Partnering Leadership

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Benjamin Tasker, an AI learning strategist who has applied artificial intelligence to solve real-world challenges in healthcare and education. From predicting cancer risks in rural communities to improving student success rates through early intervention, Tasker has firsthand experience showing leaders how to harness AI for measurable impact. In their conversation, Tasker pulls back the curtain on what executives need to know before chasing the latest AI headlines. He challenges the idea that AI itself is the solution, underscoring that without clean, reliable data, even the most advanced systems will fail — and fail in ways that can damage trust, reputation, and long-term value. The discussion goes beyond the hype to explore the dual responsibility leaders face today: mastering the technical fundamentals that make AI work, while doubling down on the human skills that will differentiate leaders in an AI-enabled world. Tasker shares why empathy, communication, and decision-making under uncertainty will become more—not less—important as AI takes over more of the knowledge work inside organizations. Mahan and Ben also look ahead to the risks on the horizon, including what Tasker calls an inevitable “shock event” in AI — a moment that will test organizational resilience, stakeholder trust, and leadership credibility. The episode is packed with insights for CEOs and senior executives navigating AI’s potential and its pitfalls, making it essential listening for leaders committed to staying ahead in a rapidly shifting environment. Actionable Takeaways Connect with Benjamin Tasker Benjamin Tasker Website Benjamin Tasker LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

What happens when the playbook for leadership no longer applies? In this thought-provoking conversation, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by futurist Steve Fisher and behavioral scientist Ja-Nae Duane, co-authors of Super Shifts: Transforming How We Live, Learn, and Work in the Age of Intelligence. With decades of experience in executive foresight, systems thinking, and organizational transformation, the duo brings clarity and urgency to what senior leaders must confront in this new era. Rather than relying on trend-chasing or tech hype, Fisher and Duane challenge leaders to understand the structural shifts reshaping leadership, work, and society. From AI-driven augmentation to generational drift and collapsing institutional trust, the conversation explores how exponential change is converging across systems—and why most organizations are woefully unprepared. What makes this episode stand out is its strategic lens on real leadership adaptation. The guests don’t just talk about what’s coming—they focus on how executives should respond. They offer a framework for leadership in the age of intelligence and make a powerful case for why foresight, anti-fragility, and systemic thinking aren’t optional—they’re now prerequisites. You’ll walk away from this episode with a deeper understanding of the nine “super shifts” shaping the future—and a sharpened sense of what your organization and leadership team must start doing now. If you’re serious about designing future-ready strategy and building adaptive leadership capability, this episode is essential listening. Actionable Takeaways Connect with Ja-Nae Duane and Steve Fisher Super Shifts Book Website Ja-Nae Duane LinkedIn Steve Fisher LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Most executives still chase superstar hires, assuming great individuals will automatically form great teams. In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Dr. Vanessa Druskat brings research depth and field-tested experience to make a different case. She is the author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest and a leading voice on how team norms drive performance. Her central claim is practical and testable. Outperformance comes from a clear system of team norms that reliably produce trust, candor, and real debate. Druskat explains why experienced leadership teams underdeliver even with strong résumés. Status and power dominate airtime. Quiet voices go unheard. The organization leaves talent on the table. Her work shows that ordinary teams become extraordinary when leaders codify the right norms, invite every voice, and convert distributed knowledge into better decisions. The episode organizes Team Emotional Intelligence into three buckets you can put to work fast. First, Belonging. People feel known, valued, and supported. Second, Learning Together. The team reviews what is working and what is not, and every voice participates in the analysis. Third, Outside In. The team seeks ideas and pressure tests beyond the group, including customers and friendly skeptics. Druskat ties these norms to psychological safety and faster, higher quality decisions, with concrete examples like 60-second check-ins, round-robins on live decisions, and five-minute debriefs. For time-pressed CEOs, the playbook is efficient. Start with an all-voices baseline to gauge current norms. Leaders often see a rosier picture than the team. Then pilot small behaviors in leadership meetings. Shift time from presenting to exchanging information and deciding. Add a short debrief after key moments. Druskat shares examples from executive teams and clinical settings where simple routines quickly lifted collaboration and results. She closes by tackling a stubborn myth. Hiring matters, but interactions matter more. Teams with average talent and superior norms outperform star teams with poor interactions. If your board expects speed, quality decisions, and execution, engineer the team’s operating system, not just its org chart. Actionable Takeaways Connect with Vanessa Druskat Vanessa Druskat Website Vanessa Drustkat LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

