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Michael Paul, Ph.D., does the opposite—he believes that real leadership starts with choosing trust over armor. Michael was deeply influenced by the wisdom of Patrick Lencioni, never choose "invulnerability over trust."

As CEO of MARAbio, he is helping build a company that knows exactly why it exists: to use maternal immune science to help eradicate the most severe forms of autism, giving families earlier answers and more hope. 

On this episode of Imperfect Leaders, Michael unpacks how that clear purpose shapes every hard conversation with parents, clinicians, investors, and his own team—and how a leadership style that embraces his heart, mind, and soul (psychological safety), and a culture grounded in honesty makes it possible to tackle obstacles as big as autism itself.

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Less well know, was Clay's active role as a mentor to young, up-and-coming innovators. One of those beneficiaries was today's guest, Chris Johnson, Founder & CEO of Bluebird Kid's Health.

Bluebird is revolutionizing pediatric care. They are solving the problem of "pediatric care deserts" by building pediatric practices in access-starved neighborhoods, using a modern, tech-enabled approach to care delivery, and implementing a high-performing model built specifically for pediatrics and value-based care (VBC).

Chris is a mission-driven entrepreneur and innovator who was, quite literally, molded by Clay.

ND50

In this episode, we explore how Eleplan is changing the game for families—making the chaos of care more manageable and freeing up precious time and peace of mind.

But as Amanda shares, caregiving isn’t just about looking after others; it’s about who we become in the process. From her own family’s journey to Eleplan’s powerful vision, you’ll discover how better care can transform families, bring clarity to overwhelming moments, and help all of us grow into our best selves.

Whether you’re a caregiver, a leader, or simply seeking inspiration, this is an episode about love, innovation, and the character that comes from caring.

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Because solving complex problems require diversity of thought. As Steve Jobs used to say, "Think Different! "

What's the catch?

Leading these kinds of innovative teams isn't easy – in fact, it's very difficult.

It requires 'true leadership' according to today's guest, Dr. Keivan Stassun, a MacArthur fellow, rocket scientist, professor, and Founder and Director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University.

Organizations that develop this leadership capability will reap the benefits.

With that in mind, Dr. Stassun and I have a challenge for CEOs across the country. We challenge you to develop rising leaders who are ready to lead neurodiverse teams.

And if you accept our challenge, we would love to hear your stories. What's working? What's is not? How are you thinking different? What are you doing to build a bench of future leaders who can help everyone reach their full potential?

Given the complex challenges that lie ahead, this may be the defining leadership development challenge (and opportunity) of our generation.

I call it the: "Neurodiverse Leadership Challenge."

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Today's guest – Chris Male – is one of those trailblazers.

His firm – The Autism Impact Fund (AIF) – is helping to solve what many experts consider the largest public health issue of our generation -– skyrocketing autism, and other mental and behavioral health conditions.

AIF has become the investment and innovation arm of the autism community.

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At the pinnacle of his career, he suddenly left the global giant, Heidrick & Struggles. Dave had an entrepreneurial itch. He wanted to create something new. He wanted to make an even bigger impact in the world.

He succeeded.

His new firm – Banff Advisors – is like a Hollywood talent agent or like a concierge doctor but for leadership in the business world. He and his colleagues are trusted advisors to top leaders who want to do things like build their network, or rethink think their brand, or position themselves for exciting new board opportunities.

And...oh yeah...Banff also works with some of the most interesting companies, in the entire country, to help them build their talent pipelines. it's like a permanent flow of great talent and bench strength.

Learn how Dave created this ecosystem in today's episode of Imperfect Leaders.

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His son Liam – received a diagnosis of profound autism at 2 years old. As you can imagine, this crucible experience forever changed the lives of Adrian and his incredible wife, Tina.

Aside from bringing immeasurable joy (and, if we're being honest lots of heartache and pain), Liam has helped Adrian become crystal clear about his core values, deeply held beliefs, and North Star.

in very real ways, Liam has helped his dad become a better leader, husband, father, and human being.

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Brian sits at the intersection of two brutally competitive, results-oriented industries – private equity and real estate.

