Episodi
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Rich Hagberg, often referred to as âSilicon Valleyâs CEO Whisperer, psychologist and co-author of Founders Keepers, has advised over 1,000 executives and founders. In this conversation, he outlines why most startup leaders fail, and what the data reveals about those who succeed. Some key insights include:
âFounders, overwhelmingly, are visionary evangelists⊠but theyâre not particularly good at execution.â Hagbergâs research shows that unsuccessful founders often score low on execution and relationship-building. They resist structure, delay key hires, and react impulsively under stress.
âYou can change your behavior to some degree, but itâs very hard to change your fundamental personality.â Hagberg encourages founders to identify three to four behaviors they can realistically improve, such as delegation, feedback seeking, and stress management.
âYou need to go from being a doer to a facilitator of doing.â Scalable leadership requires building teams that complement the founderâs own gaps and letting go of tasks that dilute impact.
âStartups are almost a Darwinian survival of the fittest⊠the unsuccessful ones are more impulsive and reactive.â Stress and poor self-regulation directly impact team trust and decision quality. Founders who succeed tend to manage energy deliberately and maintain self-awareness.
âIf we had to zero in on one thing that is the biggest differentiator, itâs adaptability. You never have permanent product-market fit.â Hagberg shares why openness to feedback and reflection is often more predictive of long-term success than IQ or charisma.
âI realized I was creating a culture that reflected my strengths and weaknesses. If I was going to make the company better, I had to grow as a leader.â
This conversation is for founders, investors, and operators who want to understand the behavioral patterns that quietly shape success or failure in startups. It delivers clear, evidence-based insights into what it takes to lead effectively as complexity scales.
Get Richâs new book here: https://shorturl.at/YsQcl
Founders, Keepers: Why Founders Are Built to Fail, and What it Takes to Succeed
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Michael Chad Hoeppner, CEO of GK Training and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, brings a deeply practical lens to one of the most undervalued professional skills: spoken communication. With roots in professional acting and over two decades coaching executives, Hoeppner challenges conventional wisdom, arguing that most communication advice is either vague (âslow downâ) or abstract (âjust be confidentâ), and fails to address the real issue: communication is physical.
In this episode, he shares specific, kinesthetic methods that help clients speak more clearly under pressure. From using Lego blocks to build well-structured thoughts, to timing answers with a wiffle ball in political debate prep, Hoeppner demonstrates that improving communication is not about talent, itâs about training behavior.
âSpeaking is movement. We put air into actionâthatâs what talking is. And you can learn to do it a lot, lot better.â
Key Insights: Delivery is Undervalued, but Often Drives Perception
âMost coaching hyper-focuses on content and completely neglects delivery,â Hoeppner explains. Yet âdelivery really, really determines much of the impression your audience makes about you.â Rambling, Fillers, and Anxiety Are Physical, Not Mental, Problems
He critiques typical advice like âdonât say umâ as âthought suppressionâ and instead teaches clients to physically anchor themselves. One client stopped chronic blushing mid-session by simply learning to ground her feet. Tools Like Lego Blocks Make Structure Tangible
âPick up a Lego block, say your first idea, and put it down in silence. That pause gives your brain time to think,â Hoeppner shares. These physical anchors help clients avoid word salad and clarify complex thinking. Founders with Growth Mindsets Improve Fast
âTheyâre not held back by ego. They care deeply, they want to improve now, and that means they practice,â he says. In contrast, those with fixed mindsets (âIâm just a bad speakerâ) often plateau. AI Will Make Delivery the Strategic Differentiator
As language models democratize content, he argues, âdelivery, how you say it, will matter more than ever.âThe episode closes with a powerful call to reframe communication not as a soft skill, but a trainable, high-leverage behavior, one that can transform not just boardrooms and keynotes, but daily leadership and presence.
Get Michaelâs new book here: https://dontsayum.com/
Learn more about Michael here: https://gktraining.com/michael-chad-hoeppner/
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Episodi mancanti?
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James Kimmel, Jr., lawyer, Yale psychiatry lecturer, and author of The Science of Revenge, joins us in the Strategy Skills podcast to explore the neuroscience and behavioral dynamics of revenge. Drawing on law, psychiatry, and over two decades of research, Kimmel offers a sobering view: revenge is not a form of justice, itâs a âpleasure-seeking behaviorâ that operates like an addiction, fueled by unresolved pain.
