important thing is that you carry yourself with an open chest because what you're communicating when your arms are capable of moving away from your body is that you are ready to fight for whatever you want, regardless of how big you are.
On being comfortable with power
23:25: There are people who just feel that it's not who they are to carry themselves in a way that takes ownership of superiority, authority, control, or having interests, experiences, and expertise that are privileged above other people. They're just people who feel like they can't do that. And I think it's one of the big challenges that a lot of executives face. In this way, I think we're really aligned, which is that most people realize they need to be comfortable with power in order to be successful. But they have to get past this fear of being held accountable, fear of losing status, fear of making enemies, and also fear of failing to show up as an authentic, powerful person when how you really feel is a little bit smaller.
Show Links:Faculty Profile at Stanford School of BusinessProfile on LinkedInActing with Power: Why We Are More Powerful Than We BelieveWikipedia Page -
Episodes manquant?
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In this episode of the 'Pfeffer on Power' podcast, host Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, is joined by Steve Westly, a venture capitalist and entrepreneur - he was employee number 22 at Ebay, lecturer in Management at Stanford University, and politician. He is also the former State Controller of California and can call some of the most powerful people in the world his friend.
In this episode, Steve unpacks the stark contrasts and surprising similarities of power's role in both the private and public spheres and discusses why today's brightest stars are shying away from public serviceâa trend he believes is crucial to reverse.
What has Steve learned about power from working closely with notable figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barack Obama, and Meg Whitman, and the personal sacrifices they made on their paths to success? From the indispensable value of determination and the wisdom that you only get from defeat to the essence of intelligent communication and ambition, Steve and Jeffrey go over the essential qualities that forge a successful leaderâbe it in the worlds of tech or politics.
01:51 Public vs Private Sector Power02:42 Steve's Personal Journey and Motivation05:51 Lessons from Powerful Figures11:41 Determination and Ambition18:55 Insights into Biden's Campaign22:14 Public and Private Sector Leadership: Differences and Similarities24:13 Closing RemarksPfeffer on Power is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:Are the public and private sector leadership qualities more similar than we think?
22:45: Private sector and public sector require you to be not just a good communicator, but a great communicator. And I think the best leaders in the public and the private sectors are people who are not only great communicators. They have the rarest of all personal traits, and that's the ability to inspire people. Tenacity in both sectors. It is tough. You've got board issues. You've got employee issues, legal issues, labor issues, and politics. You got all the issues. You have to be incredibly tenacious.
What makes a successful politician?
12:19: It's not just persistence and determination; it is insane determination. It is the willingness to sit in a small room hour after hour, calling people, begging for money, and to go out the next day and have people beat the living shit out of you. In the public and with your family, my opponent for the gubernatorial race not only ran hit ads on me but managed to get my wife and two and three-year-old children into the hit pieces. It's not easy. Winston Churchill once said, in war, you can only die once. But in political life, you can die many times over again, and it's true. It's hard. It's tough.
What Steve learned from Meg Whitman of Ebay?
18:07: I think there are three things. I mean, one of themâit's where I was startingâPierre and Jeff really handed the keys to a rocket ship to her. It was the first thing with a community growing like crazy that was, you know, there's always a little bit of good luck in the long term success. Second, look, Meg's just very smart. She's a Princeton grad. She was an athlete. She has a degree from Harvard, a background at Disney. She was smart. She was experienced. And third, I would say she's just a great communicator. And I think she worked hard at listening. She had a lot of superb traits.
12:19: Leadership has a lot of facets for students out there. I'd urge you to look broadly, and it goes beyond the standard pedigree.
Relevant Links:Profile on WestlyGroup.comFaculty Profile at Stanford UniversitySteve Westly LinkedInWikipedia Page -
In this episode of the 'Pfeffer on Power' podcast, host Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, is joined by Matt Abrahams, a lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, podcast host of Think Fast, Talk Smart, and author of both 'Speaking Up Without Freaking Out' and 'Think Faster, Talk Smarter.'
The discussion centers around effective communication strategies to navigate through challenging situations and accelerate career growth. Topics include managing anxiety during public speaking, shifting communication mindset, being present-oriented, the importance of preparation, and leveraging structure in spontaneous speaking situations.
01:06 Introducing the Guest: Matt Abrahams02:59 Mattâs Career Journey05:09 Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking10:37 Tips for Effective Communication15:18 Spontaneous Speaking and Its Importance21:47 Conclusion and FarewellPfeffer on Power is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:Communication is about connection, not perfection
17:52: Many of us worry about not doing our communication right. We want to be perfect. We want to do it right. And I'm here to tell you, after doing this for decades, there is no right way to communicate. There are better ways and worse ways, but there is no one right way. And by fixating on trying to do it right, we actually get in the way of doing it well at all. It's all a bandwidth issue. Cognitive bandwidth. We only have so much bandwidth, and if part of that bandwidth is dedicated to hyper judgment, hyper-evaluation, we have less effort to put into what we're saying. So it's about connection, not perfection. Communication is about connection, making it relevant. So after we manage anxiety, that's where we have to go.
What are the keys to speaking better?
20:03: If we manage anxiety, we connect rather than worry about being perfect. Make sure that we see things as opportunities, not threats. We listen well, and we use structure. Those are the keys to being better at speaking in the moment.
How do we get over the fear of public speaking?
05:09 [Jeffrey Pfeffer]: What is your advice to help people get over this fear of public speaking?
05:17[Matt Abrahams]: We have some evidence that upwards of 75-85 percent of people report it as a major issue that they have. And quite frankly, I think the rest of the people are lying. I think we could create a situation that would make them nervous too. The goal, I don't think, is to overcome it. I don't think we ever truly can overcome it. Those of us who study this believe it's innate to being human to have this anxiety, but there are certainly things we can do to manage it. When it comes to managing anxiety, you can look at it as a two-pronged approach. First, you have to deal with the symptoms that we experienceâthe rapid rate, the sweaty brow, the shakinessâbut you also have to address the sources of anxietyâthe things that initiate and exacerbate it. It's a two-pronged approach.