And his new firm – 11 North Partners – invests in beautiful, open-air developments – and drives alpha in an unusual way.

They do it through humanity, empathy, and values-driven leadership. The 'soft skills' really do drive 'hard' business results.

And by the way, Caleb couldn't be happier – he lives at The Center for Discovery – which provides a unique and powerful way of helping autistic individuals reach their full potential.

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In today's episode, find out how she developed empathy and discovered her 'true north' – those deeply held values that define her as a leader, and as a human being.

Share your thoughts.

In this article, I showcased Anastasia Boyko, who was an Assistant Dean at Yale Law School (#1 law school in the country) build one of the most inspiring leadership programs in the country - "The Tsai Leadership Program."

Joe Tsai (YLS, '90) and YLS Dean Heather Gerkin must have so much pride in what the school has accomplished in just a few short years.

Today, more than ever, the world needs lawyers who know how to lead. We crave leaders with integrity, who clearly understand their core values, and know how to effectively communicate and inspire others.

Anastasia is the perfect person to talk to about this topic.

Share comments.

Bringing this vision to life requires a special kind of leader...one who balances strength and vulnerability...left brain analytics and right brain creativity...charisma and authenticity....confidence and humility.

Today's guest - Austin Allison - Founder and CEO of Pacaso - is one of these very special leaders....what I like to call an ambidextrous CEO.

In today's episode, find out why iconic leaders, like former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is a mentor to Austin and investor in Pacaso. And find out why you should be part of the Pacaso ecosystem as well – either as an investor or as an owner.

To take creative liberty with Billy Joel's song ..."I'm in a Pacaso State of Mind."

A) Helped pilot a rocket into space; B) Built a hot air balloon that could ascend 38,000 feet; C) Jumped off that hot air balloon at maximum height; D) Won highly competitive, off-road car races; or E) Explored the deepest depths of the ocean floor?

Today's guest – Larry Connor – has done all of the above...not to mention his day job building one of the most successful real estate companies in the United States.  

What's his secret?  A breakthrough mindset. He doesn't set artificial limits on what others think is possible. Instead, he asks a simple question, "why not?" More often than not, he succeeds. And when he fails, he learns from those setbacks and applies the wisdom to his next venture.

Autistic children have significant challenges – at work and at home. No doubt about it.

But they also have a competitive advantage in the world of innovative leadership - they think different. Which begs the question – can autistic children develop into innovative leaders – in society and in business?

To help us answer this question, we talk today with Dr. Trenna Sutcliffe. She created the world-renowned Sutcliffe Clinic, that is like a mini-Mayo Clinic, taking a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to helping neurodiverse children reach their full potential and lead happier, more productive lives.

Join – The Leadership Mindset Challenge

Find out why firm Chair, Ira Coleman, still enjoys interviewing law students – and doesn't even get upset (in fact he gets excited) when candidates – who haven't even been hired yet – talk about their lives post-McDermott. Ira loves it when candidates ask, "what's my exit strategy?"

The events of the past year – racism, antisemitism, violence on campus, the removal of its president - have thrown their imperfections into stark relief for the world to see.

Today’s guest - Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana – is very open and humble about Harvard’s imperfections. But that doesn’t mean he’s sitting still. Far from it. Recognizing he casts a long shadow and embracing a 'beginner's mindset', Khurana is spearheading the Intellectual Vitality effort which he hopes will revitalize the school’s culture.

The lofty goal is to create a safe space environment across the entire campus and community – both physically and psychologically – that encourages tough conversations about divisive problems, in which students can learn from each other, regardless of how uncomfortable it is, at first.

As Dean Khurana says, “let’s be hard on the problem, but easy on each other.”

We should all be keeping an eye on Harvard's progress. Lessons gleaned may help other universities - and other divided institutions and partisan leaders across America in the media, politics, education, and business.

www.imperfectleaders.com, Jefffrey Cohn

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Today’s guest – Ted Bililies – is a world leading private equity expert. Long gone are the old, wild west days of KKR and Barbarians at the Gate, when private equity investors would buy a company, saddle it with massive debt, ruthlessly squeeze out costs, and sell the company for a quick buck.