What makes a great CEO today won’t be enough tomorrow. In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Carolyn Dewar, McKinsey Senior Partner and coauthor of A CEO for All Seasons—a practical, research-backed roadmap for leaders navigating the full arc of CEO leadership. Building on her global work advising top executives and the success of her previous bestseller CEO Excellence, Carolyn offers a candid, timely, and deeply strategic perspective on how CEOs can lead—and let go—with clarity, discipline, and impact. Carolyn and Mahan explore the four leadership “seasons” every CEO moves through: preparation, early tenure, sustained performance, and exit. But what sets this conversation apart is its real-world focus on what actually trips up leaders—misjudged transitions, misplaced confidence, and the false comfort of past success. This isn’t theoretical leadership advice—it’s practical insight shaped by years of advising CEOs and boards during high-stakes moments. What emerges is a compelling case for fit over familiarity, foresight over reaction, and reinvention over complacency. Carolyn makes it clear that the best CEOs aren't simply great strategists—they're great at timing, sequencing, and knowing when to shift or step aside. She shares stories of leaders who planned their exits with grace and those who stayed too long—and why boards often get it wrong. If you're a CEO, board member, or senior leader shaping the next phase of your organization, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership longevity and legacy. You’ll walk away with practical framing for making bold decisions and managing change—not just within your business, but within yourself. Actionable Takeaways • Hear how to recognize the brief “unfreezing moment” that gives new CEOs a rare chance to reshape direction, expectations, and ambition • Learn why even the most successful CEOs must reinvent themselves—or risk becoming the barrier to future growth • Discover why the best succession plans start in a CEO’s first year, not their last • You’ll learn how boards often default to “more of the same”—and why that mindset leads to costly misalignment • Explore Carolyn’s take on what only the CEO can and should do—and how over-functioning CEOs damage execution • Hear how some leaders design in tension—reverse mentors, red teams, bold advisors—to avoid echo chambers • Learn how to approach succession planning not as a person to pick, but as work to define • Find out what CEOs should leave behind in their final year—and what mistakes lock in poor transitions • You'll hear examples of how great CEOs sustain performance through S-curves while preparing for what’s next • Gain perspective on how Carolyn sees AI as a CEO’s partner, not a proxy for real leadership Connect with Carolyn Dewar: A CEO for All Seasons Carolyn Dewar LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

What separates truly exceptional leaders from the rest? According to Kurt Strovink, it’s not just strategy, execution, or decision-making—it’s the ability to lead from within. As a senior partner at McKinsey & Company and a global advisor to CEOs, Kurt has spent decades studying the patterns of the most successful executives. In his latest book, The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out, he reveals what the best leaders do differently and why self-awareness is at the core of transformative leadership. In this insightful conversation, Kurt unpacks the critical contradictions every CEO must navigate—balancing short-term and long-term priorities, managing gut instincts with data-driven analysis, and fostering trust while making tough calls. He also explores the human-centric aspects of leadership, showing why the most effective CEOs focus not just on financial performance but on culture, dissent, and psychological safety to drive long-term success. Mahan Tavakoli and Kurt also discuss practical frameworks for leadership development, including how CEOs can create cultures that encourage truth-telling, manage their energy instead of just their time, and make bold decisions that define their legacies. Drawing on insights from 500+ CEO forums and top leaders worldwide, Kurt shares the strategies that help executives avoid common pitfalls and unlock their full leadership potential. Actionable Takeaways from This Episode Connect with Kurt Strovink Kurt Strovink LinkedIn Kurt Strovink McKinsey & Company The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with David Gardner—legendary investor, co-founder of The Motley Fool, and author of Rule Breaker Investing. Over the past three decades, David has not only beaten the market—he’s reshaped how long-term investing is understood and practiced. David’s track record is extraordinary: But what’s even more compelling is how he did it—and how those principles translate far beyond investing. David shares a deeply thoughtful approach to decision-making, pattern recognition, and long-term conviction that applies to business leaders, not just individual investors. The conversation ranges from why “indexing is the new active,” to how embracing joy, optimism, and curiosity has made him a better investor, entrepreneur, and human being. For CEOs and leaders navigating uncertainty, David’s blend of rigor, irreverence, and wisdom offers valuable takeaways on strategy, innovation, and leadership mindset. Whether you’re responsible for growing an organization or stewarding your own portfolio, this is a rare chance to learn from someone who’s played the long game—successfully, repeatedly, and with purpose. Actionable Takeaways Connect with David Gardner David Garnder LinkedIn David Gardner X Rule Breaker Investing: How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World Rule Breaker Investing Podcast Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this compelling episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by one of the most sought-after advisors to Fortune 100 CEOs and boards—Ram Charan. Named “the most influential consultant alive” by Fortune, Charan draws on decades of boardroom experience and over 30 books—Execution, What the CEO Wants You to Know, The Amazon Management System, and more—to offer a timely and provocative leadership lens. As the global environment becomes permanently uncertain, Charan