He opens the conversation with a deeply personal story: as a teenager, after years of bullying, he chased down his aggressors with a loaded revolver. In a pivotal moment, he recalls, âThe cost of getting the revenge I wanted was far more than I was willing to pay.â That flash of insight redirected his life and seeded a lifelong investigation into how grievance, retribution, and healing operate in the human mind.
Key insights from the discussion include:
Revenge Mimics Addiction in the Brain
Kimmel explains that âyour brain on revenge looks like your brain on drugs.â The cycle begins when a grievance activates the brainâs pain network, followed by a surge of dopamine in the reward system. Over time, the craving for retaliation can become compulsive, forming habits akin to substance abuse. Grievance Retention Impairs Judgment
Unchecked rumination can degrade executive function. âIf that prefrontal cortex does not stop you,â Kimmel warns, âand you really crave it⊠it doesnât matter how many laws there are.â This impaired self-control is what allows otherwise rational individuals to commit extreme acts of violence. Social Exclusion Can Be a Form of Revenge
âIf youâre ending a relationship not for present harm, but to punish someone for a past wrong, thatâs retaliation,â he explains. Even subtle acts like ghosting or ostracism can activate the same pain circuitry in the brain as physical harm. Forgiveness Interrupts the Revenge Cycle
Neuroscience shows that imagining forgiveness âshuts down the brainâs pain network, silences addiction circuits, and reactivates executive control.â Kimmel calls forgiveness a âhuman superpower⊠It doesnât just cover up the pain like revenge does, it takes the pain away altogether.â Revenge Can Be Prevented, Like a Heart Attack
Kimmel proposes a new public health framework: treat revenge attacks like cardiac events. âThere are warning signs,â he says, grievance fixation, revenge fantasies, acquiring weapons, and they demand the same level of emergency attention. Legal Systems Often Deliver Revenge, Not Justice
Kimmel reflects on his time as a litigator: âLawyers get paid to sell revenge under the brand name âjustice.ââ He urges professionals to be aware of how sanctioned systems can enable and normalize compulsive retribution.For leaders in high-stakes environments, the message is clear: understanding the mechanics of grievance and retaliation isnât just psychological, itâs strategic. Kimmelâs work offers actionable frameworks to recognize revenge-seeking before it becomes destructive, and calls for a deeper integration of neuroscience into how we define justice, manage risk, and lead with compassion.
Get The Science of Revenge here: https://www.jameskimmeljr.com/
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In this episode, I spoke with two highly respected global brand leaders, Katherine Melchior Ray and Nataly Kelly, whose experience spans executive roles at Nike, Louis Vuitton, HubSpot, Zappi, and more.
Our discussion centered on their latest book, Brand Global, Adapt Local, but more broadly, we explored the evolving demands of building and sustaining global brands in a world defined by cultural complexity, rapid technological change, and shifting consumer expectations.
A few themes stood out:
1. Consistency is not enough.
Nataly Kelly shared:
âI used to believe that branding required absolute consistency and very little flexibility. But when I began to work in global marketing, I realized that there is adaptability thatâs required to really succeed.â
Successful global brands, in her view, hold tightly to a clear core while flexibly adapting how they show up across markets.
2. Cultural blind spots have real consequences.
Katherine Melchior Ray reflected on an early leadership experience at Nike:
âThe common refrain was, for womenâs shoes⊠âshrink it and pink it.ââ
She underscored the importance of cultural sensitivity, noting:
âListen with your eyes. Because in many cultures, people communicate with nonverbal forms of communication.â
3. Strategy and judgment cannot be delegated to machines.
As the use of AI accelerates, Nataly cautioned:
âYou canât outsource your strategy⊠Judgment and strategy are the two things that I think humans will start to realize [must stay human].â
4. Trust is built over time, not through messaging alone.
Katherine observed:
âAt the end of the day, a brand is all about a promise. People support brands that they trust.â
5. Human connection remains central.
As Katherine succinctly put it:
âThe more we rely on technology, the more we must double down on our humanity.â
If you're involved in shaping brand strategy, whether globally or locally, this discussion offers valuable perspective.Get Brand Global, Adapt Local here: https://shorturl.at/f4EnF
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Leslie Grandy, a seasoned executive who has led global product teams at Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and T-Mobile, shares a deeply practical perspective on how leaders can activate creativity across functions, not just in design or strategy.