According to Ted, PE investors, in today's world, are taking a radically different approach to adding value – a fundamentally more human approach that offers a more enduring advantage, and one that is certain to appeal to a entirely new generation of talent.  

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Before billionaire owner Marc Lore and co-owner Alex Rodriguez lured him to Minnesota, Connelly worked side by side with Stan and Josh Kroenke and Coach Michael Malone - as the team's GM who helped the Denver Nuggets win their very first world championship.

What is Tim’s secret sauce?  Is it superior analytics and competitive intelligence? Nope. Actually, it’s the exact opposite. Tim is an incredibly emotionally intelligent leader – comfortable in his own skin and able to forge authentic relationships with star talent like Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert.

Although Tim prefers to stay out of the spotlight – and rarely will you see him do public interviews on ESPN or the NBA on TNT– he was gracious enough to share wisdom with our listeners. We hope you enjoy!

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Rich Ditizio is an incredible CEO who is responsible for leading this effort. He's the symphony conductor who works hard to create a psychologically safe space for creative talent to share radical ideas, challenge each others core assumptions, and work towards a common vision.

Although much more soft-spoken, in many ways Rich reminds me of some of our past guests who lead creative and iconic organizations: IDEO, Cirque du Soleil, and Pixar.

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Yet their founders - ⁠Monique and Melvin Rodriguez⁠ - had to overcome serious challenges most entrepreneurs can't even imagine. First of all the co-founders are African American, and faced a litany of nasty bias and rejection early in their journey. And if that weren’t enough the co-founders are also married and full time parents. Where did they find the time? The energy? The resilience? The faith to overcome so many obstacles on their path to excellence?

Their authentic story will be an inspiration to a future generation of entrepreneurs and leaders - from all corners of life - seeking to understand how love and faith conquers all - even in cut-throat, Corporate America.

www.imperfectleaders.com

According to today's guest - Dave Ulrich - a world-class thought leader at the University of Michigan Business School - talent matters, but team work matters even more. The same rules apply in business and in sports - from Amazon to the Denver Nuggets.

For example, why does world NBA champ Nikola Jokic prefer passing than scoring? Because, in Jokic's own words, when he passes the ball, two people are happy - one person gets the assist and the other gets the points.

In today's episode, Professor Ulrich helps us understand what CEOs - and rising star leaders in any organization - can learn about leadership from transcendent talent - like Jokic, Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry - each of whom made the tough but necessary transition from individual contributor to team leader.

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Every single one of them - including GOATs like Tom Brady and Michael Phelps- must overcome serious personal obstacles. And this usually happens early in life – in the pivotal teenage years. It might surprise you that Brady nearly gave up on football while still in college. But then he met someone special.

Today's guest - ⁠Greg Harden⁠ - is perhaps the greatest of all time in his profession - a performance coach and trusted mentor that helps talent reach their full potential - not only as athletes, but as human beings and great leaders.

Harden has just released a book that's destined to become a best seller – “Staying Sane in an Insane World.”

And if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a trusted coach and mentor, Greg shares the very personal story of the crucible moments that helped shape his core values and purpose in life.

⁠www.imperfectleaders.com ⁠, ⁠Jeffrey Cohn⁠

IDEO is the most iconic design studio in the world.

Clients are far-ranging and global - from hot, new startups to ground-breaking school systems to entire nations - and of course iconic brands including Coca-Cola, Ford, Ikea. And yes, they actually helped Apple create the very first mouse. If that weren't enough, one of IDEO's founders helped design the modern, fold down screen laptop computer that the entire world uses today.

For nearly 20 years Tim Brown - today's guest - was the CEO and orchestra conductor at IDEO - leading an incredibly diverse and creative team to unimaginable heights.

Brown recently stepped down as CEO, making room for a new generation of talent and to focus on thought leadership. His best-selling book - "Change By Design" has influenced innovators across the globe - and should be required reading for all students of innovation and leadership, alongside our other distinguished podcast guests including: Roger Martin a best-selling author; Ed Catmull, Co-Founder of Pixar; and Harvard Business School Professor Amy Edmondson.

