Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership

Artificial intelligence isn’t just changing how we work - it’s transforming how we learn. In this episode, I sit down with Josh Bersin, one of the world’s leading HR and workplace analysts, to explore the intersection of AI, learning and development (L&D), and the evolving role of HR. Josh shares how AI is shifting the learning landscape and how organizations can harness AI to personalize learning, accelerate skills development, and redefine the role of HR in building the workforce of the future.

What does it take to become the fastest woman to run around the world - and what can leaders learn from that journey? In this powerful episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, we’re joined by Marie “Lootie” Léautéu, a record-setting endurance athlete who ran over 28,000 kilometers across four continents in just under 700 days. Lootie shares the mental frameworks, disciplined routines, recovery strategies, and moments of profound personal transformation that made her historic run possible. As part of Season 7 (focused on Elevating Human Performance at Work) we unpack what leaders can borrow from high-performance athletes like Lootie to build more intentional routines, reconnect with purpose, and stay resilient through uncertainty. In this episode, we explore: The pivotal moment that sparked Lootie’s transformation Her system for building capacity and testing performance like a lab Injury prevention and recovery strategies under extreme demands How to manage mindset and stay emotionally grounded in solitude Lessons on identity, purpose, and performance that apply far beyond sport Whether you're leading a team or navigating your own professional marathon, this episode will inspire you to think - and lead - like an athlete.

What can corporate leaders learn from elite athletes? In this episode, former NFL offensive lineman Cory Procter joins Sal Silvester to explore how the habits of high-performance athletes translate into the workplace. Cory shares lessons from his football career - including how he trained individually and with a team, the mental routines that prepared him for game day, and the critical role of recovery. Now a successful wealth manager, Cory also reflects on how he applies those same principles to lead his business and support his team. Whether you're an executive, entrepreneur, or people leader, this episode will challenge you to think differently about how you train, recover, and lead at work. Highlights include: Building intentional pre-game routines (and how to apply them in business) Mental frameworks for staying grounded under pressure Recovery as a leadership advantage Lessons from the NFL that still shape Cory’s approach to life and work.

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Dr. Gavriel (Gav) Schneider takes us inside the core of his Presilience framework by focusing on three foundational enablers of high performance: the mind, brain, and body. We explore how leaders can build psychological readiness, harness neuroscience for better decision-making, and optimize physical wellbeing to sustain performance under pressure. Dr. Gav shares powerful insights on stress inoculation, chunking, and how to manage the body’s fight-or-flight response. We also discuss the “seesaw effect” between emotional and factual thinking—and how it impacts conflict, strategy, and communication.

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, we dive into the critical yet often overlooked topic of executive wellness. Our guest, Jan Jenkins, shares insights into how leaders can prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being to enhance their performance and the culture of their organizations. We explore what executive wellness really means, the challenges of mental overload and emotional build-up in leadership roles, and how these factors impact decision-making, creativity, and team dynamics. Jan offers practical strategies to prevent burnout, build resilience, and create sustainable wellness habits.

What if the key to peak leadership performance wasn’t just strategy and execution, but optimizing your health? In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Dr. Tracy Gapin, a physician and expert in high-performance health, reveals how executives often overlook critical blind spots in their well-being—impacting their energy, decision-making, and overall effectiveness. Dr. Gapin shares his perspective to help leaders shift from a reactive, outdated healthcare model to a proactive, data-driven approach. From gut health and stress management to sleep optimization and hormone balance, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how leaders can transform their health to unlock sharper focus, higher resilience, and sustained success. If you’re an executive navigating high-stakes environments, this conversation will change how you think about performance—both in business and in life.

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, we dive into the high-stakes world of Big Bet Leadership with John Rossman, former Amazon executive and acclaimed author. Discover the secrets behind bold, game-changing decisions and learn how to navigate the complexities of transformation in the Hyper-Digital Era. From tackling wicked problems to creating clarity, velocity, and focus, John shares actionable insights to help leaders elevate human performance and drive breakthrough results. If you’re ready to lead daringly and thrive in a world of rapid change, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Nicholas shares his harrowing personal experience with severe insomnia that began in 2018, which spanned 17 sleepless days and transformed his understanding of sleep's critical role in human performance. Together, we explore how sleep issues, like rebound insomnia, can severely impact both personal and professional life, and why there's no "one size fits all" approach to improving sleep. Nicholas offers actionable insights on how to stack habits for better rest, reduce burnout, and improve performance at work by incorporating small but meaningful restorative practices into daily routines. If you're someone who's ever struggled with sleep, productivity guilt, or work-related anxiety, this episode will help you rethink the importance of rest in driving both your professional success and personal well-being.

