Professor Clay Christensen was the famous business school professor who wrote the influential book, "The Innovator's Dilemma." Clay had a brilliant mind and was a strategic advisor to CEOs across the country.Less well know, was Clay's active role as a mentor to young, up-and-coming innovators. One of those beneficiaries was today's guest, Chris Johnson, Founder & CEO of Bluebird Kid's Health.Bluebird is revolutionizing pediatric care. They are solving the problem of "pediatric care deserts" by building pediatric practices in access-starved neighborhoods, using a modern, tech-enabled approach to care delivery, and implementing a high-performing model built specifically for pediatrics and value-based care (VBC). Chris is a mission-driven entrepreneur and innovator who was, quite literally, molded by Clay.ND50
Join us for a deeply human conversation with Amanda Lukof, founder of the groundbreaking Eleplan app and devoted caregiver to her autistic brother, Liam. In this episode, we explore how Eleplan is changing the game for families—making the chaos of care more manageable and freeing up precious time and peace of mind. But as Amanda shares, caregiving isn’t just about looking after others; it’s about who we become in the process. From her own family’s journey to Eleplan’s powerful vision, you’ll discover how better care can transform families, bring clarity to overwhelming moments, and help all of us grow into our best selves. Whether you’re a caregiver, a leader, or simply seeking inspiration, this is an episode about love, innovation, and the character that comes from caring.www.imperfectleaders.com
Every once in a while you're lucky enough to meet a values-driven leader who has the passion, the mind, and the skills to make the world a better place.Today's guest – Chris Male – is one of those trailblazers.His firm – The Autism Impact Fund (AIF) – is helping to solve what many experts consider the largest public health issue of our generation -– skyrocketing autism, and other mental and behavioral health conditions. AIF has become the investment and innovation arm of the autism community. www.imperfectleaders.com
Dave Boehmer was one of the top executive search professionals in the entire world.At the pinnacle of his career, he suddenly left the global giant, Heidrick & Struggles. Dave had an entrepreneurial itch. He wanted to create something new. He wanted to make an even bigger impact in the world.He succeeded.His new firm – Banff Advisors – is like a Hollywood talent agent or like a concierge doctor but for leadership in the business world. He and his colleagues are trusted advisors to top leaders who want to do things like build their network, or rethink think their brand, or position themselves for exciting new board opportunities. And...oh yeah...Banff also works with some of the most interesting companies, in the entire country, to help them build their talent pipelines. it's like a permanent flow of great talent and bench strength.Learn how Dave created this ecosystem in today's episode of Imperfect Leaders.www.imperfectleaders.com
Adrian Jones is one of the classiest, humble, and resilient leaders I have ever met. Not just at Goldman Sachs, but at any company.His son Liam – received a diagnosis of profound autism at 2 years old. As you can imagine, this crucible experience forever changed the lives of Adrian and his incredible wife, Tina.Aside from bringing immeasurable joy (and, if we're being honest lots of heartache and pain), Liam has helped Adrian become crystal clear about his core values, deeply held beliefs, and North Star.in very real ways, Liam has helped his dad become a better leader, husband, father, and human being.www.imperfectleaders.com
Today's guest – Brian Harper – shares how his beautiful son, Caleb, who has profound autism, taught him how to be a better CEO, a better father, a better husband, and a better human being.Brian sits at the intersection of two brutally competitive, results-oriented industries – private equity and real estate.And his new firm – 11 North Partners – invests in beautiful, open-air developments – and drives alpha in an unusual way.They do it through humanity, empathy, and values-driven leadership. The 'soft skills' really do drive 'hard' business results.And by the way, Caleb couldn't be happier – he lives at The Center for Discovery – which provides a unique and powerful way of helping autistic individuals reach their full potential.www.imperfectleaders.com
Blair Berk was a little firecracker growing up deep in the heart of Dixie. Little did she know at the time – or did she? – that she was destined to become one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the entire country. Sure, she's smart as a whip. But the real secret sauce is her social intelligence. In today's episode, find out how she developed empathy and discovered her 'true north' – those deeply held values that define her as a leader, and as a human being.Share your thoughts.
