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The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

TLP511: What 500 Top Leaders Taught Us — And Why It’s Not What You Think

May 13, 2026

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What happens when you spend 10 years interviewing some of the world’s top leaders? After 500 interviews with CEOs, generals, founders, bestselling authors, athletes, and elite performers, Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford discovered a surprising pattern. The most successful leaders were NOT the most polished, they were the most self-aware, adaptable, and relentlessly committed to…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adaptive leadership, business leaders, Business Leadership, CEOs, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurship, Executive Coaching, executive leadership, high performance, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership development, Leadership Lessons, leadership mindset, leadership myths, Leadership Podcast, leadership skills, Leadership Strategies, lessons from leaders, Personal Growth, self awareness, success mindset, Team Leadership, The Leadership Podcast, what makes a great leader

TLP489: Quitting – Knowing When to Walk Away

December 10, 2025

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Annie Duke is a three-time bestselling author, decision strategist, and former professional poker champion. She holds a PhD in cognitive psychology and is co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education. Annie’s latest best-selling book is “Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away.” In this episode, Annie reveals why knowing when to walk away…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: accountability, annie duke, cognitive psychology, cost benefit analysis, decision making, Executive Coaching, Goal Setting, grit, innovation, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, kill criteria, leadership, mental time travel, opportunity cost, optimism bias, poker, psychological distance, Quit The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, quitting, sunk cost fallacy, The Leadership Podcast, thinking in bets, uncertainty, venture capital

TLP482: The 100 Best Books for Work and Life

October 22, 2025

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Todd Sattersten brings over 20 years of experience in nonfiction book publishing, and is the author of “The 100 Best Books for Work and Life.” He’s also the publisher at Bard Press and has dedicated his career to helping leaders navigate the overwhelming world of business literature. In this episode, Todd reveals how he curated…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Atomic Habits, Badass, Bard Press, book publishing, business books, change, daily effort, Effective Executive, Good to Great, growth, habits, In Search of Excellence, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leaders, leadership, lifelong learning, mindset, neuroscience, Peak, Personal Growth, Professional Development, reading habits, Reboot, self help, stoicism, The Leadership Podcast, The One Thing, Todd Sattersten, Ultimate Question, work and life, Your Brain at Work

TLP481: The New Language of Leadership with Michael Ventura

October 15, 2025

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Michael Ventura is an entrepreneur, author of “Applied Empathy: The New Language of Leadership”, and advisor to leaders at organizations including the ACLU, Google, Nike, and the UN. He has taught emotionally intelligent leadership at Princeton, West Point, and Esalen. In this episode, Michael explores why our natural childhood empathy fades as adults due to…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Applied Empathy, business results, cognitive empathy, emotional intelligence, empathetic leadership, empathy training, Executive Coaching, GE case study, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership archetypes, leadership development, leadership skills, Michael Ventura, Organizational Culture, patient experience, retention strategies, team development, The Leadership Podcast, West Point

TLP480: Number One Factor for Changing Team Behaviors with Tamara Myles

October 8, 2025

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Tamara Myles is a speaker, professor, and co-author of “Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee.” She specializes in the science of human flourishing at work and serves as faculty at Boston College and the University of Pennsylvania.  In this episode, Tamara challenges the biggest misconception leaders hold about purpose and…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Business Leadership, career development, career stages, challenge, community building, contribution, Employee Engagement, generational differences, human flourishing, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership, leadership development, management skills, meaningful work, organizational psychology, performance management, productivity, psychological safety, purpose, role modeling, Tamara Myles, team management, The Leadership Podcast, Work-life balance, workplace culture, workplace motivation

TLP479: Make Work Fair with Siri Chilazi

October 1, 2025

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Siri Chilazi is a senior researcher at the Women in Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School, and co-author of “Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results.” She helps organizations bridge the gap between research and practice using evidence-based approaches to workplace fairness. In this episode, Siri explains why workplace fairness requires redesigning systems…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Behavioral Science, bias mitigation, business psychology, Career Advancement, data-driven design, diversity equity inclusion, Employee Development, evidence-based management, gender equality, Harvard Kennedy School, hiring processes, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership development, Make Work Fair, management training, norm entrepreneurship, opt-out promotion systems, organizational psychology, performance evaluation, Siri Chilazi, structural change, systems thinking, talent management, The Leadership Podcast, unconscious bias training, Women in Public Policy Program, workforce analytics, workplace culture, workplace equity, workplace fairness

