In this compelling episode of the Partnering Leadership podcast, Mark Schaefer returns to share fresh, provocative insights from his latest book, Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World. A globally respected marketing strategist, bestselling author, and deep observer of technological change, Schaefer brings sharp clarity to a pressing leadership question: what does it take to stay relevant when artificial intelligence makes intelligence itself abundant?

Rather than offering a simplistic take on AI, Schaefer challenges leaders to confront a more nuanced truth: AI doesn’t just change how we work—it redefines where we create value. In a world where intelligence is cheap and accessible to everyone, he argues, leaders must shift their organizations from knowledge accumulation to human differentiation.

The conversation dives into what “out-humaning” AI actually looks like. From designing moments of awe to fostering fearless creativity, Schaefer offers examples and frameworks that push beyond theory. He connects storytelling, community-building, and emotional resonance not just as marketing strategies—but as core leadership capabilities that machines can’t replicate.

This episode is a must-listen for CEOs, board members, and senior executives grappling with the implications of AI. It’s not about resisting the future—it’s about recognizing what only humans can do, and leading teams to do it with more clarity, urgency, and creativity than ever before.

Actionable Takeaways

• You'll learn why intelligence is no longer a competitive advantage—and what replaces it at the leadership level.
  
  
  
• Hear how to reframe your organizational structure and decision-making in a world where AI handles most of the “smart work.”
  
  
  
• Discover what Mark Schaefer means by “out-humaning AI” and why that’s now your most important leadership mandate.
  
  
  
• You'll learn why competence is no longer enough—and how leaders who rely on it alone risk irrelevance.
  
  
  
• Hear how to use awe, authenticity, and community as strategic tools to build trust and emotional engagement that AI can’t touch.
  
  
  
• You'll learn how to think about brand relevance and personal credibility when your audience knows AI could have written your content.
  
  
  
• Hear how to identify and overcome the fear that’s keeping your organization stuck in mediocrity.
  
  
  
• You'll learn what makes bold storytelling and immersive experience design the next frontier in business leadership.
  
  
• Hear how to embrace AI as a creative partner without outsourcing your strategic soul.
  
  

Connect with Mark Schaefer :

• Website: Businesses Grow
• Social Media: Twitter | LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Alan Gregerman, innovation advisor and author of The Wisdom of Ignorance: Why Not Knowing Can Be the Key to Innovation in an Uncertain World. Gregerman has spent his career helping organizations rethink what expertise is, how innovation really happens, and why the answers leaders rely on can quietly become their biggest obstacles.

Alan’s core argument is simple but uncomfortable: what leaders don’t know matters more than what they do know. In a world defined by rapid change, shifting customer expectations, and new competitors emerging from outside traditional industry boundaries, Gregerman makes the case that uncertainty isn’t a threat to manage—it’s an advantage to use. Leaders who cling to knowledge, certainty, and past success miss the breakthroughs that come from curiosity, humility, and fresh eyes.

Throughout the conversation, Alan shows how relying on expertise alone limits an organization’s ability to see new possibilities. He highlights why new employees, outsiders, and even strangers to the industry often spot the best opportunities, and he shares a practical onboarding practice for tapping into those insights before they disappear. His message: innovation doesn’t come from doubling down on what you already know; it comes from intentionally opening the boundaries of where ideas can come from.

The episode also explores why most industries are disrupted by people who have no history in them, the discipline required to stay relevant, and the role of small experiments in uncovering what customers actually value. Alan connects all of this to the rise of AI, arguing that if the work is rooted in routine knowledge, machines will do it faster—and leaders must elevate imagination, sensemaking, and dot-connecting to stay ahead.

For CEOs and senior executives looking to build organizations that remain adaptable, curious, and competitive, this conversation offers a sharp, practical lens on what real innovation leadership looks like today.

Actionable Takeaways

• You’ll learn why Alan believes not knowing can be a strategic advantage—and how leaders can use uncertainty to fuel innovation.

• You’ll hear how new employees reveal blind spots organizations no longer notice, and a simple onboarding practice that turns their insights into value.

