Claim OwnershipImperfect Leaders
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© Jeffrey Cohn, Podcast Host
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There’s no such thing as a perfect leader. But we can all learn from the very best - as long as they’re willing to be vulnerable - and share their flaws, their anxieties, and of course, their wisdom.
www.imperfectleaders.com
www.imperfectleaders.com
60 Episodes
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Harvard is an iconic, 387 year old institution of higher education. Is it time to reimagine their culture?
The events of the past year – racism, antisemitism, violence on campus, the removal of its president - have thrown their imperfections into stark relief for the world to see.
Today’s guest - Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana – is very open and humble about Harvard’s imperfections. But that doesn’t mean he’s sitting still. Far from it. Recognizing he casts a long shadow and embracing a 'beginner's mindset', Khurana is spearheading the Intellectual Vitality effort which he hopes will revitalize the school’s culture.
The lofty goal is to create a safe space environment across the entire campus and community – both physically and psychologically – that encourages tough conversations about divisive problems, in which students can learn from
each other, regardless of how uncomfortable it is, at first.
As Dean Khurana says, “let’s be hard on the problem, but easy on each other.”
We should all be keeping an eye on Harvard's progress. Lessons gleaned may help other universities - and other divided institutions and partisan leaders across America in the media, politics, education, and business.
www.imperfectleaders.com, Jefffrey Cohn
Coach Bruce Pearl teaches his players to be 'great receivers.' Find out in today’s podcast what this means and why it's so important. Auburn Coach Pearl’s lessons of empathy and authenticity don't just apply in basketball – but in politics, business, and life. Get ready for the Big Dance.
www.imperfectleaders.com
U.S. Representative Dean Phillips is an innovative leader. He has drawn praise from modern day business heroes - like hedge fund icon Bill Ackman - for his willingness to shake things up - like staid industries including vodka, gelato, and most recently, U.S. politics. He even threw his hat in the ring and ran for President of the United States, even though everyone knew it was a long shot campaign. Find out what he learned during this intense process.
www.imperfectleaders.com
On any given day, a casual investor can tune into CNBC and be in total awe. Public companies are showcased and glamorized by messianic analysts in a concerted effort to push stock prices higher. But in reality, as I recently wrote, the future economy is increasingly being financed in private markets, far away from the glitz and glamor of the New York Stock Exchange.
Today’s guest – Ted Bililies – is a world leading private equity expert. Long gone are the old, wild west days of KKR and Barbarians at the Gate, when private equity investors would buy a company, saddle it with massive debt, ruthlessly squeeze out costs, and sell the company for a quick buck.
According to Ted, PE investors, in today's world, are taking a radically different approach to adding value – a fundamentally more human approach that offers a more enduring advantage, and one that is certain to appeal to a entirely new generation of talent.
www.imperfectleaders.com
One of the best leaders in the NBA is today’s guest – Tim Connelly – General Manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Before billionaire owner Marc Lore and co-owner Alex Rodriguez lured him to Minnesota, Connelly worked side by side with Stan and Josh Kroenke and Coach Michael Malone - as the team's GM who helped the Denver Nuggets win their very first world championship.
What is Tim’s secret sauce? Is it superior analytics and competitive intelligence? Nope. Actually, it’s the exact opposite. Tim is an incredibly emotionally intelligent leader – comfortable in his own skin and able to forge authentic relationships with star talent like Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert.
Although Tim prefers to stay out of the spotlight – and rarely will you see him do public interviews on ESPN or the NBA on TNT– he was gracious enough to share wisdom with our listeners. We hope you enjoy!
www.imperfectleaders.com
The Milken Institute is a think (and action) tank - founded by legendary visionary Michael Milken - brings together brilliant people and world leaders to develop blueprints for tackling some of our planet's most critical problems including poverty, hunger, and chronic disease.
Rich Ditizio is an incredible CEO who is responsible for leading this effort. He's the symphony conductor who works hard to create a psychologically safe space for creative talent to share radical ideas, challenge each others core assumptions, and work towards a common vision.
