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

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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

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What if the greatest leadership blind spot isn’t about people at all, but about the space between them?

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jim Ferrell, renowned leadership thinker and author of You and We: The Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership. Known for co-authoring the international bestseller Leadership and Self-Deception, Ferrell’s latest work shifts the lens from managing individuals to managing the relationships that determine whether strategies succeed or fail.

Ferrell explains why execution often falters not inside functions, but at the seams — the handoffs, dependencies, and connections that link people, teams, and departments. He challenges leaders to rethink the org chart: while boxes and reporting lines are visible, the real value is created or lost in the white space between them. CEOs and boards who fail to see and lead that space risk blind spots, stalled strategies, and underperformance.

In the conversation, Ferrell outlines a framework of “levels of connectivity” that helps leaders diagnose whether relationships are dividing, subtracting, siloed, multiplying, or compounding results. He shares why leaders at the top often get the worst data, how systems and incentives frequently reinforce silos, and what it takes to truly lead at the relational level.

Whether you lead a global enterprise, a nonprofit, or a government agency, Ferrell’s insights invite you to rethink what leadership demands today: not simply inspiring individuals, but intentionally managing the relational field that drives execution, culture, and long-term performance.

Actionable Takeaways

• Hear why execution fails most often at the seams, not inside the silos—and what this means for how leaders should focus their attention.
  
  
• Learn how to spot the blind spot on your org chart and why the white space between boxes matters more than the boxes themselves.
  
  
• Discover Jim Ferrell’s “levels of connectivity” and how each level determines whether relationships subtract value, add value, or compound it.
  
  
• Find out why CEOs at the top often receive the worst data—and what kind of leadership it takes to cultivate candor and real feedback.
  
  
• Explore how system design and incentives can quietly sabotage collaboration even among well-intentioned people.
  
  
• Understand how mapping connections across teams can reveal hidden risks and opportunities for acceleration.
  
  
• Learn practical moves senior leaders can make to strengthen critical relationships across teams, functions, and business units.
  
  
• Hear how leaders can build an organization where success is shared and compounded, rather than siloed and slowed.
  
  
  

Connect with Jim Ferrell

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You and We

Withiii Leadership

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