urges leaders to stop relying on outdated models of strategy and execution. Instead, he argues, CEOs must build adaptive systems—grounded in real-time data, rapid decision-making, and leadership accountability. And if you're still thinking of AI as a support tool rather than a core business model, you may already be falling behind. Throughout the conversation, Charan shares why execution—not strategy decks—is the true differentiator of high-performing organizations. He explains how to identify and elevate the top 2% of talent that drive exponential value. And he doesn’t shy away from calling out boards that repeatedly miss critical cues in CEO succession and pivot capability. This episode is essential listening for CEOs, senior executives, and board leaders who want a sharper edge in today’s environment. If you’re ready to rethink how your organization operates—and leads—in real time, Ram Charan offers a clear-eyed, actionable framework that cuts through the noise. Actionable Takeaways: Connect with Ram Charan Ram Charan Website Ram Charan LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this thought-provoking conversation, former nuclear submarine commander and bestselling author David Marquet returns to the Partnering Leadership podcast to discuss the core ideas behind his new book: Distancing: How Great Leaders Reframe to Make Better Decisions. Known globally for Turn the Ship Around, Marquet once again challenges traditional leadership assumptions—this time taking aim at a problem many leaders don’t realize they have: they’re too close to their decisions. Drawing from cognitive psychology, real-world leadership failures, and hard-earned lessons from the military to the boardroom, Marquet introduces a powerful framework he calls “distancing.” At its core: the idea that our best decisions often require us to stop thinking like ourselves. Whether it's asking, “What would my replacement do?” or considering how a future version of yourself might evaluate today’s choice, Marquet offers tactical ways leaders can gain clarity, reduce bias, and improve judgment under pressure. Host Mahan Tavakoli guides the conversation toward the real-world application of these ideas, especially for senior executives navigating complexity, volatility, and the weight of past decisions. Marquet’s insights are sharp, often counterintuitive, and supported by both research and field-tested leadership practices. Rather than offering platitudes or yet another leadership model, this conversation digs into the cognitive traps leaders fall into—and how to build the mental discipline to lead with more perspective and fewer blind spots. If you’re responsible for high-stakes decisions, leading through uncertainty, or shaping organizational strategy, this episode delivers the kind of clarity that shifts how you think about thinking. Actionable Takeaways Connect with David Marquet David Marquet Website David Marquet LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

What if the “panic habits” leaders default to are the very things burning out their best people? In this Partnering Leadership episode, Mita Mallick—author of The Devil Emails at Midnight—joins Mahan to unpack practical ways senior leaders can replace performative urgency with clear operating rules that people can trust. You will hear why bad bosses are made, not born, and how pressure from markets, role models, and personal crises can turn ordinary leaders into micromanagers. Mita gets specific about power dynamics. A 4:30 a.m. email from the CEO trains teams to jump, even when the intent is “no rush.” She explains how to set explicit after-hours rules and model them yourself. The goal is to stop the 4 a.m. back-and-forth and restore predictable rhythms for high-stakes work. Calendars signal culture. Mita argues for a deliberate meeting cleanse, real breaks, and protected one-on-ones. You will hear why “we are not AI agents,” why canceling a meeting can be the kindest move you make this week, and how simple touch points create loyalty. Leaders also get a playbook for honest feedback. Mita shares how to create safety, why alumni calls six to twelve months after someone leaves yield the most actionable insight, and how a short journaling habit helps you see patterns in your own behavior before they damage trust. Finally, Mita challenges a core assumption: most work is not life or death. Treating it that way creates burnout. She closes with a frank read on the broken employee–employer contract and a likely shift toward more consultant-style work, which makes clarity, expectations, and operating rules even more important for CEOs and boards. Actionable Takeaways Connect with Mita Mallick Mita Mallick LinkedIn The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Ann Hiatt, Leadership Strategist & Consultant and Author of the book Bet on Yourself. Ann Hiatt shared the many lessons she learned while working alongside the world's top tech CEOs—Google's Eric Schmidt, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Yahoo's Marissa Meyer. In addition to the story of her reinvention, Ann Hiatt shared common practices and approaches of these and other top-performing leaders. Some highlights: - Ann Hiatt on how she ended up working at Amazon and supporting Jeff Bezos - How Ann Hiatt handled the crisis when the helicopter she booked for Jeff Bezos ended up crashing - The leadership models, habits, thought processes Ann Hiatt learned from working closely with Jezz Bezos and Eric Schmidt - Ann Hiatt on how to hire people who are value-aligned and a good culture fit for your company - Why you should and how you can Bet on Yourself. Also mentioned in this episode: -Jeff Bezos, Founder and Executive Chairman of Amazon -Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google -Andy Jassy, President and CEO of Amazon -John Doerr, Venture Capitalist at Kleiner Perkins, an early investor in companies including Amazon & Google, and OKR advocate Book Recommendations: Bet on Yourself by Ann Hiatt Measure What Matters by John Doerr Connect with Ann Hiatt: Bet on Yourself Website Ann Hiatt on