Although he would probably never admit it - Tim Brown is without a doubt - the ultimate innovator's whisperer.

www.imperfectleaders.com, Jeffrey Cohn

Myria's ultra-wealthy clients - nearly all of whom are in the top .003% - come to Flemings with a wide range of requests, from relatively easy ones - like a front row seat to a Beyonce concert, box seats at the Super Bowl, or a personal invitation to the annual Met Gala in New York. Or sometimes they have nearly impossible requests - like helping clients secure an elusive O1 Visa during a government shutdown, or providing security detail in a country that frowns upon that sort of things.

And sometimes clients have off-the-charts existential requests - which Rey particularly loves - like partnering to enhance their personal legacies, figuring out how to lead happier lives, or the ultimate dream, helping them find true love. Helping clients solve these challenges are all part of the human condition, and a big part of Rey's job. Myria's mission aligns completely with Flemings' core values and authentic leadership style.

No matter how you slice it - Flemings has found a unique niche - and the company he founded is destined to make a positive impact in the world.

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This paradox made me think about the art of influence. How do you persuade people in a way that both sides feel they've won?

I turned to the world's preeminent thought leader on the topic - Professor Robert Cialdini - who wrote a book called Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion - that has sold more than five million copies around the world.

Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett loved the book so much they actually gave Cialdini a share of their stock - Berkshire Hathaway - which is now worth nearly 1/2 a million dollars. When asked about the gift, Munger replied, "The principles in your book have made our firm a lot of money over the years. You deserve a gift."

After listening to today's episode, let us know if you agree with Charlie Munger? Do Professor Cialdini's principles resonate with you?

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Every one of them is passionate about changing the way people eat - especially in the United States. And, they've all helped build some of the country's most amazing food brands including - True Food Kitchen, Snow Days, Cosmic Bliss, and Grove Collaborative.

Today, Jason is an incredible entrepreneur and philanthropist. Yet, his life has never been easy. Many times during his life, Jason has looked straight into the abyss - felt completely alone and deeply ashamed - and somehow used nothing but personal intellect and tenacity to emerge even stronger from his trauma.

It's the definition of a hero's journey.

In today's episode, Jason beautifully articulates his personal 'crucible' moments that helped shape his core values, personal mission, and leadership style.

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There's a good chance you wouldn't recognize him if he were standing right next to you. Yet, he's the creative genius and co-founder of Pixar - a totally unique organization that has completely changed the way many of us think about movies, culture, and even what it means to be a human being.

Catmull usually avoids the spotlight. In reality, he would rather work - behind the scenes - to build a fertile culture in which others can grow and succeed. In which others can reach their full creative potential. And, in which others can satisfy basic - if not contradictory human needs - like expressing individual ideas while simultaneously collaborating with others to build it into something much more profound.

Who could ever forget these iconic Pixar characters?:

• Tom Hanks in Toy Story
• Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks in Finding Nemo
• Samuel L. Jackson in The Incredibles
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a Bug's Life

Should we take the time to listen to Catmull's advice?

Well, many others have over the past few decades, including visionaries like Steve Jobs and George Lucas; creative geniuses like Brad Bird and Pete Docter; business icons like Bob Iger; and even top thought leaders (and former guests on our podcast), Professors Amy Edmondson, Linda Hill, and Roger Martin.

Trust us...Ed is worth a listen!

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To name just a few of his imperfections: He had a serious fear of failure as a young athlete. He struggled to find his 'place' while a student at Harvard University. He doesn't particularly like following the rules. And there are times when he feels extremely insecure, like the first time he raised money for his venture capital firm - Costanoa.

Yet, in just over a decade, Costanoa has emerged as one of the most well respected and successful venture capital firms in the entire world. Early stage entrepreneurs flock to Costanoa eager to begin a life-long relationship with Greg and his amazing colleagues. And Greg has never been more happy - "I wake up each morning with a smile on my face eager to go to work," he beams.

Find out why in today's episode of Imperfect Leaders - part of the Breakfast Club at Harvard.

