Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries ...
How can family enterprise leaders stay ahead in a fast-changing world?
We explore how family enterprise leaders can strike the right balance between preserving their organization's legacy and adapting to an evolving business landscape. How can family enterprise leaders stay ahead in a fast-changing world? Family enterprises are the backbone of economies worldwide, but their leaders face an increasingly critical challenge: how to preserve their organizations' legacies in a fast-changing world. What makes some family enterprises thrive across generations while others struggle to adapt? How can leaders maintain what made their organization successful while meeting the demands of a new business landscape? And what skills will the next generation of family enterprise leaders need to navigate an increasingly complex future? In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to some of our trusted advisors—Justus O'Brien, Anupama Puranik, Diego Esteban, and Peter Gramkov—who share their perspectives on: How successful family enterprises maintain their core values while adapting to market changes Why engaging the next generation is critical for innovation and growth How to navigate tension during periods of transformation What skills future family enterprise leaders will need to thrive "One key skill that leaders need is emotional intelligence. You need to understand what is going on in the family. You need to understand the values. But it's super important not only to understand potentially one generation, but several generations.” Peter Gramkov, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates. Four things you'll learn from this episode Values and traditions are the heart of every family enterprise. Next-generation leaders must understand the importance of carrying them forward. Keeping pace with transformation can be the difference between whether a family enterprise can endure across generations—or not. The most successful family enterprises approach succession proactively rather than in reaction to a leadership departure or crisis. Exceptional family enterprise leaders combine strong business acumen with emotional intelligence, active listening, and the confidence to challenge constructively. In this 17-minute episode, we will cover: (00:01:31) How successful family enterprises balance preservation and progress (00:06:06) The role of independent board directors in driving change (00:09:23) How to create personalized development paths for future leaders (00:12:20) Why active listening skills are critical for transformation (00:13:47) What the future holds for family enterprises globally A closer look at the research from this episode: Family Enterprise Advisory Global Leadership Monitor H1 2024 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
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16:59
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key topic in C-suite and board room discussions these days; one with the potential to redefine or at least impact every aspect of business and society. Leaders around the world and across industries are racing to figure out how to best implement the technology to gain efficiencies, increase productivity, and ultimately grow their business. Today, Hoda and Simon talk with serial entrepreneur and Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu to help shed some light on how leaders can harness the power of AI in their business. With more than 25 years in the tech industry, Louis shares his perspectives on how leaders can take advantage of AI transformation and what mistakes to look out for. He’ll talk about the importance of AI ethics, and how leaders can navigate the culture change that AI brings to an organization. He’ll also share how AI and GenAI can create better experiences for their customers and employees. And as someone who’s worked with and served on several boards, he’ll talk about what goes into building a successful board and the power of optimism. We'll also hear from Harpreet Khurana, Chief Digital and Data Analytics Officer at RRA. Harpreet will outline the risk when organizations don’t use AI ethically and sets out RRA’s people-first approach to responsible AI. Read more about our RRA’s Responsible AI Principles. Four things you’ll learn from this episode: How leaders can leverage AI in their organizations and how that might impact how they lead their teams What leaders need to keep in mind when it comes to AI ethics and culture change What goes into building a successful board Leadership tips on building a successful company If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes: Talking Transformational Leadership with RRA’s CEO Constantine Alexandrakis Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat Leadership Lounge: Unleashing AI’s potential: Are you ready to lead the charge? Driving Transformation with Volvo Cars President and CEO Jim Rowan Leadership Lounge: How can leaders succeed in a Gen-AI-driven world? A Front Row Seat to the AI Revolution with Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith – Part 1 and Part 2
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42:02
Talking Transformational Leadership with RRA’s CEO Constantine Alexandrakis
In today’s fast-paced, competitive business landscape, hiring and developing future-ready, transformational C-suite leaders is critical to organizational success. Making the wrong hiring decision can often lead to higher costs, damage to workplace culture, or worse. So what are the key things to keep in mind as you think about the leaders who can help take your organization to the next level? In our first episode of Season 5, Simon sits down with Russell Reynolds Associates’ own CEO, Constantine Alexandrakis, to talk about what to look for in transformational C-suite leaders and how to use leadership assessment tools – like RRA’s Leadership Portrait – to find them. He’ll reveal how to take the next step in building transformational teams and what makes them successful. He’ll also share tips from his own CEO journey and the steps he took to prepare for that transition to nail his first year in the role. We'll also hear from Erin Zolna, a leadership advisor in our New York office, who will outline our latest research on the skills that leaders need in a fast-changing world. Four things you’ll learn from this episode: How to start well when stepping into a new CEO role How to assess transformational leaders and why it’s important before they take on leadership roles What makes transformational teams different and how they operate What C-suite leaders are thinking about AI and the top challenges they’re facing If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes: Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat Leadership Lounge: How to Future-Proof Your Leadership Talking Tough Decisions with TCW President and CEO Katie Koch Leadership Lounge: How to nail your first year as CEO Unpacking Leadership Lessons with Marriott International President and CEO Tony Capuano