TLP478: The Consequences of Inaction with Nick Cooney

September 24, 2025

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Nick Cooney is the founder and managing partner of Lever VC, an early stage fund focused on food and ag tech innovation. He also founded the Lever Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing a humane and sustainable food system, and authored “What We Don’t Do: Inaction in the Face of Suffering and the Drive to…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: agricultural innovation, agtech, animal welfare, Business Ethics, charitable giving, decision making, effective altruism, ethical leadership, flat organizations, food security, food tech, global poverty, impact measurement, inaction vs action, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership, Leadership Podcast, moral responsibility, nick cooney, organizational management, philanthropy, Resource Allocation, social entrepreneurship, social impact investing, startup investing, suffering reduction, team management, venture capital

TLP477: Myths About Intuition with Sara Sabin

September 17, 2025

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Sara Sabin is an executive leadership and intuition coach. In this episode, she shares her core philosophy that leadership starts with mastering your internal world. Sara describes how leaders can rewire thought patterns through simple daily exercises, explaining the neuroscience behind how small efforts compound for dramatic confidence improvements.  She tackles the biggest intuition myth…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: ai laziness, artificial intelligence, brain rewiring, critical thinking, Darley, emotional regulation, Executive Coaching, intuition, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership development, neuroscience, sara sabin, self regulation, The Leadership Podcast

TLP475: Democratic Leadership: Building Agency with Nicola Ilic

September 3, 2025

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Nicola Ilic is a social entrepreneur, activist, and adjunct professor of leadership at Georgetown University. He’s the founder of Changelab and applies lessons from grassroots movements to transform how leaders build agency in others. In this episode, Nikola defines democratic leadership as enabling people to exercise leadership regardless of title when facing uncertainty rather than…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: activism, agency development, basketball, business transformation, challenging environments, change management, circle of influence, coaching questions, collective intelligence, culture by design, delegation, democratic leadership, Democratic Leadership: Moving Beyond Authority to Build Agency, employee empowerment, experiential learning, Georgetown University, idea competition, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, leadership development, meritocracy, moral compass, nicola ilic, nonviolent resistance, office politics, organizational change, parenting lessons, purpose-driven work, reflection, Serbia, social entrepreneurship, social movements, startup methodology, strategic change, Team Dynamics, The Leadership Podcast, trust building, uncertainty management, workplace culture

TLP474: Four Barriers that Stop Leaders with Anne Marie Anderson

August 27, 2025

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Anne Marie Anderson is a three-time Emmy winner with 36 years in sports television, including a decade as a producer at ESPN working with elite athletes and executives. She’s the author of “Cultivating Audacity: Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win” and has navigated multiple career pivots throughout her professional life.  In this episode, Anne Marie…

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adventure travel, Anne Marie Anderson, athletic performance, audacious living, career transformation, coaching mindset, comfort zone expansion, courage building, cultivating audacity, decision making, elite performance, Emmy awards, ESPN, failure as learning, front row concept, Goal Setting, inner critic management, Jan Rutherford, Jim Vaselopulos, keynote speaking, leadership development, legacy thinking, media career, mentorship, motivation psychology, optimism, Overcoming Fear, parenting wisdom, Personal Growth, professional reinvention, rejection desensitization, resilience, risk taking, Self-Reliance, shape shifting leadership, sports broadcasting, Team Engagement, Vulnerability in Leadership, Work-life balance