Relevant Links:MattAbrahams.comThink Fast Talk Smart PodcastLinkedIn ProfileNoFreakingSpeaking.comFaculty Profile at StanfordSpeaking Up Without Freaking OutThink Faster, Talk Smarter -
In this episode of the Pfeffer on Power podcast, host Jeffrey Pfeffer is joined by Tony Levitan, CEO of InWhack and the co-founder of Egreetings. The discussion delves into Levitan's experiences as a startup founder, specifically the challenges faced during his journey with Egreetings which ended up transforming from a 300 million-dollar business to a 30 million-dollar one.
Levitan speaks about the lessons he learned and the importance of retaining the companyâs culture even amidst leadership changes. Pfeffer and Levitan also shed light on 'imposter syndrome,' the need for behavioral interviewing during executive searches, and the pivotal role of effective coaching in personal and professional development.
00:00 Introduction and Overview00:29 Guest Introduction: Tony Levitan00:57 Tony's Journey with Egreetings01:36 The Challenges of Startup Founders03:19 Tony's Personal Experience and Lessons Learned04:06 Tony's Reflection on His Time at Egreetings08:43 The Impact of Leadership Changes on Company Culture12:23 The Importance of Effective Hiring and Recruitment16:56 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome21:23 The Role of an Executive Coach24:29 Conclusion and FarewellPfeffer on Power is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:On the importance of inquiry
18:26: One of the things that is the easiest door in for many is we all are asked to make business decisions off of data. And yet, when it comes to two things, we don't tend to bias towards data. One is people. We don't tend to have as much data on people, right? We make decisions off of gut feel and things like that. The other is being able to take an external view of ourselves and our competency, right? So I have a couple of clients who are wrestling with their identity as a competent leader, and yet they're surrounded by data that says, "You are making a difference. You are delivering impact." They just have a hard time seeing it, and they don't have people around them who are helping them see it on a daily basis.
On the importance of having a coach
22:41: When I made the shift at InWhack, Inc., it took me a while to figure out where my sweet spot was going to be because I think, just like I had to figure out where I could deliver as a coach, people who look for a coach need to do some reflection on what would be helpful to them.
What references should really tell you
14:17: One of the mistakes we made at Egreetings is, we actuallyâI feel embarrassed to share this because it's so obvious, but we had the executive search firm do the reference checking. And I mean, you want to talk about misaligned incentives, right? I mean, their incentive is to close the search. Our incentive is to have deep insight into who's coming to work in our company. So, that's one of the things I always mention. The other thing is that References aren't so much about, should I hire this person or not. References really ought to be about how do we most effectively work with this person. What does this person need to be effective in working with us?
Relevant Links:Profile on LinkedInProfile on X -
In this episode of 'Pfeffer on Power,' host Jeffrey Pfeffer, a Stanford University professor, converses with education expert and influential figure, Dr. Rudy Crew. Dr. Crew is the Clinical Education Professor at USC Rossier School of Education, and has had notable former roles as Chancellor of New York City Schools, superintendent of the Miami-Dade County School District, and Chief Education Officer for the State of Oregon.
After having a long successful career in the education sector in these prestigious roles, Dr. Crew shares insights on navigating the sphere of power, the cost that comes with it, and the wisdom necessary to make careful choices.
The talk explores aspects of power like ego, greed, the lure of linking to powerful individuals, and the personal, professional, and political consequences of the pursuit of power. Dr. Crew emphasizes the importance of staying grounded, maintaining humane leadership, and being observant of warning signs in a volatile political environment.Significantly, he stresses that ethical leadership rooted in keeping the welfare of students at the forefront has helped him navigate these challenges.
00:01 Introduction and Guest Presentation01:53 The Price of Power: A Discussion with Dr. Rudy Crew03:30 The Pitfalls of Power: Ego, Lack of Ideas, and Wrong Associations05:52 Recognizing Danger Signs in Power Pursuits08:03 Navigating Political Challenges in Power Positions10:51 The Consequences of Tough Decisions in Power Positions17:20 Avoiding the Pitfalls of Power: Advice and Insights20:57 Staying Grounded in Power Positions: A Personal Anecdote22:52 Conclusion and FarewellLearn more about Jeffrey Pfeffer and his work on JeffreyPfeffer.com
Pfeffer on Power is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:Lead by the kind of quality work your provide
18:25: I remember having to make budget cuts, and those budget cuts were going to be pretty deep. But there's goodwill in the culture. If there are other things that you did or have done traditionally that made people feel like this was not a vendetta, unfortunately, this was a bad fiscal year in the state of California, and we had to make budget cuts. But the fact of the matter is, there was humanism brought to the table. There was a sense of honor brought to the table. There was transparency and a sense of humility brought to this that no one enjoyed watching people walk out the door and be without a job. You can create a cultural wave of positivity and yet do some things that are very, very, very unpopular and sometimes very uncomfortable.
Thereâs no good deed that gets unpunished
17:05: My advice has always been, pay the price. Don't do the wrong thing, but just understand that by doing the right thing, you will still accrue a consequence. There's no good deed that goes unpunished.
Every job comes with a quid pro quo
15:57: When you get the job, be prepared to lose the job. That would be the first of many commandments, right? Be prepared to lose it, and by losing it, I mean, it may be gradual, but the fact of the matter is every decision you make comes with a consequence, and that consequence generally is added up in political terms, and the accumulation of that is what I would say to you is quid pro quo. That is the giant quid pro quo. It's the one that you're going to ultimately pay permanently for.
