Sparks: Think Beyond Borders: How to Cultivate a Global Citizen Mindset With Solvay CEO Ilham Kadri

In today’s leadership spark, Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney discusses vulnerability and its role within high-functioning teams, such as fighter pilots and special operators. He emphasizes the importance of trust and openness, where vulnerability is embraced to improve performance and learn from mistakes.  Dan shares personal experiences, including a near-fatal mistake during a flight and the financial struggles he faced while building a golf course. He highlights the significance of overcoming challenges and finding intentionality in daily actions, even during difficult times. The advice he gives to leaders is to create environments where failure is accepted and to focus on working hard and being nice as a simple yet effective leadership approach. Dan Rooney is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠ __________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email ⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

10 Elo 202314min

In today’s leadership spark, Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney, a fighter pilot and Founder of Folds of Honor Foundation, discusses the dangers of complacency in leadership and life. He shares a personal story from a combat mission, highlighting the empowering feeling of being solely responsible for others' lives.  Dan emphasizes the importance of discipline over motivation and outlines his daily code, "Kaboo," which helps him stay focused and intentional. While acknowledging that failure happens during missions, he stresses the significance of learning from mistakes to continually improve performance and achieve excellence. Dan Rooney is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠ __________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email ⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

9 Elo 202314min

In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney, Founder of Folds of Honor Foundation. Dan shares remarkable life lessons learned from being a fighter pilot and how he applies it to his leadership and personal growth.  Dan shares three transformative lessons he learned during his training: starting every day with gratitude, staying ready so you don't have to get ready, and going before you're ready. Dan also shares a personal story about overcoming complacency and the dangers of tying identity solely to achievements. He highlights the power of vulnerability and humility in leadership, acknowledging that struggles and setbacks are part of the human experience. Dan Rooney is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now. __________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email https://greatleadership.substack.com/

8 Elo 202317min

In this episode, I speak with Caryl Stern, a remarkable leader and philanthropist. Caryl's background includes serving as the Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation, being on the Board of Directors at The Container Store, and leading UNICEF USA. She shares the importance of doing good, influenced by her immigrant mentality and the serendipity of life. Caryl emphasizes being open to new opportunities and embracing roles that scare us. We discuss her pivotal moment in choosing philanthropy and the profound experiences she's encountered. Caryl highlights how helping others releases feel-good chemicals and the significance of humility. __________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/

7 Elo 202348min

In today's episode, I speak with Stephen Smith, CEO of Amsted Industries. Stephen shares his belief that vulnerability is about acknowledging that you can be wrong and being willing to expose yourself as a human being. He emphasized that showing vulnerability helps to level the playing field and eliminates defensiveness, which can hinder effective decision-making. Stephen recounted instances where he openly admitted his ignorance during meetings, which he believes fosters a culture of learning and growth. He also highlighted the importance of sharing personal experiences, such as his joy of becoming a grandparent, to help others see him as a human being with similar joys and emotions. We discussed the importance of balancing vulnerability with strength, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. Stephen believes that being vulnerable can convey strength and security, and it's crucial to communicate both effectively. He also shared that he's been vulnerable in his personal life, such as taking piano lessons at 65 and performing in a recital alongside a five-year-old prodigy. Stephen believes that living a life where you're not always the powerful person but sometimes the vulnerable one is important, especially as a leader. Stephen Smith is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. ⁠Check it out here and pre-order your copy now.⁠ __________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

5 Elo 202319min

In this leadership spark, Bill George, former Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, discusses the essence of authentic leadership. He stresses the importance of finding one's True North – understanding personal beliefs, passions, motivations, and sources of fulfillment – by reflecting on past experiences and crucibles.  Bill emphasizes staying aligned with your True North and resisting compromising values for short-term gains or external validation. He advocates for emotional intelligence and vulnerability, encouraging leaders to seek feedback, learn from experiences, and make principled decisions. Ultimately, he inspires aspiring leaders to lead authentically, empowering others and making a positive difference. Bill George is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now. __________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email https://greatleadership.substack.com/

3 Elo 202321min

In today’s leadership spark, Bill George, former Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, dives deep into the most critical aspect of any company: its people. He highlights the importance of frontline employees and their role in driving the success of the organization.  Bill mentions the importance of creating an environment where innovation can thrive. He encourages leaders to have a high tolerance for failure and to learn from setbacks. Bill also finds personal development crucial as a leader and emphasizes the importance of self-awareness. He suggests regularly seeking 360-degree feedback for growth and reflecting and taking time to evaluate one's actions and impact on others. Bill George is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now. __________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email https://greatleadership.substack.com/

2 Elo 202328min

In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic and Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, about his leadership journey and experiences. Bill shares how his father's advice, to be the leader he never became, shaped his career. He also discusses his early struggles with leadership, and he emphasizes the importance of caring about people and building deep connections as a leader.  Bill recalls his early leadership role at Litton Industries and how a crisis there taught him invaluable lessons in leading through tough times. He also talks about his time at Medtronic, the growth of the company, and the significance of innovation and developing inspired leaders. Overall, the discussion revolves around the evolution of leadership, the impact of relationships, and the changing expectations of leaders in modern times. Bill George is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability, which is coming out in October. Check it out here and pre-order your copy now. __________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email https://greatleadership.substack.com/

1 Elo 202319min