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Chasing success can quietly become the problem, no Chasing success can quietly become the problem, not the solution.Tom Rath argues usefulness matters more than achievement, and the shift changes how you spend every hour of your day.It's a simple reframe with a big payoff: less hamster wheel, more contribution.Listen to Tom Rath's full conversation on the show. https://bit.ly/TLP-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#tomrath #leadershippodcast #purposeoverperformance #leadershipmindset #executivecoaching #findingpurpose #workplaceculture #meaningfulwork
Capitalism broke when leaders stopped believing it Capitalism broke when leaders stopped believing it requires morality.Patrick Ryan is a chartered director, KYC Net founder, and author of The Moral Market. He spent decades watching executives justify corner-cutting as "following the rules."In this episode, he shares why modern capitalism abandoned Adam Smith's moral foundation. And how the impartial spectator fixes it.Go listen to the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersGo watch the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #moralcapitalism #businessethics #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Great leadership doesn't require charisma. David Great leadership doesn't require charisma.David Robson points to two qualities that matter when influencing other people: warmth and competence.Can people trust you? Do they believe you know what you're talking about?That combination matters more than being naturally charismatic, entertaining, or a great orator.And unlike charisma, these are qualities leaders can deliberately develop.#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #influence #executiveleadership #trust #communication #leadershippsychology #davidrobson #leadershippodcast
A positive mindset isn't simply about feeling good A positive mindset isn't simply about feeling good.@shawnachor's research explores what happens when the brain approaches challenges from a more positive state. The result can extend beyond how we feel, influencing how we perform, solve problems, and respond to the situations in front of us.That makes positivity more than an attitude. It becomes a way of changing how we approach life and work.Learn how the brain's state can influence the outcomes we create.#Leadership #PositivePsychology #LeadershipDevelopment #Mindset #ShawnAchor #LeadershipPodcast
Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conver Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conversation in one sentence. Most leaders see ethics as a constraint. A tax on profit. But that's the opposite of how markets actually work. Without moral foundation, there's no trust. No enforceable contracts. No real market. Just extraction dressed up as business. This changes how you think about your next decision.Listen to Episode 519. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #businessethics #moralcapitalism #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Tribalism is part of human nature, but its role in Tribalism is part of human nature, but its role in modern organizations is more complicated than it once was. People still seek belonging and connection, yet those same needs can create division when groups begin defining themselves against one another.Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford explore how tribalism shapes leadership and organizational culture. They discuss four approaches to leadership: subtraction, division, addition, and multiplication, and what each reveals about the way leaders influence the people around them.The conversation also examines fear in the workplace, the importance of psychological safety, and the ongoing tension between developing people and focusing on the work that matters most.At the center of the discussion is a question leaders cannot easily avoid - how do you create belonging without creating an "us vs. them" culture?Listen to the full episode. Link in the first comment.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #OrganizationalCulture #TheLeadershipPodcast
Most leaders think tension is toxic. Jim Brown say Most leaders think tension is toxic.Jim Brown says they're wrong.Tension is normal. Predictable. Necessary.The problem isn't that your team disagrees. It's that they don't know what you're aiming for.When people lack clarity around shared goals, disagreements turn into arguments. Someone stomps out. Trust breaks.But when everyone knows what you're actually trying to build together? That same tension becomes energy. Ideas get challenged. Better decisions emerge.Productive tension is anchored in clarity, not comfort.Hear the full conversation on episode 517. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-517?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#productiveconflict #leadershipteams #organizationalhealth #teamdynamics #leadershipdevelopment #conflictresolution #theleadershippodcast #jimbrownorghealth
Chasing the next promotion isn't the same as chasi Chasing the next promotion isn't the same as chasing the next skill.David Craig watched talented people burn years climbing a ladder instead of building capability, and he says it's one of the costliest mistakes in a career.The shift is simple: choose the work that develops you, not just the title that impresses others.Hear David explain the lesson behind it in episode 525. https://bit.ly/TLP-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #davidcraig #careeradvice #leadershipdevelopment #leadershippodcast #careergrowth #executivecoaching #professionaldevelopment
Kim Svoboda was on a plane 85% of the time. Chasin Kim Svoboda was on a plane 85% of the time. Chasing the job title she thought she wanted.Then a simple values exercise stopped her cold. Family was #1 on her list. She wasn't living anywhere near it.That gap is what most leaders never stop to check.Hear what broke her wide open. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #executiveburnout #leadershipvalues #worklifebalance #careertransition #leadershippodcast #intentionalleadership
Most leaders think they need to be the smartest pe Most leaders think they need to be the smartest person in the room.Patrick Emmons disagrees — founder of Dragon Spears, president of Improving Chicago, 25 years building and selling companies.This episode breaks down why leadership at every level beats leadership at the top, and why authenticity means accepting your own growth, not demanding acceptance as-is.Listen to the full conversation now. https://bit.ly/TLP-524?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-524?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #entrepreneurship #authenticleadership #businessgrowth #executivecoaching #leadershippodcast #teamdevelopment