The New Year is time for reflection and intention - not resolutions. This episode is about charting the course for the year ahead. Being the architect of your life. Making intentional and on purpose choices, in every aspect of your life. Join Sal Silvester as he guides you through the key steps in his goal setting process. You can also download his Ultimate Goal Setting Guide on the episode page at https://512solutions.com/the-ultimate-goal-setting-guide/ for free.

Host Sal Silvester sits down with Robin Hills, director of Ei4Change and an expert in emotional intelligence, to explore how leaders can harness emotional intelligence to enhance human performance at work. Robin offers a simple yet profound definition of emotional intelligence: being smart with your feelings, and using emotional data to guide decision-making, build authentic relationships, and drive effective action. Throughout the conversation, Robin emphasizes the critical role of empathy, self-awareness, and emotional regulation in leadership. He explains how leaders can better interpret emotional cues to motivate their teams, improve communication, and foster stronger, more constructive relationships. Sal and Robin also discuss the importance of balancing emotional transparency with constructive feedback, and how empathy will remain an indispensable human skill, even as artificial intelligence continues to evolve. For leaders looking to elevate their emotional intelligence and performance, this episode provides practical tips and thought-provoking insights. Whether you're leading a team, coaching others, or working on your own personal development, Robin’s wisdom offers an invaluable roadmap to becoming a more emotionally intelligent and effective leader. Tune in to learn how mastering emotional intelligence can transform not just leadership, but entire organizational cultures. Take your next step toward emotional intelligence with these links: Ei4ChangeEI Matters512 Solutions

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Willie Pietersen, leadership expert and former CEO of companies like Seagram USA and Tropicana, shares valuable insights on what it takes to lead effectively in today’s world. Willie talks about the importance of continuous learning, addressing hidden biases, and maintaining focus in an increasingly complex environment. We discuss how leaders can adapt to changing circumstances, ask better questions to drive better results, and reduce complexity to sharpen their impact. Willie also shares examples from his book Leadership: The Inside Story and his work at Columbia Business School. Season 7 centers on "Elevating Human Performance at Work," exploring how leaders can apply tried-and-true methods to boost performance in the workplace.

In this solo episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Sal dives deep into one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of leadership—how you start, manage, and end your day with intention. Inspired by personal experience after becoming a parent, Sal explores the challenges many of us face in our morning routines and offers practical strategies for overcoming them. In this episode, you'll learn: - Common obstacles that derail your morning and set a chaotic tone for the rest of the day - How to start your day with purpose, incorporating proven techniques like breathwork, gratitude, and visualization - Tools for managing your day, such as identifying peak productivity times and managing your calendar with intentional choices - The science behind energy patterns and how to leverage them for optimal performance - Ways to wind down at the end of the day to set yourself up for better sleep and success the next morning Whether you're a busy leader or simply someone looking to enhance your daily productivity, this episode will provide actionable insights to help you optimize your performance from the moment you wake up until you close out your day. Join Sal for this insightful conversation about how to elevate your performance at work by starting and ending your day with intention.

In this episode of "Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership," we dive deep into the dynamics of change and its impact on human performance at work. As part of Season 7's focus on elevating performance, Sal Silvester sits down with John M. Fisher, a renowned chartered constructivist psychologist, coach, and expert in change management, leadership, influence, and personal development. John brings his extensive experience and insights to the table, discussing how leaders can navigate the complexities of change in today's fast-paced world. He shares strategies for understanding human responses to change, based on his groundbreaking "Process of Transition" change curve (also known as the Fisher Curve), which has helped countless individuals and organizations successfully transition to better future states. Tune in to learn how to develop effective change strategies that enhance both personal and organizational performance. Whether you're a leader seeking to improve your team's adaptability or an individual navigating personal transitions, this episode offers valuable guidance and inspiration.

In this season opener, host Sal Silvester sets the stage for a dynamic new season focused on improving human performance at work. Drawing inspiration from the world of sports, this season will explore how leaders can apply tried and tested training methods to enhance their own performance. He shares personal insights on the importance of optimizing health and fitness, both at work and in life, especially as he embraces his 55th year and the joys of family life. Throughout this season, we'll tackle the common challenges that prevent leaders from reaching their full potential—such as the pitfalls of hustle culture, time management struggles, and prioritization issues. Join us as we dive deep into topics like the impact of change on well-being, cognitive and mental wellness, fitness, sleep, nutrition, and much more. Get ready for an engaging season designed to help you think differently about self-care, so you can show up better in both your professional and personal life.