Relevant Links:Faculty Profile at USC Rossier Wikipedia ProfileLinkedIn ProfileAPB Speakers page -
Welcome to the Pfeffer on Power podcast. I'm your host, Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, where I teach a popular course on developing and using your power and organizations to get things done and advance your career. In this podcast, we interview people who have successfully implemented power principles to accelerate their career successes. We include startup founders and people from diverse backgrounds working around the globe. We talk about building helpful social relationships, creating resources, how to develop the qualities that produce power and success, what those qualities are and how to enlist others in achieving your goals. Check out our previous season of more than 20 episodes at pfefferonpower.com, and stay tuned for new episodes and interviews every other week with people who have used these ideas to do remarkable things, just like you can.
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Learn more about Jeffrey Pfeffer and where you can buy or listen to his books:
JeffreyPfeffer.comEPISODE 25 â Dana Carney, Professor & Director of the Institute for Personality and Social Research at UC Berkeleyâs Haas School of Business
SHOW NOTES:
Dana Carney, a world-leading expert on body language, is a professor at the Haas School at UC Berkeley who also runs the Institute of Personality and Social Research. She shares the most up-to-date tips on the strategic use of body language and facial gestures to persuade other people about your power or an issue.
In this episode, youâll learn about:
Why people respond to others based on how they look
The data shows that taller and good-looking people make more money
The why and how people look and come across through gestures
The 43 cues that have nothing to do with power
The 9 cues that have everything to do with power
How to differentiate between who has power and who does not
What, in addition to access to and control over resources, creates power
What to be careful of if youâre taller or bigger
Non-selfish, pro-social reasons for mastering your body language
Myths and facts around eye contact
Why Anna Wintour wears sunglasses to fashion shows
The visual dominance ratio
Behavioral nudge action planning
Physiognomic cues that influence power
Why body language, how people look, and the gestures they make are so important
Nonverbal communication within the animal kingdom
GUEST BIO:Dana R. Carney is a Professor and the Director of the Institute for Personality and Social Research at the University of California, Berkeley in the Haas School of Business. She is also an affiliate Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Cognitive Sciences. Carney is one of the worldâs leading experts on nonverbal behavior.
Professor Carneyâs fresh, modern approach to nonverbal behavior has made her the go-to figure in this space, serving as a consultant for corporate seminars, and academic gatherings. From Blackrock Advisors to the Los Alamos National Lab, Carney has consulted private equity, tech firms, and small businesses alike, in addition to speaking at many academic conferences and at most major Universities in the U.S. and beyond. Carneyâs catchy and informative videos on nonverbal behavior have skyrocketed her account practically overnight, @danarosecarney, to 64K followers over a half a million total likes. She has been featured in Menâs Health, Time Magazine, Forbes India, Readerâs Digest, Quartz, World Bank Blogs, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Muse and many more (NYT, WSJ, etc.).
Prior to serving on the faculty at UC Berkeley, Carney was an Assistant Professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business. She was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard in the Psychology Department working with esteemed colleagues such as Mahzarin Banaji (implicit bias expert and author of the bestselling book Blindspot) and Wendy Berry Mendes. She received her PhD in Experimental Psychology from Northeastern University (working with the worldâs expert on the link between nonverbal communication and power, Judith A. Hall) and her master's degree at California State University (working with the worldâs experts on the link between nonverbal communication and each anxiety and social skills, Jinni A. Harrigan and Ronald E. Riggio, respectively). She received her B.A. from the University of San Francisco (working with one-half of the team of Maureen OâSullivan and Paul Ekmanâthe worldâs leading experts for over 60 years on the nonverbal cues associated with and accurate detection of deception).
Professor Carney is currently in the final stages of writing a popular book on nonverbal behavior. Nonverbal communication is, at once, much more complex and much more interesting than the media would have the public believe.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danarosecarney
Produced by The MunnAvenuePress.com
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Learn more about Jeffrey Pfeffer and where you can buy or listen to his books:
JeffreyPfeffer.comEPISODE 24 â Tosin Joel, Founder, GTBOOL
SHOW NOTES:
Meet Tosin Joel, a leader of businesses, organizations and cross-functional leadership teams who, using the 7 Rules of Power, creates centers of change for herself and others around her. A Nigerian-born woman who was the first in her city to attend university, Joel has learned how to leverage her differences and become successful in the oil industry and beyond.
In this episode, youâll learn about:
How her growing, education, and first jobs impacted her career at Eni
How she applies the 7 Rules of Power to overcome challenges
Why knowing she wants to be a center of change shapes her decisions
How she went from being an outlier to having a seat at the table
Ways to differentiate a career to set a precedent
Ways of managing pressure
The value in leveraging human capitol
Turning obstacles into opportunities
The birth of her nonprofit company GTBOOL (and what it stands for)
Her passion for creating awareness and connecting people
The power of networking and keys to her success
Mission, purpose, and legacy goals
Where her self-confidence, boldness, and willingness to ask come from
Her goals around creating opportunities for others
Balancing her professional and personal lives
Practical relationship advice
GUEST BIO:
Tosin Joel partners with executive teams, and boards to transform organizations and drive step changes in performance. As a Senior Program Manager at Amazon, she reinvents operational efficiency to maximize value capture, and leads business process optimization for competitive advantages. She was Project Head and Geodata Country representative for the Italian multinational giant Eni. She helped the energy operator to maximize the production efficiency of their assets to boost value and reduce costs. With both consulting and operating experience, she is able to help executives see the potential in their operations. Step by step, she led companies through transformational initiatives that result in a stronger operational and financial profile. Tosin worked with major oil-and-gas independents in Europe, Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa.