Your circle isn't static. It's a decision. Donnie Your circle isn't static. It's a decision.Donnie Boivin says your five prospects, five clients, and five closest people all shape where you plateau.Not walking away from anyone, just paying attention to who's actually pulling you forward.Dive deeper into the full conversation https://bit.ly/TLP-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #networking #personalgrowth #businessmindset #relationshipbuilding #entrepreneurship #leadershippodcast #successmindset
She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable. She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable.Kim Svoboda is founder of Aspiration Catalyst, author of Bold Leadership, 20+ years leading sales orgs before walking away from it all.This week: what happens when you finally measure your life against your own values, and it doesn't add up.Listen to the full episode now. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #boldleadership #executiveburnout #leadershipdevelopment #highperformingteams #employeeengagement #intentionalleadership #careertransition
There is a difference between improving what alrea There is a difference between improving what already exists and imagining what could exist.Ron Johnson reflects on what Steve Jobs saw in him: not only someone who understood retail and customers, but someone willing to imagine something that hadn't been done before.Innovation often begins with the willingness to think beyond the familiar.#Innovation #Leadership #SteveJobs #RonJohnson #ThinkDifferently #InnovationLeadership #LeadershipLessons #TheLeadershipPodcast
Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Boivin says it's a trap. One-sided giving just trains people to take advantage of you. His fix: give, give, get, give — mutual respect over martyrdom. It changes how you should be showing up in every relationship you're building. Catch the full breakdown on this week's episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#networking #leadershipmindset #businessstrategy #relationshipbuilding #salesleadership #entrepreneurmindset #leadershippodcast #businessgrowth
What if the beliefs you hold about yourself are sh What if the beliefs you hold about yourself are shaping what happens next?In our conversation with @shawnachor, we explored how beliefs influence behavior, happiness, success, and the way we experience difficult situations. That your behavior matters and can be the difference between moving forward, giving up, or stagnating.We also talk about FOMO, social connection, burnout, stress, and why success doesn't necessarily create happiness.This is a thoughtful conversation about something we rarely stop to examine - what we believe, and what those beliefs make possible.Listen to the latest episode of The Leadership Podcast.#Leadership #Leadershipdevelopment #PositivePsychology #LeadershipMindset #HappinessAndSuccess #LeadershipPodcast #ShawnAchor #TeamCulture #Mindset #WorkplaceLeadership
Perfectionism doesn't make leaders bolder. It make Perfectionism doesn't make leaders bolder. It makes them slower.Kim learned this from a CEO who taught her the 80/20 rule — enough data to decide, then move. The last 20% almost never changes the outcome.If you're stuck waiting for certainty, this is your permission to go. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #decisionmaking #executivecoaching #leadershipmindset #intentionalleadership #leadershippodcast #decisiveleadership
Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford describe four w Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford describe four ways leaders can shape a tribe: subtraction, division, addition, and multiplication.The first is leadership by subtraction. Jim describes it as a form of bullying, where a leader elevates themselves by pushing someone else down.It raises a useful question for leaders: Are you building your own position by developing others, or by diminishing them?This is the first of four leadership approaches discussed in the full conversation. Watch the full episode to hear the other three.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #LeadershipCulture #OrganizationalCulture #TheLeadershipPodcast
He was one of Kim Svoboda's best performers. He wa He was one of Kim Svoboda's best performers. He was also a bully.She tolerated it. The results were good. Then he quit in a rage.A week later, the truth came out. Team culture lifted almost overnight.Kim breaks down what tolerating bad behavior really costs a team.Ask yourself who's costing you culture. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #teamculture #toxicemployee #leadershipdevelopment #highperformingteams #leadershippodcast #accountability
The way leaders talk about the future matters. Wh The way leaders talk about the future matters.When we repeatedly tell people that the challenges ahead are overwhelming, we shouldn't be surprised when they begin to approach those challenges defensively.Leaders should shape reality. It's the beliefs we create about reality that can influence how people respond to it.What we believe is coming can change what we do when we get there.Hear @shawnachor explain how beliefs shape behavior, expectations, and outcomes on the latest episode of The Leadership Podcast.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipMindset #PositivePsychology #ShawnAchor #TheLeadershipPodcast #Mindset #Beliefs #PositiveLeadership #LeadershipPsychology
Most leaders treat ethics as a cost. Patrick Ryan Most leaders treat ethics as a cost. Patrick Ryan says that's backwards. Morality isn't friction. It's the lubricant that makes markets actually function. Without it, you don't have capitalism. You have extraction. This is what modern business gets fundamentally wrong—and how it shifts everything about how you lead.Watch the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #moralcapitalism #businessethics #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
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  • TLP530: Leadership Lessons from Building the Apple Store with Ron Johnson
  • TLP529: How Steve Jobs Learned to Lead with Geoffrey Cain
  • TLP528: The Beliefs That Shape Success with Shawn Achor

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