Drawing from her early years in the film industry and later executive roles in technology, Grandy explains how she developed three capabilities that proved critical in high-performance product environments:
âYouâve got to grind it out⊠and you have to have that intrinsic motivation to continue, even when it looks like failure is obvious.â
âYou have to be resilient and flexible⊠because you have so many people depending on the outcome.â
âIf I havenât seen the problem before, it doesnât seem daunting to me⊠It seems fun.â
These capabilities (grit, adaptability, and creative problem solving) formed the foundation of her success in ambiguous, fast-moving, and high-stakes environments.
Grandy also speaks directly to what supports and undermines creative velocity inside organizations. She notes that the most adaptive cultures donât reserve creativity for a few select teams:
âThey expect every role is going to show up with that same creative intention⊠that the status quo doesnât seep into the lower ranks.â
But she also warns:
âStatus quo as a cultural norm is dangerous.â
âConsensus-driven thinking is equally problematic for creative velocity.â
Her insights on Steve Jobs provide a rare look inside Appleâs leadership culture. When asked about her interview with him, she explains:
âYour interview will be five minutes or itâll be 60 minutes. Itâs up to Steve.â
âI didnât come in there acting like I was an equal⊠I just came in there with a confidence that I could answer whatever he asked.â
When her team added preset engraving suggestions to iPods to help customers complete purchases, Jobs reacted immediately:
âHe saw it, and within a day, it was pulled down.â
âHe had such a finite view of his brand⊠there were no blurry edges around the brand.â
Grandyâs new book, Creative Velocity, argues that creativity is not a fixed trait, but a capability that can be developed with intention.
She addresses how leaders should approach generative AI, not just as an efficiency tool, but as a creative partner:
âWhatâs really transformative⊠is doing the exact opposite of prompt engineering.â
âItâs not about speed to answer. Itâs about using that time to evolve a thought into different tributaries of thought.â
This episode raises a critical question for senior leaders:
âAre you designing your organization to perform or to invent?âGet Leslieâs book here: https://rb.gy/d5zr69
Creative Velocity: Propelling Breakthrough Ideas in the Age of Generative AI
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In this wide-ranging and direct conversation, Bill George, former Medtronic CEO and Harvard Business School professor, offers a disciplined framework for leading in conditions of persistent volatility. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and research, George emphasizes that leadership today is no longer about managing processes, it is about confronting ambiguity, enabling experimentation, and sustaining purpose across shifting conditions.
Five themes stand out:
Opportunity Must Be Created, Not Awaited. George argues that emerging leaders should not wait for promotions or formal permission. Instead, they should identify unaddressed problems, volunteer to lead, and deliver results without demanding titles. Career growth, he suggests, is a function of action, not seniority.
Innovation Begins at the Front Lines. Whether referencing his early decision to cancel a Medtronic pacemaker program that lacked patient benefit, or urging leaders to spend less time in conference rooms and more with customers and staff, George insists that enduring breakthroughs stem from direct observation and empathy, not from internal data analysis alone.
Risk Tolerance Determines Strategic Renewal. George contrasts firms that institutionalize risk such as Medtronicâs venture incubation model, with those that allow internal resistance to block change. Innovation, he asserts, must be structurally protected from corporate inertia, and leaders should be judged on the courage to champion unpopular ideas that later prove transformative.
Culture Must Reward Learning Over Defensiveness. Drawing parallels between U.S., European, and Japanese innovation cultures, George critiques over-regulated, failure-averse systems that suppress experimentation. True progress, he says, requires the willingness to learn through trial, adaptation, and even initial failure.
AI Is a Strategic Imperative, Not a Cost Play. Rather than using AI to drive out labor costs, George advocates for using it to rethink business models entirely, supporting frontline autonomy, enabling new services, and unlocking unmet needs. He cautions leaders against adopting a defensive posture and urges them to fund experiments that explore the true potential of the technology.
Throughout, George offers a leadership mindset anchored in authenticity, courage, and customer-centric design. His advice is clear: future leaders must raise their hands, operate at the edge, and move fast before the window of relevance closes.
Get Billâs book here: https://shorturl.at/3iHRb
True North, Emerging Leader Edition: Leading Authentically in Today's Workplace
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Central banks in major economies have repeatedly misread inflation trends by relying on models that omit a fundamental economic lever: the money supply. In this episode, economist Steve Hanke offers a detailed critique of prevailing post-Keynesian frameworks and the policy missteps that have followed. Drawing on historical and current data, Hanke underscores the predictive power of the quantity theory of money, a model largely excluded from central bank thinking, and explains how ignoring this leads to erroneous inflation forecasts and misguided interventions.