Joel is the founder of GTBOOL (www.gtbool.com), a networking organization centered on personal growth and sponsorship of high talent professionals in big corporates and mentorship of startups.
She has been named amongst 100 most Influential People of African Descent and has served on the board as country director. Tosin is an alum of MIT Sloan and Stanford LEAD, where she built unique networks to create global impact projects.
She facilitated Silicon Valley design thinking club entrepreneurs.
Post Stanford LEAD, She has climbed several corporate ladders, established a unique brand, and receives numerous invites to speak during international conferences. She has also won many awards, including MIT Sloan Alum Volunteer Award, Best International Humanitarians, International contribution award for Women in tech, Humanity 100, Intellectual contribution awards for leadership and contributions.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tosinjoel
Produced by The MunnAvenuePress.com
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Learn more about Jeffrey Pfeffer and where you can buy or listen to his books:
JeffreyPfeffer.comEPISODE 23 â Michael Gruen, Co-Founder & CSO, DominateX
SHOW NOTES:
Meet the amazing and insightful Michael Gruen, a prodigy and social influencer who has started companies by breaking the rules, not getting in his own way, and only following what he knows to be true. His questioning of the status quo and not taking anything for granted are just two of the traits this free thinker employs to create a compelling level of success for himself and those he advises.
In this episode, discover:
Michaelâs career trajectory and his influence on the internet
Why he doesnât believe anything as it is stated to him
How the link between power and money works
Reasons to not fear polarizing responses
The value in making yourself a scarce asset
What patience, persistence, and providing value create
The flywheel effect
His secret to getting into exclusive rooms
The differences between egotists and narcissists in relation to business
The surprising statement he told Donald Trump in the Oval Office
Advice on how to become powerful
What he sees as a harmful problem in society
The uniquely powerful style of his emails
The number of winners in a good negotiation
The principles of generosity, gratitude, loyalty, and appreciation
His philosophy on removing judgments and receiving feedback
Why knowing your flaws and having no ego are superpowers
GUEST BIO:Michael Gruen is a dynamic and accomplished Gen Z entrepreneur, investor, and media personality who has significantly impacted various industries in his young career. His drive, creativity, and innovative vision have made him a rising star in entrepreneurship and investment.
Gruen's journey began at a young age. He enrolled in college at 14 and quickly developed a passion for finance and entrepreneurship. He co-founded Frax, the world's first fractional stablecoin and crypto native consumer price index. The Frax Protocol introduced the concept of a cryptocurrency partially backed by collateral. It stabilized algorithmically to create highly scalable, decentralized money in place of fixed-supply digital assets like BTC. As a co-founder, Gruen played a pivotal role in the development and growth of Frax, which quickly became one of the most popular stablecoins in the world with a peak market cap of $2.9B. He was responsible for developing Frax's vision and strategy and overseeing the company's day-to-day operations.
In addition to his work with Frax, Gruen has a proven track record of success in various industries, including finance, sports management, and entertainment media production. He co-founded and served on the board of directors for several successful companies, including Sway House, TalentX Entertainment, TalentX Gaming, Ani Energy, CrossCheck Studios, and Animal Capital, a venture capital fund. His work with these companies has helped him develop a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and business.
Gruen has also been recognized for his contributions to the entertainment industry. He was the first to secure an overall deal at a major studio for an influencer, Josh Richards, at CrossCheck Studios. He procured a comprehensive agreement for Nickelodeon star Jace Norman at ViacomCBS, working directly with Brian Robbins, now CEO of Paramount. In addition, he has played an integral role in transforming Creator Edge Media into a premier talent management agency for top influencers, helping them build long-term partnerships with some of the world's biggest brands.
Leading publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and Variety, have recognized Gruen's impressive achievements. He was named a member of Forbes' 30 Under 30 class of 2022 and has been featured as one of the top 29 up-and-comers changing the world of venture capital, one of the 24 power players transforming the music industry through TikTok, and one of the 19 talent representatives helping creators turn social-media fame into diversified businesses by Business Insider.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Gruen is committed to positively impacting the world. He has given some of his company's profits to charity. He has also given a lot of his time and money to help with education and to help young people.
With his entrepreneurial spirit, innovative vision, and commitment to creating a better world, Michael Gruen is a trailblazer and thought leader in entrepreneurship and investment.
Produced by The MunnAvenuePress.com
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Learn more about Jeffrey Pfeffer and where you can buy or listen to his books:
JeffreyPfeffer.comEp 22 â Dafina Toncheva, General Partner, USVP
SHOW NOTES:
Dafina Toncheva, General Partner at USVP, discusses how sheâs strategically used the Rules of Power concepts to manage her career. From a small town in Bulgaria to now being a major figure in Silicon Valley, she has succeeded in an industry that has not traditionally welcomed women. Join us and learn how the principles of power apply to women and men, and how to use those principles of power to navigate an extraordinarily successful career for yourself.
You'll learn from Dafina:
Where sheâs from, how she got to the U.S., and her career trajectory
What political forces led her to desire to look for opportunities abroad
How she ultimately ended up at Harvard and the only way she knew to get there
Her path between college and her current career
The lens she used to decide to join USVP in 2012
The use of power in her career to make the most impact
The importance of aligning your success goals with the companyâs goals
How she navigated in a less-than-welcoming business environment
How she has stood up for herself and put the Rules of Power into action
The importance of developing constructive professional relationships with board members
A surprising take on what is as important as the investments that are made
How managing the narrative of the firm is incredibly important
GUEST BIO:
Dafina Toncheva ([email protected]), a general partner at USVP, invests in emerging technologies in the enterprise space with focus on Enterprise SaaS applications and security. She has led investments in and joined the boards of Luma Health, Arkose Labs, Raken, Percepto, Carrot Fertility, Nfinite, Sepio Systems, Trust Lab and Surgical Safety Technologies. Dafina served on the board of Prevoty, a leader in application security, who was acquired by Imperva where USVP was the lead investor and largest shareholder.