She literally revolutionized the way CEOs around the world think about psychological safety. In her new book - The Right Kind of Wrong - she takes this conceptual framework one big step forward - and shares a practical tool-kit to help people reframe risk and learn from mistakes.

Edmondson confronts head-on the biggest dilemma facing innovative organizations. Bluntly, it requires people take risks and venture into the unknown. Yet people despise failure. How can leaders resolve this paradox? How can leaders create a culture that inspires their people to innovate, to be inclusive, to share unpopular views, to venture into the unknown, and to learn from their mistakes? How should talent feel about inevitable failure - and the embarrassment and shame they may feel?

One thing is certain - until organizations embrace 'intelligent failure' - they'll be at a competitive disadvantage to more innovative competitors.

Professor Edmondson's practical lessons apply broadly and equally well to innovators, CEOs, elite athletes, top chefs, research lab scientists, and even parents who just want to raise kids who embrace a more healthy perspective to risk taking and learning from the right kind of wrong.

Join the Breakfast Club.

Think how much worse this problem is when we are indoors, in closed spaces, and around lots of people. One last thing - consider that a full 90% of our time is spent indoors! Taken together, this is a big problem.

R-Zero has the solution - an energy efficient, technology-enabled, cost-effective, and 99.99% efficacious way to zap these harmful micro-organisms before they have a chance to enter your bloodstream. It's no surprise they've attracted elite partners and investors like The Mayo Clinic, John Doerr, Chairman Kleiner Perkins, Ira Ehrenpreis founder of DBL Partners,

The CEO of fast-growing startup is Jennifer Nuckles - an energetic, whip-smart, values-driven leader who believes strongly in the adage that companies should do well (make money) by doing good (helping others and the planet).

Jennifer shares her incredible journey, obstacles along the way, and valuable leadership lessons.

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The leadership advisory Geoff founded - G.H. Smart - is on speed-dial of the world's top CEOs, private equity investors, and corporate board members - who call when crucial and complex leadership challenges need an elegant, data-driven solution - like CEO succession and executive team composition.

In much the same way that Professor Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School redefined the way companies think about strategy formulation, Geoff and his colleagues at G.H. Smart - have forever changed the way companies around the world think about talent. Until Geoff quantified a practical approach to assessing leadership potential and culture fit, companies were forced to naively rely on 'gut feel' and instinct. The G.H. Smart approach is 10X more effective.

As Geoff's former professor and management guru - Peter Drucker - famously said, 'culture eats strategy for breakfast.' And now, decades later, G.H. Smart helps clients - every single day - bring this vision to life.

www.imperfectleaders.com

Today the company employs over 120,000 people and supplies nearly a quarter of all the beef, pork and chicken in the entire country - under the brand names Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ballpark, and many others.

John shares his thoughts on the board's number one responsibility - CEO succession planning. John recognizes there simply is no such thing as a perfect leader. To become CEO of Tyson Foods - even if your last name is Tyson - it's a long, hard, 30 year-trek...and even then its not a sure thing to reach the corner office. 

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - John Tyson - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

Before his current stint as a top basketball analyst at TNT, he was an NBA coach for several NBA teams, including the New Orleans Pelicans.

According to Coach Van Gundy, the best talent - across all disciplines - not just in sports, but in music, in academia, and certainly in business - don't just welcome occasional feedback and advice - they absolutely crave it.

They constantly seek to get out of their comfort zone - stretch the limits of their potential - make some mistakes along the way - reflect upon what they can do better - and eventually change their mindset and level up to unimaginable heights.

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He built from scratch a top-ranked professional services firm - called Vivaldi_ - which regularly advises the world's most admired CEOs and chief marketing officers - on their most complex transformational issues. 

Joachmisthaler's leadership journey will amaze you. He has continuously 'written the next chapter' - each new one more riveting than the last  - from humble roots growing up in a small town in Germany to earning a doctorate from Harvard Business School to co-authoring Brand Leadership (with David Aaker) which literally redefined the way companies think about brand, strategy and their core purpose. 