• You’ll learn why most disruption comes from outsiders—and what that means for your planning, competitive scanning, and leadership mindset.

• You’ll hear how small, fast experiments outperform polished plans, especially when customer needs shift faster than internal decision cycles.

• You’ll learn how to widen your sources of insight by looking beyond your industry—and why this practice separates resilient organizations from stuck ones.

• You’ll hear how to hire for perspective, not just expertise, and build teams capable of seeing opportunities others overlook.

• You’ll learn why AI elevates the importance of imagination, creativity, and sensemaking—and what kinds of work will remain uniquely human.

• You’ll hear how humility shifts a leader’s impact, creating space for ideas that wouldn’t emerge if the team assumed the leader already knows the answer.

Connect with Alan Gregerman

Alan Gregerman Website
Alan Gregerman LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Selena Rezvani invites leaders to rethink some of the most deeply ingrained assumptions about modern management. Drawing from her new book Quick Leadership and years of work with top-performing organizations, Selena challenges CEOs and senior leaders to examine the hidden forces shaping their teams’ behavior—especially the unspoken power dynamics that still drive command-and-control cultures even when leaders insist they’ve moved past them. Her insights land squarely in the real world: where expectations are rising, trust is fragile, and employees—especially Gen Z—expect to be led very differently than generations before them.

Selena begins with a powerful personal story that shaped her mission: reducing unnecessary suffering at work. From there, she unpacks how overwork culture became a badge of honor in many organizations, and why leaders who continue to glorify exhaustion will struggle to build sustainable, innovative teams. More importantly, she explains what leaders can celebrate instead—and how to shift the “hero stories” that quietly define organizational norms.

A major throughline in the conversation is psychological safety, but not in abstract terms. Selena offers practical, high-signal markers leaders can use to assess whether their teams truly feel safe speaking up: signs in the spoken, unspoken, and silent moments of meetings. She also challenges leaders to examine how they may unintentionally shut down dissent, even while believing they are approachable and open.

The episode also dives into modern leadership skill sets—filtering urgency rather than amplifying it, protecting teams from noise, resisting meeting overload, and embracing “selective excellence” instead of perfectionism. Selena offers pragmatic tools leaders can use immediately, from rethinking meeting dynamics to redesigning feedback routines that are informal, frequent, and genuinely useful.

The conversation closes with one of the most important themes for today’s executive teams: the disproportionate impact managers have on employees’ mental health. Selena brings data and perspective that will push leaders to rethink their weekly rhythms, their one-on-one structures, and their responsibility to the people they lead.

Actionable Takeaways

• You’ll learn why today’s “hero stories” inside organizations matter—and how changing them shifts what people believe earns respect, promotion, and recognition.
  
  
  
• Hear how Gen Z’s participatory mindset is reshaping expectations for leadership, communication, and power-sharing inside modern teams.
  
  
  
• You’ll understand the subtle power dynamics leaders often overlook—and the specific behaviors that signal whether dissent is truly welcome.
  
  
  
• Hear Selena explain how to spot the real indicators of psychological safety in meetings, including what to look for in silence, hesitation, or discomfort.
  
  
  
• You’ll learn practical ways leaders can counter urgency culture by acting as a “filter,” not an amplifier, and why this dramatically improves team performance.
  
  
  
• Hear how to rethink meetings using a simple question: “Is this worth pulling people away from their strategic work?”—and what great leaders do in the first five minutes to change the tone.
  
  
  
• You’ll learn why “selective excellence” is a competitive advantage for leaders—and how to decide what deserves your very best and what doesn’t.
  
  
  
• Hear Selena describe how to build a feedback culture

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli hosts Andrea Sampson, an expert in strategic storytelling and the co-founder of Talk Boutique. Andrea Sampson talks about the fascinating intersection of brain science and storytelling, emphasizing why humans are hardwired to respond to stories. As an experienced speaker's coach for TEDx Toronto and a thought leader in her own right, Andrea shares her journey from the advertising world to helping change-makers communicate their ideas effectively.