Prior to joining USVP, Dafina was a principal investor with Tugboat Ventures. Before that, she spent two years at Venrock helping to expand the firmâs investments in SaaS, virtualization, security, infrastructure and enterprise applications. Dafina led the first institutional investment round in Cloudflare (NYSE: NET). Her other investments included Aria Systems, Kenna Security (acquired by Cisco) and Matrixx Software. Before becoming an investor, Dafina held positions in development and product management at Microsoft focusing on authentication systems, digital signatures and business workflow. She has co-authored several key patents.
Dafina holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BS in Computer Science, magna cum laude, with special focus on cryptography, efficient algorithms and database systems from Harvard University.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dafinat/
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JeffreyPfeffer.comEp 21 â Nick Binkley, Singer-Songwriter, Former Banking Executive
SHOW NOTES:
My old friend and very successful financial executive, Nick Binkley, talks about his career in finance, rising to the position of vice chair of Security Pacific Bank, and then vice chair of the Bank of America, and then a partner in a very successful venture capital firm. Nick has a lot of lessons around the 7 Rules of Power for all of us to pay attention to.
In this episode youâll learn:
How Nick went from a guitar-playing Peace Corps volunteer and campaign manager to a banker
What he saw in the Tunisian economy that sparked his desire to become an international banker
How visualizing where he wanted to be and breaking the rules facilitated his career change
The way playing the game allowed him to develop a new approach to statement analysis called the Binkley Tree
What accelerated his career in the ten years he went from a vice president to a vice chair and member of the board of directors at Bank of America
The power of changing the narrative about yourself
A unique presentation opportunity that furthered his career
Brand building in humorous, thoughtful, effective ways, and with the creation of an international magazine
The importance of having family members and a broad base of people who appreciate your skills
The rule of power that most resonates with him
A story of how success excuses everything
The one sin Jeff sees students commit in their beliefs during difficult circumstances
How his songwriting and music interests have helped in his career, personally and professionally
GUEST BIO:
Nick Binkley (born Nicholas Burns Binkley October 31, 1945) is a former banking executive with a lifelong interest in foreign affairs. He is also a singer-songwriter, recording artist and film producer.
He was educated at Colorado College (BA in Political Science) and the Universite dâAix-Marseille (France) and received his graduate degree (MA in International Studies) from the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Binkley attained the position of Vice Chairman of Bank of America Corp and served on its board of directors and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He later formed Forrest Binkley & Brown which successfully made venture and private equity investments across a range of enterprises.
Following retirement from the world of finance, he became identified with the title of his first album, Pin Stripe Brain, released in 1995. A troubadour striving for East-West peace, Binkleyâs song âNovi Mirâ (Russian for âNew Worldâ or âNew Peaceâ), his film FREE TO ROCK and subsequent albums, Let The Boy Jam, 100 Parts of Heart, and Stardust Angels Ghosts remain emblematic of a life that spanned the worlds of finance, music and international politics.
https://www.nickbinkleymusic.com
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Learn more about Jeffrey Pfeffer and where you can buy or listen to his books:
JeffreyPfeffer.comEPISODE 20 â Tadia James, Managing Partner, Aligned Generation
SHOW NOTES:
Tadia James is the Managing Partner at Aligned Generation. Tadia shares the rules of power which have helped her excel in the financial industry, where women or people of color manage less than 2% of global assets.
In this episode, you will learn:
How Tadia has consciously built her careerHow her jobs at JPMorgan and Gingerbread Capital led her to start her own companyThe three pillars Aligned Generation advises and develops startups withinHow her story speaks to issues of women and underrepresented minoritiesWhat she focused on to gain visibility when she was often the youngest and only woman and person of color in the roomHow she gets out of her own way and shows up in ways that convey powerThe discipline necessary to help achieve goalsThe things done to acquire visibility while at Stanford Business SchoolBeing clear on using time intentionallyThe considerations of time and opportunity costs in attending graduate schoolAdvice to students regarding making use of opportunities available on campusWhy she started her own firmThe joy of helping founders, entrepreneurs, and capital investorsWhat the process of âgassingâ herself up before public appearances looks likeSpecial note: In this episode Ms. James is referring to Amy Cuddy's TED Talk, "Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are." This talk was given at TEDGlobal in 2012.
https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are/c
GUEST BIO:Tadia James
Bridge-Builder, VC Investor, and Strategist, Tadia is the Managing Partner at ALIGNED GENERATION, a strategic consulting agency on a mission to accelerate and scale the impact of investors and startups building a more equitable and balanced society.Current Focus: Addressing the racial wealth gap.
Tadia started her career in finance at the JP Morgan Corporate & Investment Bank in various positions including: Sales Strategy, Product Management, and Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence. She also taught financial literacy to inner-city youth in NYC at the DREAM Organization for 5 years where she led the development of the DREAM Scholarship Fund. Tadia went on to become an early employee at Gingerbread Capital, a family office venture capital fund that invests in female founders and female fund managers at the seed stage and beyond.
An avid tech investor and startup advisor, Tadia is known for her ability to bring big visions to life through disciplined business execution and strong partnerships. Featured in âForbesâ and â31 under 31: The Future of Venture Capitalâ, she has a Bachelorâs Degree in Finance from the University of Florida and an MBA from Stanford.
