Best of 2025: The Ideas That Scaled | 688

What did the best thought leaders do differently in 2025—and what can you learn for your own work in 2026?

This "Best of 2025" episode looked back at standout moments from prior conversations and pulled one clear thread through them: ideas don't scale by accident. They scaled when leaders treated communication, authorship, and development as skills to build—not traits you either "had" or didn't.

We first revisited cultural fluency with global leadership strategist Jane Hyun. She defined it simply: working effectively with people who were different from you across many kinds of human difference—not just one label. And she made the bar real: it took intentional effort, because it was a developmental skill that most people were never formally taught.

Next, we look at a candid conversation on mentorship, legacy, and the discipline of writing with Noel Massie. He argued that "legacy" showed up in what you gave—especially the investments you made in other people. Then he told the unglamorous truth behind a meaningful book: it took coaching, rewrites, and years of sustained effort—because "fast" wasn't the same as "better."

Then we look at a different kind of bridge-building with Dr. Lisa DeFrank-Cole—moving research out of academia and into the rooms where decisions got made. She shared the tension many experts faced: it was one thing to teach and publish for a specialized audience, and another to translate research into plain language for podcasts, media, and organizations. She emphasized patience—compounding work over time until it reached critical mass.

Finally, we returned to the power of curiosity and publishing with Laurence Minsky. He described how asking the right questions led to books—and how books created credibility that opened unexpected doors, including a path into academia.

If you want more great advice for 2026 we encourage you to explore the back catalog or reach out to the Thought Leadership Leverage team if you want help taking big insights to scale this year!