The discussion outlines how inflation, often attributed to exogenous shocks such as supply chain disruptions or geopolitical events, is more reliably explained by changes in the money supply. Hanke presents evidence that inflation today is the result of decisions made one to two years prior, making it critical to focus on monetary trends rather than short-term data fluctuations. He further contrasts U.S. and Chinese monetary responses, highlighting how both under- and over-corrections in money supply growth have resulted in either recessionary pressures or deflation.
Key insights from the episode include:
- The quantity theory of money remains one of the most reliable frameworks for anticipating inflation, yet is absent from mainstream economic models used by central banks.
- Inflation is always a monetary phenomenon, rising or falling primarily in response to shifts in the money supply, not due to external shocks, which only affect relative prices.
- U.S. monetary policy is currently on a path toward recession, not inflation, due to anemic money supply growth since 2022, a trend Hanke predicts will continue unless reversed.
- Regime uncertainty, policy volatility that undermines business investment, amplifies economic stagnation. Drawing parallels to the New Deal era, Hanke warns that unclear or shifting fiscal and regulatory rules will delay recovery even further.
- Most of the money in circulation is created by commercial banks, not central banks. Post-2008 regulations have constrained these institutions, diminishing their role in supporting economic growth.
Taken together, these points call for a recalibration of macroeconomic policy, placing money supply at the center of analysis and re-empowering commercial banks to function as essential components of the financial system. For senior leaders navigating strategic decisions, the episode provides a timely and data-grounded lens on the structural drivers shaping inflation, recession risks, and economic stability.
Get Steveâs book here: https://shorturl.at/t5uDw
Making Money Work: How to Rewrite the Rules of Our Financial System
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In this episode, finance professor and author, Alex Edmans, offers a rigorous examination of the narratives surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in corporate strategy. Drawing on his critique of widely cited studies, including those from McKinsey and BlackRock, Edmans illustrates how flawed data interpretations and confirmation bias contribute to the persistence of questionable claims. He warns against relying on correlation-based research that lacks causal rigor, especially when such findings are used to justify high-stakes decisions in boardrooms and policy circles.
Edmans identifies three recurring issues in the current DEI discourse: cherry-picked performance metrics that ignore long-term shareholder value; reverse causality, where strong performance leads to more diversity, not the other way around; and omitted variable bias, such as industry effects that confound diversity claims. He also critiques the narrow definition of diversity, which often reduces individuals to surface-level demographic traits while ignoring cognitive and experiential variation that may be more relevant to performance.
The conversation extends beyond DEI to explore the structural incentives within academia, consulting, and media that reward oversimplified narratives. Edmans notes that when ideas become dominant, dissenters face not only reputational risk but also institutional hurdles that discourage honest debate. The result is a professional ecosystem in which flawed research is amplified and poorly contextualized advice is recycled across geographies and sectors without regard for applicability.
Other key themes include:
The difference between demographic and cognitive diversity in strategic decision-making
The dangers of universalizing business practices without accounting for local context
Why flawed performance metrics (e.g., EBITDA) misrepresent firm success
How misaligned incentives distort executive behavior and perpetuate ineffective initiatives
The role of institutional culture in suppressing dissent and reinforcing groupthink
For senior leaders navigating complex decisions, Edmansâ commentary offers a timely reminder: even widely accepted practices warrant scrutiny. In environments where performance is difficult to measure and cause-effect relationships are opaque, intellectual discipline, not ideological alignment, is essential.
Learn more about Alex Edmans here: https://alexedmans.com/
Get Alexâs book here:
May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our BiasesâAnd What We Can Do about It. https://maycontainlies.com/
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In this episode, Tim Koller, co-author of Valuation and a leading authority on corporate finance, offers a substantive examination of capital allocation decisions under real-world constraints. The discussion moves beyond theory to explore how CEOs and CFOs should approach resource deployment in mature, capital-rich companiesâwhere investment opportunities are limited not due to lack of ambition but due to economic reality.
Key insights include:
- Share Buybacks as Rational Policy: Many firms undertaking significant buybacksâparticularly in tech, life sciences, and consumer productsâdo so because they generate more cash than they can reinvest profitably. Koller argues that, in such cases, returning excess capital to shareholders is not a sign of strategic failure but of disciplined decision-making.