Andrea highlights the critical role storytelling plays in leadership and organizational success. She explains how stories, unlike mere data, engage multiple parts of the brain, making messages more memorable and impactful. Leaders are often trained to prioritize facts and figures, but Andrea argues that integrating storytelling into their communication strategies can significantly enhance their influence and connection with their audience.

Throughout the conversation, Andrea underscores the importance of starting with a clear strategic message before crafting the narrative. She shares practical insights on how leaders can identify and refine their core messages, ensuring that their stories are not only engaging but also aligned with their organizational goals. By drawing on examples from iconic brands like Apple and Disney, Andrea illustrates how a singular focus can drive brand consistency and loyalty.

Moreover, Andrea addresses the challenge of vulnerability in leadership. She advocates for sharing stories from a place of scars rather than wounds, enabling leaders to convey authenticity and empathy without retraumatizing themselves or their audience.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Discover the Brain Science Behind Storytelling: Understand why humans are neurologically hardwired to respond to stories and how this can be leveraged in leadership.
• Engage Multiple Parts of the Brain: Learn how integrating sensory details into your narratives can make your messages more memorable.
• Start with a Strategic Message: Hear why it's crucial to begin with a clear idea before crafting your story to ensure alignment with your goals.
• Embrace Vulnerability: Find out how sharing stories from a place of scars rather than wounds can enhance authenticity and connection.
• Consistency is Key: Learn from iconic brands like Apple and Disney on the importance of maintaining a singular focus in your storytelling.
• The Role of Community in Thought Leadership: Understand the importance of building a supportive community to amplify your personal brand and core message.
• Overcome Storytelling Fears: Hear how leaders can overcome the fear of storytelling by refining their skills and embracing their unique experiences.
• Practical Storytelling Techniques: Discover actionable tips on how to use storytelling to deliver difficult messages and inspire your team.

Connect with the Andrea Sampson:

Talk Boutique Website

Andrea Sampson LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Sangeet Paul Choudary, one of the world’s leading thinkers on digital strategy, platforms, and the future of value creation. Sangeet is the author of the acclaimed new book Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Transforms the Knowledge Economy, a work that reframes how leaders must think about artificial intelligence—not as a tool for faster workflows, but as a force that will rewrite the foundations of competition.

Across the conversation, Sangeet challenges the familiar narrative of automation and productivity gains. Drawing on decades of research into platforms, market structure, and shifting sources of advantage, he explains why AI’s real impact will not be felt at the task level but at the level of organizational identity, industry architecture, and the assumptions leaders use to define their business. For CEOs and senior executives, his message is clear: the companies that thrive in the years ahead will be those that reexamine what game they play before investing in how fast they play it.

Sangeet introduces the idea of building a “map”—a strategic view of how value is moving across your industry—before deploying AI to accelerate existing processes. He argues that leaders who rush to optimize current workflows risk becoming highly efficient at activities that no longer matter. Instead, organizations must continually reassess their model of the market, the basis of differentiation, and the capabilities that will matter one year out—a timeframe that now represents the new strategic horizon.

The discussion spans far beyond theory. Through examples ranging from mining and materials to chemicals, healthcare, and creative industries, Sangeet shows how knowledge work underpins value creation in nearly every sector—and how AI will reshape that work. He also explores the growing importance of sensemaking, the role of agency inside organizations, why incumbents struggle to adapt to new architectures, and what leaders must do to prepare their people for the jobs and capabilities of tomorrow.

For senior executives navigating unprecedented uncertainty, this episode offers a compelling lens on the future—not through hype, but through practical strategy. Sangeet’s insights help leaders see what they may have sensed but couldn’t yet articulate, and highlight the conversations they need to prioritize with their teams right now.

Actionable Takeaways

• You’ll learn why “running faster” with AI may push your organization in the wrong direction—and how to build the right strategic map before accelerating.
  
  
• Hear how Sangeet reframes AI’s impact—not as workflow automation, but as a force that reshapes differentiation, identity, and industry structure.
  
  
• You’ll explore why knowledge work underpins value creation in far more sectors than most leaders assume—and what that means for your competitive position.
  