Website: https://www.alignedgeneration.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tadiajames
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TADIAJAMES/Produced by The MunnAvenuePress.com
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JeffreyPfeffer.comEPISODE 19 â Andrew Yang, Entrepreneur & Author. Humanity Forward
SHOW NOTES:
My guest today is Andrew Yang, the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate and a 2021 candidate for mayor of New York City. Named by President Obama as a Presidential Ambassador of Global Entrepreneurship, he is the founder of Humanity Forward, Venture for America, and the Forward Party. Yangâs New York Times bestselling book The War on Normal People helped introduce the idea of universal basic income into the political mainstream. Andrew shares how through practice, he learned to embody particular rules of power to make effective changes in the world.
In this episode, you will learn about:
The non-profits he started to improve the operation of Americaâs electoral system
A brief overview of his career and entrepreneurial background
Why he was an accidental presidential candidate
What the Forward Party stands for
How his background as an Asian American inhibited him from embracing specific rules of power
The importance of building a personal brand with a strong social media presence
Learning new behaviors to promote himself, which in turn benefits his causes
Why apologizing is not always the right thing to do
How he re-framed networking to become something enjoyable and rewarding
The idea of acting and speaking with power
The romantic motivation he had to put himself into the public sphere
The athleticism of public speaking
Coaching and practice to become stronger, better, and more comfortable
Taking the world as it is and maximizing your ability to do good things within it
GUEST BIO:Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, non-profit leader, and former 2020 presidential candidate.
After working as a lawyer and executive at several early-stage technology companies, Andrew eventually became CEO of an education company that became #1 in the country. He then started a national entrepreneurship non-profit, Venture for America, which worked to empower thousands of young entrepreneurs to bring their dynamism to communities across the country, from New Orleans and Baltimore to Denver and Detroit.
Andrew was named a Presidential Ambassador of Entrepreneurship by the White House under the Obama administration and a Champion of Change for his work with Venture for America. Initially dubbed a "longer than long shot" candidate by the New York Times in 2018, Andrew became a top-tier contender for the presidency, raising nearly $40 million in grassroots funding.
With a vision to rewrite the rules of the United States economy through a âFreedom Dividendâ of $1,000 a month for every American adult, Andrew became one of the most exciting stories in the 2020 race. Andrew's nationwide support, known as the âYang Gang,â propelled him to seven Democratic primary debates, outlasting six senators, four governors, three members of Congress, two mayors, and one secretary.
Following this unexpected run for president, Andrew formed the non-profit Humanity Forward, successfully lobbying Congress for direct cash relief for struggling American families during the pandemic while simultaneously distributing over $8 million directly to struggling families.
From his presidential and New York mayoral runs, Andrew has seen first-hand whatâs preventing our country from getting things done, and he is now directing his energies towards fixing the machinery of our stagnant democracy. With Forward - Notes on the Future of Our Democracy, Andrew lays out the case for a variety of democracy reform measures that can unclog the pipes of our system and realign the incentives of legislators with the wellbeing of the American people.
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Learn more about Jeffrey Pfeffer and where you can buy or listen to his books:
JeffreyPfeffer.comEpisode 18 â Gary Loveman, Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO
SHOW NOTES:
Meet Gary Loveman, the former CEO of Caesars, the large casino company, and a former senior executive at Aetna, and now running Well, a health-related startup. Gary made the remarkable transition from being a professor to running a company. He is extraordinarily thoughtful on issues of power and influence, coming in as an outsider and being exceptionally successful.
In this episode youâll learn about:
How Gary came from outside into an industry dominated by insidersThe techniques used to get people on his side and overcome their resistance Why critical relationships have to work, and how to make them workThe value in making unwanted news tolerable for each person affected by itThe humility, transparency, and feedback involved in collectively reaching goalsYour duty to shareholders, colleagues, employees, and customers to cultivate working relationshipsBeing strategic and thoughtful as you interact with other peopleOverriding certain feelings to present yourself as the leader your organization needs to seeWhatâs required to be an effective leader of people who have limited access to youCompelling stories around Garyâs determination to tell the truth under all circumstancesThe idea of reputation and sustaining credibility The meaning behind his famous maxim, âIf you want to be liked, get a dog.âHis lesson in the forced curve grading distribution at Harvard Business SchoolGUEST BIO
In 2019, Gary Loveman, Ph.D., co-founded Well, a member engagement platform built to enable every individual to achieve their best health. Well's digital platform combines the member's health history with clinical algorithms, artificial intelligence, and dynamic incentives to guide every member towards improved health and lower costs. Well's platform is supported by a team of expert healthcare professionals, and provides member support across the spectrum of healthcare needs including behavioral health, chronic condition management, health coaching and wellness, benefits and system navigation, pharmacy and telemedicine.
Dr. Loveman is also Senior Lecturer in the Department of Finance at Harvard Business School. He previously taught Service Management in the M.B.A. and executive education programs at the School from 1989-1998. He was named the first recipient of the Schoolâs Apgar Award for excellence and innovation in teaching. Loveman was awarded the B.A. in economics from Wesleyan University, and the Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was an Alfred Sloan Doctoral Dissertation Fellow.
Dr. Loveman left HBS in 1998 and became Chairman, CEO and President of Caesars Entertainment Corporation. During his seventeen year tenure, Dr. Loveman oversaw a period of growth that included several major acquisitions making Caesars the largest and most diversified company in the gaming industry. In 2008, Caesars went private in a $30.7B transaction led by Apollo and TPG. He pioneered the use of cutting-edge technology and data analytics to deliver differentiated customer service and guest loyalty. Dr. Loveman also led the development of Wellness Rewards, Caesarsâ widely recognized, incentive-based health and wellness program for the companyâs 70,000 employees and their families. He was voted âBest CEO in the Hospitality Industryâ for four consecutive years by the Institutional Investor magazine, was inducted into both the Hospitality and Gaming Halls of Fame and is the subject of case studies at HBS and Stanford Business School.