- The Fallacy of Diversification Without Advantage: Koller highlights repeated failures by capital-rich companies that expand into unrelated sectors to deploy cash, citing historical missteps in energy, utilities, and industrials. He emphasizes the need to assess whether the firm has a genuine competitive advantage before moving beyond its core business.
- Granular Leadership in Resource Allocation: Effective CEOs are directly engaged with capital allocation at the business-unit level. Delegating such decisions without maintaining enterprise-wide oversight often leads to underinvestment in high-return growth areas and misaligned incentives at the divisional level.
- The Perils of Uniform Cost-Cutting Mandates: Broad directives to improve margins often result in cuts to product development and customer experienceâleading to long-term degradation despite short-term financial gains. Koller stresses the importance of distinguishing between cost efficiencies that enhance value and those that erode it.
- Timing and Judgment in Capital Deployment: In cyclical, capital-intensive sectors such as chemicals and energy, building capacity in sync with competitors can destroy value. Koller calls for contrarian timing, grounded in independent analysis, even when boards and markets are predisposed to follow the cycle.
Additional themes include the underuse of postmortems in capital projects, the misalignment between project planners and operators, and the distinction between executional and experimental failure. Throughout, Koller reiterates that sound capital allocation depends not only on financial modeling, but also on institutional learning, leadership judgment, and clarity of strategic intent.
This conversation offers practical, senior-level guidance for executives, board members, and investors who must navigate capital planning amid structural constraints, investor pressures, and organizational complexity.
Get Timâs book here: https://shorturl.at/nk7Z9
Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies
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In a world that often rewards taking, James Turk believes the most powerful leaders are the ones who give clarity, opportunity, second chances, and their full attention.
In this episode, I speak with James Turk, who is an executive coach, CEO of The Turk Group, and author of The Giving Game, about what it truly means to become the kind of leader others want to follow.
We explore:
Why most new leaders struggle and how to set them up for success from day one
The difference between âgettingâ and âgivingâ leadership and why it changes everything
Why he nearly didnât make the phone call that launched his business
How to lead through imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and personal doubt
What to do when your definition of success starts to shift and how to build a business that matches it
How giving away the spotlight can strengthen your brand, your business, and your people
James also shares the personal story behind The Giving Game, and how his childhood experiences gave him a lifelong belief in second chances and in the power of helping others see what theyâre capable of.
Whether youâre an experienced CEO, a first-time manager, or a consultant striking out on your own, this conversation will challenge how you lead and who you choose to become in the process.
Get Jamesâ book here: https://shorturl.at/c5oRT
The Giving Game: Becoming The Leader That Others Want To Follow
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What if cultural relevance isnât just a marketing strategy but a business imperative?
In this episode, I speak with Hernan Tagliani, a multicultural marketing expert, award-winning strategist for Fortune 500 companies, and author of The Hispanic Market for Corporate America and Multicultural Mainstream, that explains how brands can drive lasting growth by truly understanding and serving Hispanic consumers.
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Hernan shares how he rebuilt his career from the ground up after moving to the U.S., started his agency with a single client, and went on to lead multicultural strategy for some of the worldâs most recognizable brands. His approach? Culture before language. Data before assumptions. And storytelling that builds trust, not just transactions.
We explore:
Why many brands are missing out on long-term growth by overlooking multicultural strategy
The biggest myths corporate leaders still believe about U.S. Hispanic consumers
Why translating a campaign isnât enough and how âtranscreationâ builds loyalty across generations
How Hernan helped a national brand go from pilot campaign to national success by earning trust first
What it takes to create a brand that reflects, and respects, the communities it serves
How AI and digital media are reshaping what it means to be culturally relevant in real time
Hernan also shares personal insights on leadership, reinvention, and why taking risks, even when itâs uncomfortable, is key to becoming a purpose-driven entrepreneur.
Whether youâre building a brand, scaling a business, or trying to connect with todayâs fastest-growing consumer segment, this episode offers practical strategies and a powerful reframe on what it means to lead with culture, not just campaigns.
Get Hernanâs book here: https://rb.gy/jjvvs4
Multicultural Mainstream: The Power of Hispanics In Consumer Marketing
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Your companyâs next breakthrough isnât about doing more, but doing less with purpose.
In this episode, I speak with Bill Canady, CEO of two major industrial companies (OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products), a former U.S. Navy officer, and author of From Panic to Profit, about the operating system heâs used to turn around billion-dollar businesses and lead through uncertainty.
