How Lumen CEO Kate Johnson Changed the Culture of a Billion-Dollar Company From Playing Not to Lose to Playing to Win

How Lumen CEO Kate Johnson Changed the Culture of a Billion-Dollar Company From Playing Not to Lose to Playing to Win

Turning around a struggling company isn't for the faint of heart, but Kate Johnson, CEO of Lumen Technologies, is proving it can be done—and done well. Leading 30,000 employees and steering billions in revenue, Kate is tackling one of the toughest challenges in business: shifting a telecom giant from "playing not to lose" to "playing to win." In this episode, Kate opens her fresh and fearless playbook on what it really takes to transform a culture: it starts with clarifying your mission and getting everyone aligned. She shares bold, practical strategies like fostering trust, teaching resilience, and encouraging courageous conversations that push teams forward, not sideways. We'll also unpack why most leaders fail at culture change (and it's not for lack of trying), how to break silos by getting close to the action, and the non-negotiables for any leader's first 100 days. If you're ready to rethink what it means to lead and create a culture that wins, you don't want to miss this one.

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Episoder(1184)

Bank of America on Gen Z Fears, AI Slowing Productivity, and the Rise of Workplace Non-Compliers

Bank of America on Gen Z Fears, AI Slowing Productivity, and the Rise of Workplace Non-Compliers

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Behind the Scenes of CEO Succession Planning: How Organizations Decide Who Leads Next W/ Debbie Pickle, CHRO of Williams

Behind the Scenes of CEO Succession Planning: How Organizations Decide Who Leads Next W/ Debbie Pickle, CHRO of Williams

When a longtime CEO steps down, it's not just a change in leadership—it's a shift in the organization's heartbeat. After 40 years of service, Williams faced exactly that moment: a legacy to honor, a c...

5 Jan 55min

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What an Entrepreneur, a Scientist, and a Security Chief Teach About Future-Ready Leadership

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29 Des 202551min

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AI Is Complicating Hiring, Remote Work Has a Price, and Careers Are Breaking Down

December 24, 2025:  The systems we've relied on to organize work are starting to crack. In this episode of Future Ready Today, we unpack four stories that reveal how deeply work is being reshaped — of...

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Remote Work as Privilege, AI at Work, and Why Sundays Are Becoming Workdays

Remote Work as Privilege, AI at Work, and Why Sundays Are Becoming Workdays

December 23, 2025:  AI is moving from experiment to expectation at record speed, but employees say leadership hasn't built the systems needed to support it. Remote work is quietly becoming a privilege...

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Inside the AI and Innovation Transformation of a 200 Year Old Railroad Company

Inside the AI and Innovation Transformation of a 200 Year Old Railroad Company

For many leaders, "transformation at scale" feels like an impossible task—especially when employees are overwhelmed, technology is accelerating, and expectations about the future of work keep shifting...

22 Des 202558min

DEI Faces a Reckoning, The Workforce Is Hesitating, and Degrees Are Losing Value

DEI Faces a Reckoning, The Workforce Is Hesitating, and Degrees Are Losing Value

December 19, 2025:  Workers are hesitating before changing jobs. Parents are questioning whether college is still worth the cost. Talent shortages persist even as hiring slows. And U.S. regulators are...

19 Des 202520min

AI Job Loss Panic Is Wrong—Here's What the Data Actually Shows

AI Job Loss Panic Is Wrong—Here's What the Data Actually Shows

https://bit.ly/8exlawsDecember 18, 2025:  Is artificial intelligence already replacing jobs—or is that narrative getting ahead of the data? This episode examines new research from Vanguard's 2026 Econ...

19 Des 202522min

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