Dr. Loveman joined Aetna in October 2015, serving as President of Consumer Health and Service, Aetnaâs health services business through January 2018. The Consumer Health and Services organization was responsible for helping Aetna members achieve their best health and for fostering innovative collaborations with health care providers to improve the overall quality, cost and experience for Aetna members. Dr. Loveman led the companyâs population health management and consumer engagement strategies, health and clinical services, care management, digital consumer health products, analytics and data science, pharmacy and marketing areas.
From 2012-2015, Dr. Loveman chaired the Business Roundtableâs Health & Retirement Committee, which focuses on improving the quality and affordability of the nationâs health and retirement systems. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Boston Childrenâs Hospital and the Board of Directors of the Boston Celtics, where he is a member of the ownership group. Loveman serves on the Board of several private health care companies and served previously on the Visiting Committee of the M.I.T. Department of Economics and the boards of FedEx, Tapestry and Ventas, Inc.
Among Dr. Lovemanâs publications include five articles in the Harvard Business Review, two books (with co-authors) and more than 30 HBS case studies.
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Learn more about Jeffrey Pfeffer and where you can buy or listen to his books:
JeffreyPfeffer.comEpisode 17 â Robin Lumsden, Founder & Managing Partner, Lumsden & Partners
Today, we meet Dr. Robert Lumsden, who has gone from a tennis player to the Special Forces, to law, to business, and now to owning a sports franchise. He is always paying attention to building his brand, getting out of his comfort zone, and thinking about what he can do for other people to build the relationships that will, in turn, make him successful.
Topics discussed:
The principles of 7 Rules of Power he uses to build his career
The jobs Robin held before attending Stanford, beginning at age seven
What it is like to be an adversary for some of the most famous lawyers in the U.S.
Three of his most significant deals and why he didnât get a Porsche in one of them
Why he came to GSB and what he learned there
Why his goal at GSB was to know the successful professors and business people
How he got into Condoleezza Rice and Eric Schmidtâs classes
How he used his time at Stanford to build his brand in Austria
His motive behind building a fantastic media presence
The importance of delivering considerable value to your peers
Overcoming certain cultural barriers
The varying roles of showing up authentically
Using specific times of day to your advantage
The power of getting out of your own way
Where mentors can lead you
The power of pictures
Whatâs next in Robinâs career
GUEST BIO
Dr. Robin L. Lumsden MSx (Stanford) MA Economics (Stanford) LL.M. (Berkeley)
Robin is the founder and managing partner of M&A law firm Lumsden & Partners, one of the most successful boutique law firms in Austria, founded in recent years. Robin, who is a member of the bar in Austria, New York and Washington D.C. spent more than 15 years as a corporate lawyer and advised clients such as Volkswagen on its âŹ3.9 billion acquisition of Porsche and General Electric on its sale of its plastics division to Sabic for US $11.6 billion.
Whilst conducting his studies at Stanford (MSx & MA in economics) he worked on a digital asset fund with Sebastian Schwarzenegger, invested in blockchain and crypto businesses. He sits on various boards of trusts of high-net-worth individuals. He further was an advisor to Palantir & personally to its CEO Alex Karp, GE, Google and the Schwarzenegger family. Robin is also an officer with the Austrian Special Forces (equivalent to the Navy Seals). His military experience has shaped his character and made him appreciate teamwork.
Previously, as a junior Robin was a professional tennis athlete, playing inter alia at Wimbledon. Recently, Robin acquired the majority of the American Football Franchise, âVienna Vikingsâ in Austria, a team that won the EuroBowl (equivalent to the Super Bowl in Europe) in 2022 against Hamburg.
www.lumsden.at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_0cwys_EMM
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JeffreyPfeffer.comEpisode 16 â Dr. Laura Esserman, Professor of Surgery and Radiology UCSF, Director of the UCSF Breast Care Clinic
Dr. Laura Esserman is a leading figure in the transformation of American medicine. Named one of Time Magazineâs 100 Most Influential People in the World, Laura is dedicated to increasing the speed at which we learn about new cancer drugs and treatments. She discusses her transformation into becoming a more effective version of herself through storytelling and cultivating empathy with opponents.
Join us and learn about:
Adjustments in her behavior that make her extraordinarily effectiveThe importance of knowing what you want to accomplish over being likableRealizing to become successful, she needed to get out of her wayThe listening and give-and-take skills that enable effectivenessAllowing the space for people to think differently than yourselfFinding common ground to accomplish shared goalsHow fear of criticism can impede problem-solvingPatient-centered care with a âno risk, no changeâ philosophyGoing to the mat and doing things for othersThe principles she lives onHer lesson with running a mammogram van in San FranciscoHow empathy and understanding aid negotiationsUsing the press and publicity to make change happenWhy storytelling is paramount for learningHer goal of bringing personalized medicine to trials and patientsThe unique skills she brings to her patients that will surprise youGUEST BIO
Dr. Laura Esserman is Professor of Surgery and Radiology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and director of the UCSF Breast Care Clinic. Her work in breast cancer spans the spectrum from basic science to public policy issues, and the impact of both on the delivery of clinical care. Dr. Esserman is recognized as a thought leader in cancer screening and over-diagnosis, as well as innovative clinical trial design. She led the creation of the University of California-wide Athena Breast Health Network, a learning system designed to integrate clinical care and research as it follows 150,000 women from screening through treatment and outcomes. The Athena Network launched the PCORI-funded Wisdom Study, which tests a personalized approach to breast cancer screening in 100,000 women. She is also a leader of the innovative I-SPY TRIAL model, designed to accelerate the identification and approval of effective new agents for women with high-risk breast cancers. In 2020, she got FDA approval for an I-SPY COVID trial, designed to rapidly screen and confirm high-impact treatments to reduce mortality and time on ventilators.