Bill brings a rare blend of military discipline, private equity strategy, and grounded human leadership. With more than 3,600 employees and $1.5 billion in revenue under his care, he shares what really drives growth, and why focus, not frenzy, is the secret to long-term results.
We talk about:
How Bill used 80/20 thinking to stabilize a struggling company during the pandemic
Why âdoing everythingâ is the death of momentum and how to identify your critical few
The real reason most teams fail to deliver (hint: itâs not effort)
How AI is helping leaders focus on what matters and where human judgment still matters most
Why you may need to say no to good ideas to unlock great outcomes
The leadership triangle: visionary, operator, and prophet, and how to build teams that thrive
Bill also shares personal reflections on learning through failure, navigating high-stakes decisions, and how heâs applying his own advice as a continuous learner and leader of leaders.
Whether youâre in a turnaround, scaling up, or simply trying to get more focused in your business or career, this episode offers both strategic clarity and deeply practical tools for creating profitable, people-centered growth.
Bill Canady is the CEO of both OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products (AEP). With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in driving organizational growth, cutting costs, and boosting profitability. At OTC, he led a 43% increase in revenue and an 80% rise in earnings, with annual sales now exceeding $1 billion. At AEP, he oversees more than 3,600 employees and $1.5 billion in sales. A U.S. Navy veteran, Bill holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Business Administration from Elmhurst University. His Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS) has helped countless organizations overcome challenges and seize new growth opportunities.
Get Billâs book here: https://rb.gy/3a4mou
From Panic to Profit: Uncover Value, Boost Revenue, and Grow Your Business with the 80/20 Principle
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What if the key to innovation isnât a process, but a mindset that travels across boundaries, disciplines, and decades?
From international development to McKinsey to leading AI strategy at Microsoft, Dean Carignan has built his career at the intersection of systems, people, and impact. Now, as co-author of The Insiderâs Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, heâs helping organizations rethink how real innovation happens, not just in startups or labs, but in legacy institutions and global companies.
In this episode, Dean shares lessons from two decades at Microsoft, where heâs worked across Xbox, Office, cognitive services, and AI research. He also reflects on why innovation is ultimately about people, not products, and how leaders can create space for meaningful change, even inside complex organizations.
We explore:
How Dean moved from solving global problems at the World Bank to driving change inside one of the worldâs largest tech companies
The power of being a âboundary crosserâ and why innovation happens in the in-between
Why mission often outperforms money as a motivator, especially in hiring for impact
The overlooked value of storytelling in innovation (and how case studies bring ideas to life)
How AI is transforming not only productivity, but the very nature of scientific discovery
Why learning to build with agents may be the most valuable skill of the next decade
Dean also shares practical examples of how he uses AI today, from research to writing to daily decision-making, and why âthinking about thinkingâ is the leadership advantage most people overlook.
Whether you're guiding a team through change, building a new product, or trying to stay ahead of the AI curve, this conversation offers a grounded, human-centered approach to innovation in a time of exponential possibility.
Dean Carignanâs career spans international economic development, startup ventures, and strategic roles in technology. He is an alumnus of Georgetown University and INSEAD, he was a charter member of McKinsey & Company's advanced technology practice.
During his 20 years at Microsoft, he has guided new businesses, including the early internet division, Xbox, and multiple Al efforts through the critical growth phases to their first billion dollars in revenue.
Most recently, Dean has focused on leading AI innovations within Microsoft Research and the Office of the Chief Scientist. His intrapreneurial spirit, deep institutional knowledge, and expansive internal network made the behind-the-scenes perspective of The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft
Get Deanâs book here: https://www.innovationatmicrosoft.com/
The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft
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In this episode, Kris speaks with Matthew Dixon, founding partner of DCM Insights and bestselling author, about his latest research on business development in professional services. Drawing on a global study of 3,000 partners, Dixon outlines five distinct sales profiles and highlights the âActivatorâ as the only approach consistently linked to higher revenue performance.
Key insights:
- Traditional models of client loyalty are eroding, with fewer clients returning automatically to the same firm.
- Top performers distinguish themselves by proactively delivering value, leveraging internal and external networks, and consistently committing time to business development.
- Effective firms drive adoption of these behaviors not through mandates, but by enabling teams with tools, mentorship, and a culture of collaboration.
- Technology, including AI and network management tools, reduces the time required to execute these strategies, but success ultimately relies on human relationships and judgment.
