In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Cameron Herold, a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the book The Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO. With a wealth of experience as a COO and having coached numerous companies worldwide, Cameron shares his invaluable insights on the critical role of the COO and how to create a high-performing CEO-COO dynamic.

Throughout the conversation, Cameron dives deep into the complexities of the COO role and the importance of finding the perfect match for the CEO. He emphasizes the need for clear communication, trust, and a shared vision to build a successful partnership that can navigate the ever-changing business landscape.

Drawing from his own experiences and the lessons learned from working with diverse organizations, Cameron Herold offers practical advice on how to identify the right COO for your company, onboard them effectively, and nurture a relationship that maximizes the potential of both the CEO and COO.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Discover the key characteristics to look for when hiring a COO and how to ensure they complement your strengths and weaknesses as a CEO.
• Learn the secrets to building a strong CEO-COO relationship that can withstand the challenges of rapid growth and change.
• Hear how successful companies like Shopify have leveraged the CEO-COO dynamic to achieve incredible results.
• Gain insights into the evolving role of the COO and how to adapt your leadership approach to stay ahead of the curve.
• Understand the importance of clear communication and trust in fostering a productive partnership between the CEO and COO.
• Explore the concept of "yin and yang" leadership and how it can help you create a balanced and effective executive team.
• Learn how to navigate the challenges of onboarding a new COO and setting them up for success from day one.
• Discover the power of regular check-ins and "date nights" in maintaining a strong CEO-COO relationship over time.

Connect with Cameron Herold

Cameron Herold Website

COO Alliance

The Second in Command: Unleash The Power of Your COO

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dave Ulrich. Known as the Father of modern-day HR, Dave Ulrich is the Rensis Likert Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and a partner at the RBL Group, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations and leaders deliver value. Dave Ulrich has published over 30 leadership, organization, and human resource books. The discussion with Dave Ulrich touches on measuring a leader's effectiveness, the difference between being a leader and leadership, and how HR has evolved to become more crucial to company success. Next, Dave Ulrich addresses why leaders should focus on certainty while leading through greater uncertainty. Dave Ulrich went on to talk about the importance of positive accountability and emphasized the value of creating leadership brands that cater to customers' expectations. Finally, Dave Ulrich shared why good leadership involves empowering others and building their brands rather than just promoting the leader's brand and how that connects to the concept of value creation for stakeholders.

Some Highlights:

- Dave Ulrich on the characteristics of good leaders-

-The role and importance of HR in creating value for stakeholders

- How leaders can focus on creating value in uncertain times-

-Why positive accountability is a necessity in outstanding leadership and how to do it well

-Dave Ulrich on how to empower others to build their brands

- Why the receiver defines value and the importance of that perspective in leadership

- The role of human resources in creating value for stakeholders through talent, organization, and leadership.

- The necessity of focusing on customer expectations in creating successful leadership models.

- Dave Ulrich on the one trait that all great leaders have in common

Connect with Dave Ulrich:

The RBL Group Website

Dave Ulrich on LinkedIn

Dave Ulrich at University of Michigan Ross

Dave Ulrich books on Amazon

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

In this thought-provoking episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli engages in a deep and insightful conversation with Jerry Colonna, CEO of Reboot.io and the renowned CEO coach known as the “CEO Whisperer.” Jerry Colonna is also the author of the groundbreaking books Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up and Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong.

With his unique background as a successful venture capitalist turned executive coach, Jerry brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the discussion, offering invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities of modern leadership.

Throughout the conversation, Jerry shares his personal journey of self-discovery and transformation, highlighting the importance of radical self-inquiry and emotional authenticity in cultivating effective and purposeful leadership. He explores the paradoxical nature of success, discussing how the pursuit of external achievements can often lead to feelings of hollowness and disconnection from one's true self.

Drawing upon his extensive work with CEOs and executives, Jerry Colonna offers a fresh perspective on the role of business in society, arguing that purpose-driven leadership has the potential to create meaningful change and contribute to the healing of the world. He challenges listeners to confront the uncomfortable truths of our shared history and to embrace the power of vulnerability and empathy in building more inclusive and compassionate organizations.

With his trademark blend of wisdom, humor, and provocative questioning, Jerry invites leaders to embark on a journey of self-reflection and growth, offering practical guidance and transformative insights along the way.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Discover the surprising connection between childhood experiences and adult leadership styles, and learn how to turn past challenges into sources of strength and resilience.
• Explore the power of radical self-inquiry to unlock your full potential as a leader and create more authentic and purposeful organizations.
• Gain insights into the paradoxical nature of success and learn strategies for navigating the dissonance between external achievements and internal fulfillment.
• Understand the importance of emotional authenticity in leadership and discover techniques for cultivating greater self-awareness and empathy in your interactions with others.
• Learn how to harness the power of purpose-driven leadership to create meaningful change and contribute to the healing of the world through your work.
• Hear why confronting uncomfortable truths and embracing vulnerability are essential for building more inclusive and compassionate organizations.
• Discover the transformative potential of coaching in helping leaders align their inner values with their outer actions and create more impactful and fulfilling careers.

Connect with Jerry Colonna

Reboot.io

Reunion: Leadership and Longing to Belong

Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up

Jerry Colonna LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website