In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli engages in a powerful conversation with Lior Arussy, renowned author, speaker, and expert in organizational transformation and customer experience. Lior is the author of the thought-provoking book Dare to Author: Take Charge of the Narrative of Your Life. In this episode, he brings his compelling insights to life, challenging leaders to rethink how they approach storytelling, organizational change, and leadership in an era of rapid disruption.

Lior shares his journey of discovering the power of stories—not just in shaping customer experiences but in transforming individual and organizational mindsets. Drawing on decades of working with global companies, he unpacks why so many people resist change, how leaders can overcome that resistance, and why the ability to craft and evolve personal and organizational narratives is critical for thriving in uncertainty.

Listeners will be inspired by Lior's insights on how leaders can empower their teams to embrace change without feeling judged, how to separate purpose from tools to drive transformation, and why storytelling is no longer a nice-to-have skill but a necessity for effective leadership. His approach combines practical frameworks with deeply human insights, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking to unlock their team’s potential and elevate their leadership impact.

From redefining leadership as navigating the unknown to exploring how gratitude fuels resilience and innovation, this conversation is rich with actionable ideas. 

Actionable Takeaways:

• You’ll learn why storytelling is not just a communication tool but a leadership necessity in driving transformation and engagement.
• Hear how to overcome resistance to change by reframing it as evolution rather than judgment of past efforts.
• Discover why separating purpose from tools can help you and your team embrace innovation with less fear and more confidence.
• Gain insights into why victimhood is a choice—and how to rise to the higher version of yourself as a leader.
• Learn the surprising connection between gratitude and resilience, and how embracing gratitude can fuel your team’s energy for change.
• Understand why the leadership practices you inherited 30 years ago may no longer serve you in today’s fast-paced, dynamic workplace.
• Explore the concept of cultural readiness and why leaders must take responsibility for their organization’s capacity to adapt and thrive.
• Find out why perfectionism paralyzes teams—and how to give your people permission to experiment and innovate.
• Hear why the biggest companies miss the biggest trends and how to avoid the ‘best practices trap.’
• Learn how to author your own leadership story and turn past successes and failures into tools for future growth.

Connect with the Lior Arussy

Lior Arussy Website 

Lior Arussy LinkedIn 

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website