Dixonâs upcoming book, The Activator Advantage, provides a practical guide for partners and leaders seeking to future-proof client engagement strategies in a more competitive and fast-changing market.Matthew Dixon is the Founding Partner of DCM Insights. Matthew is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review and a WSJ bestselling author, with his books translated in a dozen languages.
Get Matthewâs book here: https://rb.gy/a6ygc7
The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently
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In this episode, Kris speaks with Ken Rusk, nine-figure CEO and bestselling author of Blue Collar Cash, on building and scaling a successful business.
Key insights:
- True growth comes from empowering entrepreneurial employees and building autonomous teams aligned with the companyâs mission and motivated to perform.
- Ruskâs approach emphasizes the alignment of personal goals and corporate objectives, using a system of âtimed pathwaysâ where employees publicly commit to and pursue personal milestones, creating accountability and shared momentum.
- Strategic reinvestment in marketing, reputation, and customer experience fueled steady expansion, while maintaining a clear long-term vision kept the organization resilient during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
- His leadership philosophy centers on building decision-makers, not just making decisions, and staying focused on time as the most valuable asset, balancing business success with personal well-being, family, and purpose.
- Ruskâs recent move to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) reflects his commitment to sharing long-term value and ensuring that the team that built the company benefits from its future growth.
Ruskâs message is that sustainable business success stems from developing others, aligning incentives, and ensuring that leaders stay focused on the long view, both in business and in life.Get Kenâs book here: https://www.kenrusk.com/blue-collar-cash/
Blue-Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life
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What if the key to driving real innovation isnât genius, but orchestration?
Innovation is often seen as the domain of visionaries or tech geniuses. But in this episode, JoAnn Garbin, former Director of Innovation at Microsoft Cloud and co-author of The Insiderâs Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, shows that true innovation is a craft: one grounded in discipline, collaboration, and conscious leadership.
JoAnn brings a rare lens to the conversation â an engineer with a background in philosophy and performance, a systems thinker who has lived through startup exits, corporate reinvention, and a life-altering cancer diagnosis. Her approach to leadership, creativity, and risk is grounded not in theory but in lived experience.
We talk about:
How real innovation happens inside complex, slow-moving organizations
Why orchestration, not brilliance, is the most underrated leadership skill
The critical role of community and trust in long-term innovation success
How to build political capital without becoming âpoliticalâ
What cancer taught her about control, clarity, and letting go
The mindset shift that makes innovation more accessible (and less magical)
JoAnn also shares how she navigates uncertainty with structured frameworks, how she invests in her learning every day, and why innovation, especially in an AI-powered future, must be inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered.
Whether youâre leading change, launching something new, or trying to stay relevant in a fast-shifting world, this episode will expand how you think about creativity, courage, and what it really means to build something that lasts.
JoAnn Garbin is a former Director of Innovation in Microsoftâs cloud business. She is the founder of Regenerous Labs, where she focuses on building practical solutions across industries that integrate sustainability and innovation.
Get JoAnnâs book here: https://www.innovationatmicrosoft.com/
The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft
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What if the leadership edge youâre looking for doesnât come from working harder, but listening deeper?
We talk often about productivity, performance, and pushing through. But few conversations explore the quieter forces shaping our best decisions, like intuition.
In this episode, I speak with Hrund GunnsteinsdĂłttir, a director, writer, systems thinker, and an award-winning sustainability leader, about intuition as a source of strength, clarity, and resilience in both leadership and life.
Hrund shares how her work in post-conflict Kosovo with the UN led to burnout and a full reset â one that turned her toward the science and practice of intuition. Through personal stories, research, and the Icelandic concept of innsĂŠi (âthe sea withinâ), she explains how we can train our intuition as rigorously as we train our intellect.
We explore:
How to know whether your intuition is guiding you, or your ego is pulling you
Why many of us lose touch with inner guidance (and how to return to it)
How to use an âattention journalâ to strengthen your discernment
The difference between insight and overthinking
What it takes to create workplace cultures that respect sensing as much as data
Why intuition is not the opposite of reason, but essential to it
This episode is for anyone navigating uncertainty, complexity, or the quiet knowing that something needs to change.
Whether you're leading a team, facing a major decision, or simply looking to reconnect with your inner compass, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical tools to help you find your way â from the inside out.
Hrund GunnsteinsdĂłttir is an Advisory Council member at Yaleâs International Leadership Centre and has been recognised for her work as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and Cultural Leader and Yale World Fellow. She has qualifications from Yale, Harvard Kennedy School, the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, Oxford Said Business School and the University of Iceland.
