Join us for an insightful episode featuring John Williams, the CEO and President of Domtar, a $3.8 billion pulp and paper giant with 6,500 employees. John shares his leadership journey and the transformative power of vulnerability at the workplace.

Discover how authenticity, self-awareness, empathy, and openness shape John's leadership style. He highlights the significance of trusted advisors, tailored communication, and professional boundaries. John also emphasizes the role of competence in building confidence and the need for a culture where every employee feels valued.

With over 40 years of leadership experience, John's stories and insights offer a unique perspective on leading with vulnerability. Tune in to gain valuable wisdom from a seasoned CEO who understands the importance of authenticity and openness in corporate leadership.

John Williams is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability. Grab your copy now⁠: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Vulnerability-Superpower-Transform-Organization/dp/1119895243/⁠⁠

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In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Alan Murray, CEO of Fortune Media. Alan and I delve into the evolution of business and leadership. According to him, nowadays, businesses value ideas and people more than just physical stuff, like buildings and machines. He noticed that some people seem not to want to work as much, but he believes many are still hardworking and dedicated. 

Alan thinks being a good leader today means inspiring and motivating people and showing realness and understanding, pointing out how the late Arne Sorenson of Marriott led by example during tough times. Throughout our conversation, we’ve highlighted the significant generational shifts and the increasing importance of adaptability and a people-centric approach in leadership.

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This episode is sponsored by Kyndryl. Kyndryl makes the future of work possible by designing, building and managing systems that the world depends on. Make sure to check them out at Kyndryl.com.

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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/

Today I take you behind the scenes to share some of the key concepts and ideas from my brand new book, “Leading With Vulnerability,” which is out today! Vulnerability at work can hurt you far more than it can help you and in today’s podcast I’ll explain why that’s the case and what you can do about it. The key is not to use vulnerability on its own but to combine vulnerability with leadership, what I call, The Vulnerable Leader Equation. Tune in to learn more or head to ⁠LeadWithVulnerability.com⁠ to grab a copy of my brand new book.

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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/

In today's episode, I spoke with Matt Abrahams, a lecturer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and author of the new book Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques. We discussed strategies and mindsets for improving spontaneous speaking and becoming a better communicator. Matt shared insights from his extensive research and experience coaching business leaders on critical skills like managing anxiety, listening intently, structuring responses, and focusing your message.

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This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠Kyndryl⁠⁠. Kyndryl makes the future of work possible by designing, building and managing systems that the world depends on. Make sure to check them out at ⁠⁠Kyndryl.com⁠⁠.

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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/

In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Jacques van den Broek, the former CEO of Randstad, about fostering a work culture that encourages innovation and risk-taking. Jacques notes that employees often hold back due to unfounded fears. But he emphasizes the need for leaders to encourage employees to speak up and take initiative, even if it goes against the grain. 

Jacques believes that employer-earned loyalty is vital, especially with the rise of remote work. Jacques also advises employees to think about their long-term career goals, stating that if your employer is not supportive of your growth and openness, perhaps you're working for the wrong company. He urges employees to take responsibility for remaining attractive in the job market and not to stay stuck in unfulfilling roles.

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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/

In today’s leadership spark, Jacques van den Broek, former CEO of Randstad, and I delve into the pillars of modern leadership: optimism, vulnerability, authenticity, and risk-taking. Jacques highlights the transformative power of optimistic thinking, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. He also emphasizes the significance of vulnerability in fostering open, honest work environments.

Jacques candidly discusses his mistakes, including a failed $150 million business venture, to underscore the importance of resilience and learning from setbacks. He advises leaders to embrace transparency in both their successes and failures and encourages a culture of courage where teams feel empowered to innovate without waiting for permission. This impactful conversation offers you the mindset and strategies needed to be an effective, relatable leader in today's rapidly evolving workforce.

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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/

In today’s leadership spark, I chat with Jacques van den Broek, former CEO of Randstad, about the various facets of modern leadership and workforce trends. Jacques outlines his rise from trainee to CEO and shares his hands-on, data-focused leadership style. We also discussed the shift from a client-centered to talent-centered job market and Jacques introduced "tech and touch," a strategy for long-term talent engagement. 

Jacques highlights the importance of individual career responsibility, contrasting it with a survey revealing that only 25% feel responsible for their own career growth. Moreover, our conversation touched on the "great resignation," which Jacques had anticipated, and explored automation's impact, particularly on white-collar jobs. Jacques advises leaders to communicate openly about job security to benefit both employees and the company.

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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/

In today's episode, I speak with David Rogier, the mastermind behind MasterClass. Drawing inspiration from his grandmother's resilient journey as a Jewish refugee in NYC, David embarked on a mission: democratizing access to world-class experts. From securing heavyweights like Serena Williams to James Patterson, he shares the nuanced strategy and the importance of selective mentorship. We also touch upon the meticulous approach to prototyping at MasterClass, ensuring each course resonates with learners. Beyond the mechanics, David emphasizes the role of empathy in shaping the platform, striving for genuine connections in a digital age.

Join us for an insightful exploration into the ethos and evolution of MasterClass.

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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/

In today’s leadership spark, I spoke with bestselling author and Stanford Graduate School of Business professor, Chip Heath, about the power of numbers in instigating change. The conversation revolves around the importance of providing comparative context to data for clearer understanding, rather than presenting standalone figures. 

Chip emphasizes the pivotal role emotion plays in data interpretation. For immediate practical application, Chip suggests starting with the simplification and contextualization of a single data point in presentations. He illustrates this with the striking revenue comparison between the video game industry and Hollywood. The core takeaway is the ability of relatable and emotionally resonant numbers to drive change and inspire action.

Chip Heath is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability which is coming out in October: https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Vulnerability-Superpower-Transform-Organization/dp/1119895243/ 

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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/

In today’s leadership spark, I chat with bestselling author and Stanford Graduate School of Business professor, Chip Heath, about the challenges and nuances of communicating with numbers and data. Chip underscores the difficulty people often face with fractions and percentages, as seen with A&W's marketing misstep against McDonald's. 

Chip also mentions the "curse of knowledge", where expertise can cloud one's understanding of a novice's perspective. Throughout our conversation, we delved into the significance of making data relatable and meaningful. By converting abstract numbers into tangible concepts, like likening the number of preventable sepsis deaths to annual cancer diagnoses, data becomes not only more understandable but also emotionally resonant, effectively engaging and motivating audiences

Chip Heath is one of the 100+ CEOs I interviewed for my new book, Leading With Vulnerability which is coming out in October: https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Vulnerability-Superpower-Transform-Organization/dp/1119895243/ 

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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/