LinkedIn Ann Hiatt on Twitter Ann Hiatt on Instagram Ann Hiatt on Facebook Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Justin Evans, a seasoned executive and author of The Little Book of Data. With a career spanning leadership roles at major media and tech firms including Microsoft, NBCUniversal, and Paramount, Evans brings a rare combination of commercial acumen and data fluency to the conversation. His insights offer a refreshing—and deeply practical—framework for how senior leaders should think about data, not as a technical layer, but as a strategic lens. Far too often, CEOs and boards delegate “data” to specialists, only to find themselves disconnected from the systems shaping growth, innovation, and increasingly, AI-driven decision-making. Evans challenges that mindset. He argues that data is now a core leadership discipline—and avoiding it is no longer an option. But here’s the twist: embracing data doesn’t require becoming a data scientist. It requires leading with the right posture, questions, and level of clarity. Throughout the conversation, Evans offers real-world stories, from nonprofits reducing senior loneliness using conversational analytics, to multinationals unlocking hidden growth by surfacing unused operational data. What sets his thinking apart is not just the depth of his data expertise, but how convincingly he ties it back to purpose, impact, and leadership judgment. This is not a technical conversation. It’s a strategic one. And for leaders wondering how to navigate a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, dashboards, and machine learning, this episode is both a wake-up call and a guidepost. If you’ve ever felt a step behind in the data conversation—or feared being sidelined in the age of AI—this dialogue will help you reframe and reengage with confidence. Actionable Takeaways: Connect with Justin Evans Justin Evans LinkedIn The Little Book of Data: Understanding the Powerful Analytics that Fuel AI, Make or Break Careers, and Could Just End Up Saving the World Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership. While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking. I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author. Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas. Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference. —Mahan Trust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. Covey CEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik Malhotra Simple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley Leading Change – John Kotter How to Lead – David Rubenstein Prediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua Gans The Performance Paradox – Eduardo Briceño How Minds Change – David McRaney Human + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul Smith Turn the Ship Around! – L. David Marquet Magic Words – Jonah Berger "I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books." Naval Ravikant Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership. While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking. I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author. Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas. Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference. —Mahan Trust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. Covey CEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik Malhotra Simple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley Leading Change – John Kotter How to Lead – David Rubenstein Prediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua Gans The Performance Paradox – Eduardo Briceño How Minds Change – David McRaney Human + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul Smith Turn the Ship Around! – L. David Marquet Magic Words – Jonah Berger "I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books." Naval Ravikant Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership. While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking. I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author. Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas. Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference. —Mahan Trust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. Covey CEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik Malhotra Simple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley Leading Change – John Kotter How to Lead – David Rubenstein Prediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua Gans The Performance Paradox – Eduardo Briceño How Minds Change – David McRaney Human + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul Smith Turn the Ship Around! – L. David Marquet Magic Words – Jonah Berger "I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books." Naval Ravikant Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership. While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking. I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author. Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas. Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference. —Mahan Trust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. Covey CEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik Malhotra Simple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley Leading Change – John Kotter How to Lead – David Rubenstein Prediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua Gans The Performance Paradox – Eduardo Briceño How Minds Change – David McRaney Human + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul Smith Turn the Ship Around! – L. David Marquet Magic Words – Jonah Berger "I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books." Naval Ravikant Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership. While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking. I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author. Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas. Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference. —Mahan Trust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. Covey CEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik Malhotra Simple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley Leading Change – John Kotter How to Lead – David Rubenstein Prediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua Gans The Performance Paradox – Eduardo Briceño How Minds Change – David McRaney Human + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul Smith Turn the Ship Around! – L. David Marquet Magic Words – Jonah Berger "I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books." Naval Ravikant Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership. While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking. I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author. Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas. Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference. —Mahan Trust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. Covey CEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik Malhotra Simple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley Leading Change – John Kotter How to Lead – David Rubenstein Prediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua Gans The Performance Paradox – Eduardo Briceño How Minds Change – David McRaney Human + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul Smith Turn the Ship Around! – L. David Marquet Magic Words – Jonah Berger "I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books." Naval Ravikant Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

Welcome to the Best Of series on Partnering Leadership. While many of us take a bit of a breather in July and August, we’re revisiting standout episodes—conversations that are worth hearing again, especially as leadership challenges shift and new moments call for fresh thinking. I’ve also pulled together 12 of the leadership books I recommend most often—each linked below to my conversation with the author. Whether it’s your first listen or a return visit, the best conversations have a way of revealing something new when the moment calls for it. We’ll be back in September with more great conversations and powerful ideas. Thanks for continuing to learn, grow, and lead in ways that make a real difference. —Mahan Trust & Inspire – Stephen M. R. Covey CEO Excellence – Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller & Vik Malhotra Simple Truths of Leadership – Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley Leading Change – John Kotter How to Lead – David Rubenstein Prediction Machines – Ajay Agrawal, Avi Goldfarb & Joshua Gans The Performance Paradox – Eduardo Briceño How Minds Change – David McRaney Human + Machine – Paul Daugherty & H. James Wilson 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell – Paul Smith Turn the Ship Around! – L. David Marquet Magic Words – Jonah Berger "I would rather read the best 100 books over and over again until I absorb them rather than read all the books." Naval Ravikant Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Steve Robinson, former executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Chick-fil-A. Steve Robinson shared lessons from his decades-long experience leading marketing at Chick-fil-A, including stories from his book Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A: How Faith, Cows, and Chicken built an Iconic Brand. In addition, Steve Robinson shared what made Chick-fil-A culture and marketing unique and continues to help the brand differentiate in a competitive market. Some highlights: -The importance of hiring the people who fit the organization’s culture and value -How Steve Robinson come up with the Blue Ocean Strategy and its vital role in the successful branding of Chick-fil-A -The impact of the leadership of Chick-fil-A’s founder, Truett Cathy, on the organization’s culture -Lessons that Steve Robinson learned on the 2-million dollar mistake -Steve Robinson shared marketing and business insights in building a brand that people cannot live without Also mentioned in this episode: -John Rossman, author of The Amazon Way book series (Listen to John’s episode on the Partnering Leadership Podcast here) -Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A -Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A -Jimmy Collins, former president of Chick-fil-A Book by Steve Robinson: Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A: How Faith, Cows, and Chicken Built an Iconic Brand Book Resources: The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill by William Manchester, Paul Reid Blue Ocean Strategy by Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies The Bible: Book of Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Joel Connect with Steve Robinson: S. Robinson Consulting Steve Robinson on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Aidan McCullen, the host and founder of The Innovation Show and author of the book Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention for Individuals, Organisations and Life. Aidan shares examples on how organizations and individuals can embrace reinvention in order to become undisruptable. Some highlights: ● Aidan McCullen talks about the reason why most change initiatives fail. ● The transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly and lessons for leaders. ● How Amazon reinvented a failed product and transformed it into a killer product. ● Aidan McCullen shares how seeing life as cyclical rather than linear helps us with a reinvention mindset. Also mentioned in this episode: ● Rita McGrath author of The end of competitive advantage and Seeing around corners ● Scott D. Anthony author of The Little Black Book Of Innovation: How it works, How to do it and co-author of Eat, Sleep, Innovate: How to Make Creativity an Everyday Habit Inside Your Organization ● Daniel Z. Lieberman author of The Molecule of More ● Robert Sapolsky author of Behave Buy Aidan McCullen’s Book: Undisruptable: A Mindset of Permanent Reinvention for Individuals, Organisations and Life Connect with Aidan McCullen: Aidan McCullen @ theinnovationshow.io Aidan McCullen LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website