Get Hrundâs book here: https://hrundgunnsteinsdottir.com/
InnSaei: Heal, Revive and Reset with the Icelandic art of intuition
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Dr. Tiffany Moon isnât just breaking stereotypes â sheâs rewriting the script.
In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Moon â board-certified anesthesiologist, founder of Aromasthesia, and former cast member of Bravoâs Real Housewives â opens up about what it really takes to balance ambition, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and public scrutiny.
From immigrating to the U.S. at age 6 to graduating from college at 19 and medical school at 23, where she finished in the top ten percent of her class, to launching a wellness brand rooted in science and self-care, Tiffanyâs story is as raw and relatable as it is inspiring.
We cover:
The culture of overachievement and how it can become an emotional cage
The silent weight of perfectionism in high-achieving women
How childhood trauma shaped her relentless drive and how sheâs healing from it
Why asking for help isnât a weakness â itâs a strategy
The behind-the-scenes reality of being a doctor and a reality TV personality
Why sheâs choosing presence over perfection in parenting, career, and business
Plus:
Why even the most âput-togetherâ people struggle with self-worth
How Tiffany balances a medical career with being a mother, wife, and founder
Why her social media presence is as real as it gets and why that matters
Tiffany also shares the surprising impact of being on reality TV, not on her brand, but on her identity, and why she now uses her platform to champion authenticity, self-care, and breaking generational cycles.
This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about legacy, self-awareness, and the courage to define success on your own terms.
Tiffany Moon, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, mother of twins, and author of Joy Prescriptions: How I Learned to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Connection. She is also the founder and CEO of Aromasthesia Candles, Three Moons Wine, and LeadHer Summit. Tiffany has published over fifty peer-reviewed articles, is one of D Magazineâs âBest Doctors,â and serves as an Oral Board Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. She was the first medical doctor and Chinese American cast member on Bravoâs Real Housewives. Her story has been featured in Forbes, Variety, Harperâs Bazaar, USA Today, and more. She lives with her family in Dallas, TX.
Get Tiffanyâs book here: https://rb.gy/5fvfl5
Joy Prescriptions: How I Learned to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Connection
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What if the financial advice you trust is actually hurting your future?
Mark Matson believes it is, and he has the data to prove it.
In this episode, I sit down with Mark Matson, founder of Matson Money and a pioneer in the evidence-based investing movement. With over $10 billion in assets under management, Mark has helped thousands of families and advisors break free from Wall Street myths, media-driven panic, and the illusion of market timing.
But Mark didnât start in finance. In fact, he nearly gave up on the entire industry â until a few key realizations (and one powerful idea from a Nobel Laureate) reshaped his approach to wealth entirely.
We talk about:
The dangerous psychology behind most investing decisions and how to fix it
Why traditional financial advice often fails to deliver real value
What Wall Street doesnât want you to understand about your money
The importance of storytelling in transforming investor behavior
Why âdoing nothingâ is sometimes the smartest move in volatile markets
Mark also shares how he trains financial advisors to become coaches â not salespeople â and why aligning your portfolio with purpose is key to long-term success.
Whether youâre an investor, advisor, or entrepreneur, this conversation will change how you think about money â and what it really means to grow wealth with integrity and intention.
Mark Matson is an American entrepreneur, author, and innovator in the fields of investing science and financial education. He is the creator of educational experiences, platforms, and tools that make Nobel Prize winning investing research accessible to investors and transform their relationship to money. Most notably, he is the creator of The American Dream Experience and the Matson Method.
Get Markâs book here: https://rb.gy/h4brr0
Experiencing The American Dream: How to Invest Your Time, Energy, and Money to Create an Extraordinary Life
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Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 547, an interview with Bernard Harris, an astronaut, physician, venture capitalist, philanthropist, and author of Embracing Infinite Possibilities: Letting Go of Fear to Find Your Highest Potential.
In this episode, Bernard Harris, the first African American astronaut to walk in space, shares his experiences and describes the thrill of launching into space as well as the physical challenges of microgravity. He discusses the significance of inner strength, resilience, and a growth mindset. His book, Embracing Infinite Possibilities, encourages self-discovery, overcoming obstacles, and opening your mind to life's infinite possibilities, instilling hope in those who have yet to discover their own power.
Get Bernardâs book here: https://rb.gy/fgx6d8
Embracing Infinite Possibilities: Letting Go of Fear to Find Your Highest Potential
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