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JeffreyPfeffer.comEpisode 15 â Phillip Mohabir, Co-Founder & CEO Vivo Surgery
Phillip Mohabir is an executive with IMAX and is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vivo Surgery. He shares how he has used my power materials to accelerate his career, along with the lessons learned from his experience coaching graduate school students and how these lessons are helpful to you.
Topics in this episode:
The Rules of Power used to accelerate his career inside IMAXWhat he learned from his coaching experience that can be helpful to youWhat facilitated his move from operations to investor relationsVivo Surgery, his virtual classroom start-up with a waitlist of 900 medical studentsThe pursuit of his MBAThe value of increasing visibility to people in positions of power and influenceRedefining employee evaluation criteria toward the goal of achieving a perfect scoreWhy sponsors may be more important than mentorsRetooling the DCF model learned at StanfordLearnings from being a course coach and the impact on careersThe three most common obstacles to overcome in order to move a career forwardHow to help others overcome impostor syndrome, conflict avoidance, and to become more agentic toward their careerThe importance of self-promotionGUEST BIO:
Phillip built his corporate career at IMAX, ascending to various Operations roles, before successfully navigating into Investor Relations and FP&A. He graduated as a Bregman Scholar, for highest academic standing, when completing his Executive MBA at University of Torontoâs Rotman School of Management. Since 2018, he has also been a course facilitator for several programs across Stanford GSB, including the online iteration of Professor Pfefferâs Power course. More recently, he co-founded Vivo Surgery: an online surgical education and training startup that has been increasing access for medical students to learn from surgeons in live operating rooms.
Connect with Phillip on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/phillip-mohabir1
Check out Vivo Surgery: https://www.vivosurgery.com/
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JeffreyPfeffer.comEPISODE 14 â Marcelo Miranda, CEO, Consolis Tecnyconta
Marcelo Miranda is CEO of Consolis Tecnyconta, a leading provider of precast concrete solutions in Spain. He shares how he implements the rules of power to build brand and relationships and harnesses power for overall good by using technology to create more sustainable, affordable, and humanized construction for the people. Also, understand how he built an amazing reputation and image by delivering results and being open to working with people in the media.
During our conversation, youâll learn:
The benefits of building relationships with human resource associations in Brazil
How he built his visibility within the executive marketplace in Brazil and then Spain
How creating a positive image aids advancement and positive results
Why he was willing to be the face of his organization
The type of person everyone likes to work with and how to work with challenging personalities
The story and results behind being on the cover of a major Brazilian business magazine
The value of having an effective public relations strategy
Why he pursued an international career
The lessons used from Dr. Pfefferâs class and books used in building his career
The most important lesson for him regarding power
Working with technology to develop a more sustainable construction sector
Why, if you want to start something that will make a difference, somehow you have to break the rules
How perception becomes a reality and the importance of storytelling
The importance of staying authentic
GUEST BIOMarcelo Miranda is a Senior General Manager with skills in structuring complex businesses, investments, turnarounds, start-ups, and M&A. Evaluation and development of new businesses and products. Strong skills in innovation and sustainability management. Recognized for people leadership and development of high-performance teams. Strong international exposure.
Member of the Board of Start-ups and Associations.
Honored by Forbes Magazine in BrazilÂŽs list of 10 top CEOs under 40, 2016.
Elected by Korn Ferry, VocĂȘ SA, and FIA as âone of the CEOâs of the Futureâ in 2007.
Honored by EY as one of the 3 Sustainable Executives of 2015, Entrepreneur of the Year Prize.
Elected by Encontro Magazine as the Executive of the Year 2015.www.linkedin.com/in/marcelom-miranda
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JeffreyPfeffer.comEPISODE 13 â Christina Troitino, Director of Strategy and Operations at Morning Brew
Meet Christina Troitino, the director of strategy and operations for the startup Morning Brew. Christina tells her story about shamelessness, breaking the rules, agency, and surmounting her background prior to attending Stanfordâs Graduate School of Business.
In this episode, youâll learn:
How her Hispanic background and witnessing her family living under the Hugo Chavez regime gave her context to understand how unfair the world can be
That being aware of power constructs, especially in âunfairâ spaces
How her job at Amazon showed what happens when employees are not treated their best to move forward goals effectively
The value in accepting the ârules of the roadâ within power dynamics
The shameless way she secured having dinner with Martha Stewart at the Sundance Film Festival
Her writing experience as a Forbes contributor on the food business
What percentage just asking plays in creating new opportunities
How breaking the rules serves her career
The two Stanford GSB events she helped create at the start of the pandemic
How Paths to Power techniques enabled her to move from her first to her current job
How she leveraged her role internally consulting for executives at YouTube to accelerate her career
The importance of being willing to promote yourself, being boldly confident in yourself, and visualizing outcomes
GUEST BIO:
Christina Troitino is a media strategy and tech professional and the Director of Strategy and Operations at Morning Brew. Prior to her current role, Christina worked as a Strategy & Operations Lead at YouTube, where she served Google and YouTube c-suite members in strategic annual planning and operations amid the rise of TikTok. Christina also draws experience from her positions at Meta, General Assembly, and Amazon.
When Christina is not thinking about the future of media, she is thinking about food: She made it to the Top 100 home cooks on MasterChef Season 6 (ranking against 44,000 entrants), she was the subject of an ABC Family pilot about professional women who cook, she was a Forbes.com contributor of 60+ articles and interviews (including: Rene Redzepi, Nathan Myhrvold, Jennifer Garner, RZA, etc) and she founded food site Pùté Smith, aimed at inspiring young people to cook (2.7MM PVs 2015 - 2017).
Christina has an MBA from Stanford's Graduate School of Business, and a BA from New York University. She is originally from Albany, NY.https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinatroitino/
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