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37:47
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Leaders have to make tough decisions and overcome adversity, often navigating through uncertainty and challenges along their leadership journeys. In this final episode of 2024, we’ll take a look back at the conversations we’ve had with the incredible leaders who joined us on Redefiners this past season to share their leadership stories and insights. Hoda and Simon dig into the Season 4 archives to highlight how guests have led, and in some cases redefined, their organizations in an unprecedented year of change. Topics include AI and tech transformation, CEO transitions, geopolitical uncertainty and national elections, boards, climate change and sustainability, and more. And continuing our end of year holiday tradition, Hoda and Simon put themselves in our guests’ shoes to answer some fun end of year rapid fire questions. Redefiners will return with more conversations with global leaders in January 2025, so be sure to follow and subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode! In the meantime, you can listen to and watch all Redefiners episodes at https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/redefiners or wherever you get your podcasts. Happy holidays!
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53:20
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
Change is something all leaders deal with at various points in their careers. Whether it’s technological change, organizational change, or perhaps even changing careers or industries. Our guest today has managed through all of that change and more. In today’s episode, Clarke and Hoda talk with Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer at Alphabet and Google. Ruth shares her story of career change, transitioning from her long-time role as CFO at both Morgan Stanley and Google to leading investments and philanthropic efforts at Google. Through it all, she talks about how she’s led through both business and personal change and uncertainty – including the financial meltdown in 2007-2008 when she was with Morgan Stanley, the fast-paced change that comes with technology transformation at Google, as well as her own personal battle with cancer. She’ll also talk about the promise of AI, especially in science, healthcare, education, climate, and other key areas. We'll also hear from Robert Voth, a Managing Director in our Chicago office, who will discuss the critical challenge of CEO succession facing banking leadership today. Four things you’ll learn from this episode: How to lead through uncertainty and change What steps leaders can take to ensure they’re preparing their organizations and people for the changes AI will bring What skills organizations should look for when it comes to finding technology and AI-enabled leaders How to consider future-looking investment swings when there’s no guarantee they’ll pay off If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes: Science Fiction to Science Fact: A Conversation with Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson Reimagining Patient Care: A Conversation with Healthcare Innovator Ashley McEvoy Trust Your Gut: AXA’s Thomas Buberl Talks Transformation and Reinvention Talking Tough Decisions with TCW President and CEO Katie Koch From Server to COO: Kat Cole’s Journey to the Top
Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries and around the globe are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to create extraordinary impact in today’s rapidly changing world.In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates Leadership Advisor Hoda Tahoun and former CEO Clarke Murphy host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who share their insights and perspectives on how they lead, boldly. You’ll come away with fresh ideas and tangible takeaways on how you can redefine your own leadership trajectory – no matter where you are on your journey. Our Hosts:Clarke Murphy Clarke Murphy is the former Chief Executive Officer of Russell Reynolds Associates and serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he was the Global Leader of the firm's CEO/Board Services Practice.While at Russell Reynolds Associates, Clarke has conducted a number of significant projects in the industry, including Fortune 100 board searches and CEO successions. In addition, he has led notable searches in the private equity industry including searches for the Carlyle Group and Warburg Pincus.Hoda TahounAs a leadership advisor and leader of the global Leisure & Hospitality Practice at RRA, Hoda Tahoun identifies, assesses, and develops dynamic C-suite leaders for global hospitality, travel, and leisure companies. Based in Miami, Hoda helps clients solve their most pressing leadership issues at the CEO, C-suite, and other executive-levels. She also advises clients on customer-centric, go-to-market leadership roles such as chief marketing officers and chief experience officers. Hoda is committed to reshaping the hospitality and leisure landscape to ensure it is an industry that leads with purpose, value, and wellbeing and continues to attract and retain talent across all facets of diversity.Hoda spent more than seven years working for a boutique executive search firm, rising to the title of principal where she worked closely with hotel management companies, cruise lines and private equity firms. Previously, Hoda was an assistant vice president at SHUAA Capital in Dubai where she led the firm’s investment banking efforts. She has also worked at American Express, Bank of America and Citi.