I recently wrote an article called, "How Yale Law School is Becoming the Next Harvard Business School."In this article, I showcased Anastasia Boyko, who was an Assistant Dean at Yale Law School (#1 law school in the country) build one of the most inspiring leadership programs in the country - "The Tsai Leadership Program."Joe Tsai (YLS, '90) and YLS Dean Heather Gerkin must have so much pride in what the school has accomplished in just a few short years.Today, more than ever, the world needs lawyers who know how to lead. We crave leaders with integrity, who clearly understand their core values, and know how to effectively communicate and inspire others.Anastasia is the perfect person to talk to about this topic.Share comments.
Pacaso is more than a startup that allows individuals to buy a piece of a beautiful home...it's a state of mind. Being part of the Pacaso ecosystem helps people get off the day-to-day hamster wheel and focus on more important things in life, like relationships, discovery, and self-awareness.Bringing this vision to life requires a special kind of leader...one who balances strength and vulnerability...left brain analytics and right brain creativity...charisma and authenticity....confidence and humility.Today's guest - Austin Allison - Founder and CEO of Pacaso - is one of these very special leaders....what I like to call an ambidextrous CEO. In today's episode, find out why iconic leaders, like former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is a mentor to Austin and investor in Pacaso. And find out why you should be part of the Pacaso ecosystem as well – either as an investor or as an owner. To take creative liberty with Billy Joel's song ..."I'm in a Pacaso State of Mind."
How many great business leaders – in the entire world – can you name who have done any of the following: A) Helped pilot a rocket into space; B) Built a hot air balloon that could ascend 38,000 feet; C) Jumped off that hot air balloon at maximum height; D) Won highly competitive, off-road car races; or E) Explored the deepest depths of the ocean floor?Today's guest – Larry Connor – has done all of the above...not to mention his day job building one of the most successful real estate companies in the United States. What's his secret? A breakthrough mindset. He doesn't set artificial limits on what others think is possible. Instead, he asks a simple question, "why not?" More often than not, he succeeds. And when he fails, he learns from those setbacks and applies the wisdom to his next venture.
"Think Different". That was the iconic tagline popularized by legendary Apple Founder, Steve Jobs. Autistic children have significant challenges – at work and at home. No doubt about it. But they also have a competitive advantage in the world of innovative leadership - they think different. Which begs the question – can autistic children develop into innovative leaders – in society and in business?To help us answer this question, we talk today with Dr. Trenna Sutcliffe. She created the world-renowned Sutcliffe Clinic, that is like a mini-Mayo Clinic, taking a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to helping neurodiverse children reach their full potential and lead happier, more productive lives.Join – The Leadership Mindset Challenge
McDermott, Will & Emery is a leadership factory. They are career accelerators. This is their special sauce. It's what helps separate them from other elite, big law firms. It's why they are a talent magnet and have a unique, fun-loving, hard-working culture.Find out why firm Chair, Ira Coleman, still enjoys interviewing law students – and doesn't even get upset (in fact he gets excited) when candidates – who haven't even been hired yet – talk about their lives post-McDermott. Ira loves it when candidates ask, "what's my exit strategy?"
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
Hall of Fame venture capitalist, Doug Leone of #1 ranked Sequoia Capital, discusses the imperfections that will absolutely destroy you during a pitch. He offers practical advice for future founders and leaders. This podcast was taped during Doug's session with student leaders across the country! Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.
Ever wonder why an astounding 95% of CEOs in Corporate America are white males? Why do so few black people - and other minorities - make it to the corner office? Most companies talk a good game about building a robust and diverse leadership pipeline. Organizations claim to create cultures that inspire and enable people to reach their full potential. The best ideas win. Everyone has equal opportunity. Executives gain power through hard work and intellect. The best people will rise to the top. But these are just the lies we tell ourselves, according to Dr. Robert Carter, the country’s most renowned expert on these topics - an acclaimed author and distinguished professor emeritus of psychology at Columbia University It makes us feel good. It makes us feel worthy. But there are deeper, psychological forces and invisible barriers at play. And even though we can’t see these barriers with the naked eye, they exist, and they are causing real harm and economic pain. Agree or not, Professor Carter shines an interesting perspective on this complex topic, and helps us understand the root, psychological causes and structural barriers to achieving progress. Perhaps we should take his advice seriously. Until we do the hard work necessary to become more self aware and empathic, we won’t be able to capitalize on the economic benefits of diversity and inclusion. Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.
