How the CEO of Amsted Industries Discovered Being Vulnerable by Playing Piano

How the CEO of Amsted Industries Discovered Being Vulnerable by Playing Piano

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/

Avsnitt(1178)

Why the Frontline Workforce Is the Future of Work (And How Spectrum Is Proving It)

Why the Frontline Workforce Is the Future of Work (And How Spectrum Is Proving It)

Many companies try to solve low morale with simple perks like wellness apps, but workers often care more about real pay and career growth. The big challenge today is keeping frontline employees happy ...

23 Feb 51min

The Robot Is Already Your Boss. Here Are the Rules It Should Follow

The Robot Is Already Your Boss. Here Are the Rules It Should Follow

Feb 20, 2026: AI is already deciding who gets hired, promoted, and fired — and there are almost no rules governing how it does any of that. In this episode, I'm building those rules. I call them the ...

20 Feb 1h 1min

AI Job Risk Map Revealed, Accenture Ties Promotions to AI, & Only 5% Are AI Fluent

AI Job Risk Map Revealed, Accenture Ties Promotions to AI, & Only 5% Are AI Fluent

February 19, 2026: AI is rapidly becoming a career requirement and the workforce is splitting into those who can adapt and those who get squeezed. In today's episode, I cover 5 stories that reveal wha...

19 Feb 38min

The "Jobless Boom," AI Oversight, and Why Job-Hopping Stopped Paying

The "Jobless Boom," AI Oversight, and Why Job-Hopping Stopped Paying

The U.S. economy is creating wealth… but not many jobs. At the same time, AI is spreading across the workplace, yet most employees still don't trust it to run without human oversight. In today's episo...

18 Feb 30min

AI Agents Are Here, Managers Are Disappearing, and Productivity Still Isn't Moving

AI Agents Are Here, Managers Are Disappearing, and Productivity Still Isn't Moving

Feb 17, 2026: Today I break down five signals that are quietly reshaping work: OpenAI hiring the creator of OpenClaw—a major shift from chatbots that talk to agents that act Why "supervisors are d...

17 Feb 43min

The Future of Human Work: Prologis' CHRO on AI, Creativity, and Continuous Learning

The Future of Human Work: Prologis' CHRO on AI, Creativity, and Continuous Learning

Leaders today face a critical AI dilemma: move too quickly and risk producing low-quality "work slop," or move too slowly and sacrifice a crucial competitive edge in innovation. But one global real es...

16 Feb 42min

Inflation Falls, Anthropic Gets $30 Billion, and IBM Doubles Down on Gen Z

Inflation Falls, Anthropic Gets $30 Billion, and IBM Doubles Down on Gen Z

Feb 13, 2026: Inflation just cooled to 2.4%. Markets are betting on rate cuts. And at the same time, Anthropic raised $30 billion at a $380 billion valuation. That's not coincidence — it's transition....

13 Feb 30min

Ford Pays Up, Gen Z Goes Blue-Collar, AI Burns People Out, and Safety Leaders Quit

Ford Pays Up, Gen Z Goes Blue-Collar, AI Burns People Out, and Safety Leaders Quit

Feb 12, 2026: In this episode of Future-Ready Today, I break down four major stories that reveal how the workplace is recalibrating in 2026. Ford is boosting companywide bonuses to 130% after major qu...

12 Feb 37min

Populärt inom Business & ekonomi

framgangspodden
varvet
rss-jossan-nina
svd-tech-brief
rss-svart-marknad
rss-borsens-finest
badfluence
uppgang-och-fall
avanzapodden
fill-or-kill
bathina-en-podcast
rss-inga-dumma-fragor-om-pengar
rss-dagen-med-di
rikatillsammans-om-privatekonomi-rikedom-i-livet
lastbilspodden
borsmorgon
tabberaset
rss-kort-lang-analyspodden-fran-di
24fragor
bilar-med-sladd