Although much more soft-spoken, in many ways Rich reminds me of some of our past guests who lead creative and iconic organizations: IDEO, Cirque du Soleil, and Pixar.
www.imperfectleaders.com
Mielle Organics - the hair care and beauty brand - is the fastest ever growing consumer startup in history of this industry - and was recently acquired by Procter & Gamble in a truly historic transaction that made headlines across the country.
Yet their founders - Monique and Melvin Rodriguez - had to overcome serious challenges most entrepreneurs can't even imagine. First of all the co-founders are African American, and faced a litany of nasty bias and rejection early in their journey. And if that weren’t enough the co-founders are also married and full time parents. Where did they find the time? The energy? The resilience? The faith to overcome so many obstacles on their path to excellence?
Their authentic story will be an inspiration to a future generation of entrepreneurs and leaders - from all corners of life - seeking to understand how love and faith conquers all - even in cut-throat, Corporate America.
www.imperfectleaders.com
What matters more to winning - superstar talent or the organization's system and culture?
According to today's guest - Dave Ulrich - a world-class thought leader at the University of Michigan Business School - talent matters, but team work matters even more. The same rules apply in business and in sports - from Amazon to the Denver Nuggets.
For example, why does world NBA champ Nikola Jokic prefer passing than scoring? Because, in Jokic's own words, when he passes the ball, two people are happy - one person gets the assist and the other gets the points.
In today's episode, Professor Ulrich helps us understand what CEOs - and rising star leaders in any organization - can learn about leadership from transcendent talent - like Jokic, Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry - each of whom made the tough but necessary transition from individual contributor to team leader.
www.imperfectleaders.com
Superstars don't just emerge out of thin air.
Every single one of them - including GOATs like Tom Brady and Michael Phelps- must overcome serious personal obstacles. And this usually happens early in life – in the pivotal teenage years. It might surprise you that Brady nearly gave up on football while still in college. But then he met someone special.
Today's guest - Greg Harden - is perhaps the greatest of all time in his profession - a performance coach and trusted mentor that helps talent reach their full potential - not only as athletes, but as human beings and great leaders.
Harden has just released a book that's destined to become a best seller – “Staying Sane in an Insane World.”
And if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a trusted coach and mentor, Greg shares the very personal story of the crucible moments that helped shape his core values and purpose in
life.
www.imperfectleaders.com , Jeffrey Cohn
When the world's most innovative organizations need a little inspiration, they turn to IDEO.
IDEO is the most iconic design studio in the world.
Clients are far-ranging and global - from hot, new startups to ground-breaking school systems to entire nations - and of course iconic brands including Coca-Cola, Ford, Ikea. And yes, they actually helped Apple create the very first mouse. If that weren't enough, one of IDEO's founders helped design the modern, fold down screen laptop computer that the entire world uses today.
For nearly 20 years Tim Brown - today's guest - was the CEO and orchestra conductor at IDEO - leading an incredibly diverse and creative team to unimaginable heights.
Brown recently stepped down as CEO, making room for a new generation of talent and to focus on thought leadership. His best-selling book - "Change By Design" has influenced innovators across the globe - and should be required reading for all students of innovation and leadership, alongside our other distinguished podcast guests including: Roger Martin a best-selling author; Ed Catmull, Co-Founder of Pixar; and Harvard Business School Professor Amy Edmondson.
Although he would probably never admit it - Tim Brown is without a doubt - the ultimate innovator's whisperer.
www.imperfectleaders.com, Jeffrey Cohn
Rey Flemings - the founder and CEO of an app called Myria - the world's most exclusive concierge service - is on a quest to change the world.
Myria's ultra-wealthy clients - nearly all of whom are in the top .003% - come to Flemings with a wide range of requests, from relatively easy ones - like a front row seat to a Beyonce concert, box seats at the Super Bowl, or a personal invitation to the annual Met Gala in New York. Or sometimes they have nearly impossible requests - like helping clients secure an elusive O1 Visa during a government shutdown, or providing security detail in a country that frowns upon that sort of things.