Click here for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders. Alan is almost 90 years old and a living legend in the venture capital arena. He has been a pioneer in this industry for over 50 years. Fifty years! Let that sink in for a moment. When he first started there really was no well defined industry at all. It was a bunch of mom and pop players scrambling to earn a living. Amidst this backdrop Alan helped create two hugely successful firms Greycroft and Apax Partners, which played a fundamental role in consolidating this fragmented space. Not one to sit still at the young age of 88 years old, he is now launching his third firm to much fanfare - Primetime Partners - focusing on a weirdly overlooked consumer base of 60+ year consumers. Virtually all of his former partners are investing in the new fund, signaling their confidence in both the business plan and Alan's potential to live to 100. But don't tell Alan, that will only get him mad. He's convinced he'll live to at least 114. This is to say just one thing - Alan has been around the block a few times - so it might be worth listening to his advice. His philosophy - and the name of his incredible new book - 'No Red Lights' perfectly summarizes his life philosophy. There's simply nothing he won't try. Don't believe me? Well, he's going to Burning Man this year. To receive free podcast episodes each week, subscribe at www.imperfectleaders.com
Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders. Thumbtack - a marketplace for professionals who can take care of your home - is a gem in the portfolio of Sequoia Capital, the legendary venture capital investors. Through his vulnerability and thoughtfulness, Thumbtack CEO, Marco Zappacosta, has institutionalized a culture of leadership development and continuous improvement. In this podcast he asserts that life can be cruel - a leader's biggest strength can often be their biggest weakness. Just like one of our other podcast guests, Brad Smith, Board Chair at Intuit and Nordstrom, Zappacosta is completely transparent and shares his performance review with his entire company. To proactively keep things running smoothly, Zappacosta ensures rising star leaders receive plenty of coaching, mentorship, and developmental opportunities. It’s no wonder that pros earn billions on Thumbtack, delighting customers across the country.. Soon the phrase, "Just Thumbtack It" will be an action verb synonymous for taking care of your home. To receive free podcast episodes each week, subscribe at www.imperfectleaders.com
Where do Elon Musk and James Cameron go when they need a creative jolt of inspiration? Both recently went backstage at Cirque du Soleil and asked an awful lot of questions. They were like kids in the proverbial candy store. So, who the heck is in charge at Cirque? The CEO - for nearly two decades - was a man named Daniel Lamare. I have been wanting to interview him for quite some time - to help unlock a few secrets of creativity. All of us get stressed out when the creative lightbulb doesn't come on as quickly as we'd like. Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.
Talk about breaking bad. Bernard Hurley was locked up in a maximum security prison - serving what he thought would be a life sentence. Yet now he is one of the most successful business leaders and philanthropists in the state of Colorado. How did he turn it all around? If you want to learn about resilience - I mean, really learn what it takes to bounce back from extreme failure - don't just read a book and call it a day. Instead, listen to Hurley's lessons and insight. From solitary confinement in a maximum security prison to one of the most successful real estate developers in Colorado history, Hurley embodies resilience and passion, and shares practical advice for all of us, whether you're just getting out of prison or have a Harvard MBA and on the CEO track at your company. Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.
Brad Smith is one of the most admired leaders in Silicon Valley. But, when Brad was in grade school, a little girl he had a crush on made fun of him and called him 'stupid'. This had quite an impact. It's now a core part of Brad's authentic story.- or what I would call a crucible moment that helped determine what was most important in his life. In everyone's life, there are crucible moments, those intense experiences that help shape your core values and leadership style. It's important to understand and practice articulating these moments. They are an inexorable part of your personal story and personal brand. People really connect to leaders who are authentic and have strong core values Brad Smith is the perfect example of a leader who is masterful at telling his leadership development story, including the anxiety and pain he faced as a child. These experiences helped shape the man and leader he is today. Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.