The Bending Steel Podcast: Conversations with Leaders Shaping the Future with Dr. Antonio Oftelie

Few American cities have carried the weight of the past five years quite like Minneapolis. In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, the city became a symbol of grief, reckoning, and the immense difficulty of rebuilding trust between police and community when both sides are carrying trauma. Leading an institution through that kind of transformation, in real time and under the world's watch, demands a rare combination of humility, resolve, and clarity of purpose. In this episode, Dr. Antonio...

In this season-closing episode of The Bending Steel Podcast, Dr. Antonio Oftelie is joined by colleague Lauren Hirshon to reflect on the leadership lessons that defined 2025 and to celebrate a year of learning alongside leaders from across sectors. Drawing on insights from The Public Safety Summit, The Human Services Summit, The Supply Chain & Operations Reinvention Summit, and The Kresge NextGen Frontline Innovators cohort, the conversation highlights a shared reality leaders faced throu...

In a time marked by relentless volatility, rising uncertainty, and a sense of “perma-crisis,” leaders are searching for ways to stay steady, clear-headed, and connected to what truly matters. Today’s challenges demand not just sharper strategic thinking, but also deeper emotional grounding. It’s not just the mind, but the heart that has to lead. In this episode, Harvard Business School professor and historian Dr. Nancy Koehn joins host Dr. Antonio Oftelie to bring these concepts to life. Draw...

Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from promise to practice — no longer just a potential tool, but a true partner in how organizations operate. Supply chains, once considered back-office cost centers, are now at the forefront of strategy, resilience, and growth. Together, AI and supply chain reinvention are reshaping how companies adapt to disruption, make smarter investments, and prepare talent for the future. On this episode, Patty Riedl, Managing Director – North America Supply Chai...

In this episode, we explore what it takes to launch and sustain a high-stakes transformation inside a global company with our guest: Tamer Abuaita, Global Chief Supply Chain Officer and President of Industrial at Stanley Black & Decker. Tamer shares his experience leading a team of more than 33,000 employees on spearheading one of the most ambitious supply chain overhauls in the company’s history, while balancing the demands of operational excellence today with the vision required to buil...