In our Season 6 Closer, we present a special "Best Of" episode, highlighting some of the most insightful moments from this season. Tune in as we delve into a variety of compelling topics, including executive loneliness, intercultural competence, the impact of AI on teams, and productive conflict on teams. You'll also hear some bonus questions that host Sal Silvester asked our guests, which were not aired in the original episodes. Additionally, we’ve developed numerous resources and frameworks related to this content, which you can find on our Future of Leadership Blog at https://512solutions.com/. This compilation features snippets from our conversations with the following guests: ➡ Nick Jonsson ➡ Mary Beth Lamb ➡ Alex Gorachev ➡ Ellen Chaaffe ➡ Jody Fletcher ➡ Adriana Medina-López-Portillo ➡ Karen Eber ➡ Aftab Erfan Join us for an enriching recap of Season 6 as we revisit these valuable discussions.

How teams engage in conflict matters. Some let it fester, avoiding what matters most to the business. Others fight aggressively. The way in which executive teams engage in conflict will directly impact how effectively they innovate and make decisions. In this episode, Sal Silvester connects with Dr. Aftab Erfan, the Executive Director of the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Erfan shares practical strategies leaders can use to navigate and transform heated and polarized conflicts into productive outcomes.

In this solo episode of "Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership," Sal Silvester, seasoned executive coach and leadership expert, delves into the pressing challenges and evolving trends impacting leadership teams across various sectors. From the shifting dynamics in large tech companies to the resilience strategies of growth-stage tech firms, Sal shares insights gathered from his extensive work with globally recognized brands and emerging companies. In this episode, Sal focuses on the essential capabilities leaders need to thrive in today's unpredictable and intricate business environment. He emphasizes the shift from traditional playbook strategies to a more experimental and adaptable approach, underscoring the importance of interpersonal agility and the ability to manage multiple team engagements effectively. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on assessing their teams and organizational culture, leveraging real-world examples to illustrate how businesses are adapting post-COVID and integrating artificial intelligence. Sal's roadmap for the episode includes practical strategies for fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, and navigating the complexities of matrix organizational structures. Join Sal as he provides a toolkit for leaders aiming to elevate human performance and accelerate business results in the face of relentless change and uncertainty. This episode is a must-listen for executives, senior leaders, and anyone interested in the future of leadership and team alignment at the top echelons of business.

In this captivating episode of the Future of Leadership Podcast, host Sal Silvester welcomes Karen Eber, a leading voice in the world of storytelling and leadership. Karen, an esteemed author and CEO of Eber Leadership Group, shares invaluable insights from her recently published book, "The Perfect Story," released by HarperCollins in October 2023. Throughout the discussion, Karen delves into the profound impact of storytelling on leadership and emphasizing how narratives can: With her expertise, Karen elucidates the neuroscience behind storytelling, explaining how stories activate the brain differently than mere information, thereby fostering deeper engagement and comprehension. This episode is a treasure trove of knowledge for leaders seeking to harness the power of storytelling to create more human, aligned, and effective teams. Karen's background, including her work with Fortune 500 companies and her acclaimed TED talk on storytelling, offers listeners practical strategies for incorporating narrative into their leadership toolkit. Whether you're aiming to inspire your team, communicate more effectively, or lead with greater empathy, this episode provides the tools you need to transform your leadership approach through the art of storytelling.

In this compelling episode, join host Sal Silvester and his special guest Adriana Medina-López-Portillo, Ph.D., as they go deep on the importance of building intercultural competence on leadership teams in order to tap into the strengths that diverse teams can bring to a business. You'll hear about strategies for overcoming intercultural communication obstacles, the distinction between a mono-cultural and an intercultural mindset, and 5 key orientations to mature as an interculturally competent leader.

In this compelling episode, join host Sal Silvester and esteemed guest Jody Fletcher as they unravel the essential components of building high-performing teams and navigating leadership challenges in times of crisis. With an impressive 29-year tenure in the Navy, including over two decades in elite Reconnaissance and Special Operations teams, Jody Fletcher brings a wealth of experience to the conversation. Having served in multiple combat deployments, Jody's insights are rooted in real-world, high-stakes situations. Delve into Jody's last decade in the military, where he provided invaluable counsel to two-star and three-star General Officers overseeing organizations with more than 45,000 service members and civilians. His advisory roles extended from working with Heads of State and Distinguished Members of Foreign Governments to collaborating with C-suite Executives of major organizations. Jody's unique journey even led him to share tea with village elders deep in the heart of enemy-held territory. Join us for a riveting exploration of leadership, team dynamics, and crisis management, guided by the profound experiences of a military leader with a remarkable and diverse background.