  
• Hear how to distinguish first-order effects of AI (automation) from second- and third-order effects that redefine entire markets.
  
  
• You’ll learn why sensemaking is no longer the job of a strategy team alone—and what leaders must do to distribute this capability across the organization.
  
  
• Discover how coordination, not autonomy, will become the real advantage inside AI-enabled organizations.
  
  
• Hear why incumbents often fail—not because they’re slow, but because they can’t shift to new architectures—and what leaders can do differently.
  
  
• You’ll learn why reskilling efforts fall short

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

What if the greatest risk to your organization isn't economic uncertainty, market volatility, or disruptive technology—but the decisions being made in your own boardroom?

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Didier Cossin, IMD professor and global expert in board governance, whose book High Performance Boards has become a must-read for senior leaders looking to elevate board effectiveness. Drawing from decades of research, real-world consulting, and cross-disciplinary experience—including economics, risk management, and even poetry—Cossin brings a powerful lens to what leadership at the top should really look like.

Cossin argues that governance has been misunderstood by many organizations as a compliance function, rather than what it truly is: a system that shapes the quality of executive decisions. He challenges CEOs and board members to rethink how they engage with one another, what information they rely on, and who actually owns governance performance. The result is a compelling case for boards as enablers of transformation—not just overseers of risk.

Throughout the conversation, Cossin shares examples and frameworks that translate theory into practice. He offers clarity on how boards can evolve to meet the complexity of today’s environment while helping CEOs make better, faster, and more strategic decisions. From the role of the chair to the structure of board packs to the power of informal intelligence, every element of this conversation is designed to elevate how boards contribute to long-term success.

If you are a CEO, board member, or executive leader committed to high-performance leadership and long-term impact, this episode offers both insight and challenge to help you lead more effectively—starting at the top.

Actionable Takeaways

• Hear how Didier Cossin reframes governance as a driver of decision quality—not just risk oversight or compliance.
  
  
  
• Learn why the chair, not the CEO, is ultimately responsible for board performance—and why that distinction matters.
  
  
  
• Discover how most boards are overwhelmed with information but still lack the intelligence needed for high-quality decisions.
  
  
  
• Understand the four levers of board performance—people, information, structure, and culture—and how each one shapes outcomes.
  
  
  
• Explore how the CEO-chair relationship must be intentionally designed, not assumed, for true alignment and accountability.
  
  
  
• Find out why board materials should be curated like an executive dashboard—and how overstuffed board books hinder strategic conversations.
  
  
  
• Learn how boards should evolve from approving strategy to actively shaping it—especially in complex and fast-moving environments.
  
  
  
• Reflect on how strong governance creates the organizational capacity to adapt, lead, and perform over the long term.
  
  

Connect with Didier Cossin
Didier Cossin at IMD

Didier Cossin LinkedIn

High Performance Boards

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

What if creativity isn’t a gift possessed by a few—but a skill every leader already has? In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden, co-authors of Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World. Drawing from their work at Stanford and Harvard, they share how innovation is less about genius and more about discipline, collaboration, and the willingness to see differently.

Forshaw and Braden dismantle the myth of the lone genius, showing how the best ideas rarely come from one person’s brilliance but from diverse teams willing to challenge each other’s assumptions. They unpack the concept of “cognitive caution”—that natural human tendency to play it safe—and explain how leaders can create the psychological conditions that make creativity thrive.

The conversation explores why traditional brainstorming often fails, why “innovation theater” gives the illusion of progress without impact, and what leaders can do to make innovation an everyday practice rather than a one-off event. From developing the muscles of divergent and convergent thinking to understanding how fear, hierarchy, and bias stifle creative problem-solving, this dialogue offers a roadmap for embedding innovation deeply into leadership and culture.

Braden and Forshaw also discuss the responsibility that comes with innovation—how thoughtful leaders must consider both the intended and unintended consequences of new ideas. And in a world reshaped by AI, they offer a refreshing reminder: technology can amplify human creativity, but it cannot replace the curiosity, humility, and judgment at the heart of real leadership.