And sometimes clients have off-the-charts existential requests - which Rey particularly loves - like partnering to enhance their personal legacies, figuring out how to lead happier lives, or the ultimate dream, helping them find true love. Helping clients solve these challenges are all part of the human condition, and a big part of Rey's job. Myria's mission aligns completely with Flemings' core values and authentic leadership style.
No matter how you slice it - Flemings has found a unique niche - and the company he founded is destined to make a positive impact in the world.
www.imperfectleaders.com
Every once in a while I'm stupid enough to get into an argument with my wife. Even when I win the battle (rarely), I lose the war (always).
This paradox made me think about the art of influence. How do you persuade people in a way that both sides feel they've won?
I turned to the world's preeminent thought leader on the topic - Professor Robert Cialdini - who wrote a book called Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion - that has sold more than five million copies around the world.
Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett loved the book so much they actually gave Cialdini a share of their stock - Berkshire Hathaway - which is now worth nearly 1/2 a million dollars. When asked about the gift, Munger replied, "The principles in your book have made our firm a lot of money over the years. You deserve a gift."
After listening to today's episode, let us know if you agree with Charlie Munger? Do Professor Cialdini's principles resonate with you?
www.imperfectleaders.com
What do Oprah Winfrey, Drew Barrymore, and Scarlett Johansson have in common with today's guest - Jason Karp?
Every one of them is passionate about changing the way people eat - especially in the United States. And, they've all helped build some of the country's most amazing food brands including - True Food Kitchen, Snow Days, Cosmic Bliss, and Grove Collaborative.
Today, Jason is an incredible entrepreneur and philanthropist. Yet, his life has never been easy. Many times during his life, Jason has looked straight into the abyss - felt completely alone and deeply ashamed - and somehow used nothing but personal intellect and tenacity to emerge even stronger from his trauma.
It's the definition of a hero's journey.
In today's episode, Jason beautifully articulates his personal 'crucible' moments that helped shape his core values, personal mission, and leadership style.
www.imperfectleaders.com
Ed Catmull is an enigma.
There's a good chance you wouldn't recognize him if he were standing right next to you. Yet, he's the creative genius and co-founder of Pixar - a totally unique organization that has completely changed the way many of us think about movies, culture, and even what it means to be a human being.
Catmull usually avoids the spotlight. In reality, he would rather work - behind the scenes - to build a fertile culture in which others can grow and succeed. In which others can reach their full creative potential. And, in which others can satisfy basic - if not contradictory human needs - like expressing individual ideas while simultaneously collaborating with others to build it into something much more profound.
Who could ever forget these iconic Pixar characters?:
Tom Hanks in Toy Story
Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks in Finding Nemo
Samuel L. Jackson in The Incredibles
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a Bug's Life
Should we take the time to listen to Catmull's advice?
Well, many others have over the past few decades, including visionaries like Steve Jobs and George Lucas; creative geniuses like Brad Bird and Pete Docter; business icons like Bob Iger; and even top thought leaders (and former guests on our podcast), Professors Amy Edmondson, Linda Hill, and Roger Martin.
Trust us...Ed is worth a listen!
www.imperfectleaders.com
Greg Sands isn't perfect.
To name just a few of his imperfections: He had a serious fear of failure as a young athlete. He struggled to find his 'place' while a student at Harvard University. He doesn't particularly like following the rules. And there are times when he feels extremely insecure, like the first time he raised money for his venture capital firm - Costanoa.
Yet, in just over a decade, Costanoa has emerged as one of the most well respected and successful venture capital firms in the entire world. Early stage entrepreneurs flock to Costanoa eager to begin a life-long relationship with Greg and his amazing colleagues. And Greg has never been more happy - "I wake up each morning with a smile on my face eager to go to work," he beams.
Find out why in today's episode of Imperfect Leaders - part of the Breakfast Club at Harvard.
Harvard Business School Professor Amy Edmondson has been recognized as the #1 thought leader in the world.
She literally revolutionized the way CEOs around the world think about psychological safety. In her new book - The Right Kind of Wrong - she takes this conceptual framework one big step forward - and shares a practical tool-kit to help people reframe risk and learn from mistakes.
Edmondson confronts head-on the biggest dilemma facing innovative organizations. Bluntly, it requires people take risks and venture into the unknown. Yet people despise failure. How can leaders resolve this paradox? How can leaders create a culture that inspires their people to innovate, to be inclusive, to share unpopular views, to venture into the unknown, and to learn from their mistakes? How should talent feel about inevitable failure - and the embarrassment and shame they may feel?
One thing is certain - until organizations embrace 'intelligent failure' - they'll be at a competitive disadvantage to more innovative competitors.
Professor Edmondson's practical lessons apply broadly and equally well to innovators, CEOs, elite athletes, top chefs, research lab scientists, and even parents who just want to raise kids who embrace a more healthy perspective to risk taking and learning from the right kind of wrong.
Join the Breakfast Club.
Think of all the germs, bacteria, virus, and other airborne diseases we expose ourselves to every single day.
Think how much worse this problem is when we are indoors, in closed spaces, and around lots of people. One last thing - consider that a full 90% of our time is spent indoors! Taken together, this is a big problem.
R-Zero has the solution - an energy efficient, technology-enabled, cost-effective, and 99.99% efficacious way to zap these harmful micro-organisms before they have a chance to enter your bloodstream. It's no surprise they've attracted elite partners and investors like The Mayo Clinic, John Doerr, Chairman Kleiner Perkins, Ira Ehrenpreis founder of DBL Partners,
The CEO of fast-growing startup is Jennifer Nuckles - an energetic, whip-smart, values-driven leader who believes strongly in the adage that companies should do well (make money) by doing good (helping others and the planet).
Jennifer shares her incredible journey, obstacles along the way, and valuable leadership lessons.
www.imperfectleaders.com
Today's guest - Geoff Smart - has literally revolutionized the way companies around the world think about talent and leadership.
The leadership advisory Geoff founded - G.H. Smart - is on speed-dial of the world's top CEOs, private equity investors, and corporate board members - who call when crucial and complex leadership challenges need an elegant, data-driven solution - like CEO succession and executive team composition.
In much the same way that Professor Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School redefined the way companies think about strategy formulation, Geoff and his colleagues at G.H. Smart - have forever changed the way companies around the world think about talent. Until Geoff quantified a practical approach to assessing leadership potential and culture fit, companies were forced to naively rely on 'gut feel' and instinct. The G.H. Smart approach is 10X more effective.
As Geoff's former professor and management guru - Peter Drucker - famously said, 'culture eats strategy for breakfast.' And now, decades later, G.H. Smart helps clients - every single day - bring this vision to life.
www.imperfectleaders.com
Long before 'Succession' - the hit TV Show on HBO, John Tyson was actually living this drama. His grandfather started a company called Tyson Foods in Springdale, Arkansas.
Today the company employs over 120,000 people and supplies nearly a quarter of all the beef, pork and chicken in the entire country - under the brand names Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ballpark, and many others.
John shares his thoughts on the board's number one responsibility - CEO succession planning. John recognizes there simply is no such thing as a perfect leader. To become CEO of Tyson Foods - even if your last name is Tyson - it's a long, hard, 30 year-trek...and even then its not a sure thing to reach the corner office.
Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - John Tyson - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.
Stan Van Gundy - is an icon in sports and broadcasting.
Before his current stint as a top basketball analyst at TNT, he was an NBA coach for several NBA teams, including the New Orleans Pelicans.
According to Coach Van Gundy, the best talent - across all disciplines - not just in sports, but in music, in academia, and certainly in business - don't just welcome occasional feedback and advice - they absolutely crave it.
They constantly seek to get out of their comfort zone - stretch the limits of their potential - make some mistakes along the way - reflect upon what they can do better - and eventually change their mindset and level up to unimaginable heights.
www.imperfectleaders.com
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