This episode is a must-listen for CEOs and senior leaders who want to foster innovation that’s not performative, but practical—and who see creativity not as a department, but as a leadership imperative.

Actionable Takeaways

• You'll learn why everyone—not just “creative types”—is capable of breakthrough thinking, and how leaders can help teams rediscover that confidence.
  
  
• Hear how to replace “innovation theater” with daily practices that embed creativity into decision-making and culture.
  
  
• Discover the concept of cognitive caution—and how to reduce the fear and hesitation that quietly shut down new ideas in organizations.
  
  
• Explore the difference between divergent, convergent, and executive thinking—and how each contributes to effective innovation.
  
  
• Find out why the myth of the lone genius hurts innovation, and what truly collaborative creativity looks like inside high-performing teams.
  
  
• Learn how to ask better questions—the kind that expand perspective, reveal blind spots, and lead to better solutions.
  
  
• Hear why humility may be a leader’s most powerful innovation skill, enabling curiosity and openness across the organization.
  
  
• Understand why short-term performance pressures often block creative problem-solving—and what leaders can do to make space for exploration.

Connect with Tessa Forshaw and Rich Braden

Innovationish Website

Innovationish Substack

Tessa Forshaw LinkedIn

Rich Braden LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

In this thought-provoking episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with futurist and strategist Dr. Mark van Rijmenam to explore how leaders can thrive in an era defined by exponential change. Known for his sharp insights into emerging technologies and their impact on society, van Rijmenam shares a grounded yet urgent view of the transformation reshaping every aspect of our world—from business and education to governance and human interaction.

Van Rijmenam argues that the shifts underway are not just technological but also ecological and geopolitical, converging into what he calls a “tsunami of change.” Unlike past revolutions that unfolded over centuries, today’s convergence of AI, robotics, blockchain, quantum computing, and biotechnology is remaking industries and organizations in mere years. He urges leaders to recognize the pace and scale of disruption and to evolve their thinking beyond the limits of linear strategy.

Throughout the conversation, van Rijmenam challenges executives to rethink traditional leadership models. Short-term metrics and hierarchical control, he warns, are relics of a slower age. To lead effectively in exponential times, leaders must decentralize decision-making, empower teams to act with trust, and adopt a long-term mindset that includes future generations in their calculus of success. The future will belong to those who can combine adaptability with ethical awareness—who understand not only what technology can do but what it should do.

This discussion also dives into the human dimensions of the digital revolution. From reimagining education and lifelong learning to confronting the erosion of trust in a world of deepfakes and misinformation, van Rijmenam calls for a new kind of leadership—one that cultivates critical thinking and moral courage as much as technical fluency. His perspective is both sobering and optimistic: chaos is inevitable, but it can also be a catalyst for renewal if leaders are willing to reimagine how organizations and societies operate.

Whether you’re leading a global enterprise or a mission-driven organization, this episode will expand your view of what it means to lead in exponential times—and why the leaders of tomorrow must become what van Rijmenam calls “architects of the future,” building systems that serve humanity as much as innovation.

Actionable Takeaways

• You’ll learn why Mark van Rijmenam believes this era of transformation is unlike any in history—and why leaders who mistake exponential change for incremental evolution risk falling behind fast.
  
  
• Hear how the convergence of multiple technologies—not just AI—is creating a ripple effect that is reshaping industries and leadership itself.
  
  
• Discover what it takes to move from linear to exponential thinking, and why our evolutionary wiring makes that shift so difficult.
  
  
• Explore the limits of short-termism and why CEOs must adopt a long-term perspective that considers future generations, not just next-quarter results.
  
  
• Find out why traditional education models are failing to prepare the next generation—and what leaders can do to foster critical thinking and lifelong learning inside their organizations.
  
  
• Learn how decentralized decision-making and empowered cultures build resilience in times of disruption—and what happens to companies that cling to control.
  
  
• Hear the story of how one company’s culture of challenge and trust prevented a multimillion-dollar fraud—and what it reveals about leadership in the age of

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website