It's no wonder why top talent and future leaders are attracted to Vivaldi. The firm has a unique culture and inspires future leaders to reach maximum potential.

His most recent book - The Interaction Field - has been recognized by top scholars at elite business school.

We all know that something fundamental has changed in how businesses deliver value, but many of us have no idea what to do about it. This deeply insightful book takes you behind the scenes to explore the idea of shared value - for real. Virality, network effects and learning have changed the very nature of competitive advantage. This deeply insightful book will show you how to use these shifts to your advantage."―Rita Gunther McGrath, professor, Columbia Business School

"A thrilling new way of looking at a successful business model for the future. This fascinating book contains great business stories-such as LEGO, John Deere, Alibaba, Flatiron Health, and more-as well as important thinking today's CEOs should become familiar with."―Vijay Govindarajan Coxe Distinguished Professor at Tuck at Dartmouth NYT and WSJ Best Selling Author, Three Box Solution: A Strategy For Leading Innovation

"In this powerful and groundbreaking book, Joachimsthaler clearly demonstrates how platform thinking can be utilized to create shared value and drive new growth for companies and brands."―David Collis, Adjunct Professor at Harvard Business School, author, Corporate Strategy: Resources and the Scope of the Firm

"A fascinating, practical and insightful book that brilliantly examines the value that platform thinking can bring to companies and brands in today's hyper-connected world."―Sangeet Paul Choudary, CEO of Platformation Labs, International best-selling co-author, Platform Revolution and author of Platform Scale

"An engaging, insightful and immensely practical book on building strong brands and businesses delivering not just shareholder value but also shared value for companies, customers and society."―Vince Hudson Senior Vice President, Enterprise Marketing Strategy, American Express

www.imperfectleaders.com 

For many years he was CEO and Board Chair of Davita - and now he is a philanthropist, a friend and a trusted advisor to high potential CEOs, politicians, environmental activists, and rising stars. Thiry also works closely with top private equity firms including KKR and Partners Group.

During this conversation, Thiry is completely vulnerable and comfortable in his own skin - sharing with us crucible experiences - that both tested and shaped his leadership mettle.  For example, Thiry shares with us his recent horrifying experience with the U.S. Government which accused him of conspiracy - violating the Sherman Act - charges which he was completely and quickly exonerated. 

Importantly, Thiry explains what he learned from this agonizing experience, and imparts wisdom for any aspiring leader who will themselves inevitably confront terrifying challenges - and who will need to dig deep, develop resilience, and lean into their core values. This is what leadership in today's unpredictable world requires - and there is simply no better mentor or sounding board than today's guest. 

www.imperfectleaders.com 

Here are just a few of the leadership qualities I noticed during our conversation - Intuition. Compassion. Empathy. Vulnerability.  Have these soft skills traditionally been described as 'feminine.'  You bet!  

And men better join this so called feminine revolution or they have no chance succeeding in today's fast-moving, complex, unpredictable world.   

www.imperfectleaders.com 

Every leader has crucible moments - intense experiences that define their authentic leadership style and core values. It's how you define and make sense of those experiences that matter most.

In today's episode, Professor Steve Gillon - an old friend of JFK Jr.'s - describes John's incredible journey of self-discovery - from playing under his dad's desk in the Oval Office to a revelatory moment much later in life, ice skating in Harlem during which he discovered his passion for public service - and giving others hope. 

Of course we all know the tragic ending - his journey was cut far too short - but the lessons and the stories - are timeless. 

www.imperfectleaders.com 

Suri is also one of the most visionary leaders in the world. Recognizing his considerable gifts, Tony Robbins recently recruited Suri to help lead a revolutionary new healthcare venture called Fountain Life.

Rakesh's leadership journey is so compelling, that one of the world's top scholars - Linda Hill - a Professor at the Harvard Business School - wrote three case studies on Dr. Suri - focusing on leadership, globalization, and innovation. 

Today, we are in for a special treat. I've invited both Suri and Hill to the podcast.

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Clients love her motto - never leave a dollar on the table when deal-making - even when negotiating against powerful entertainment conglomerates, iconic labels and huge studios.  

But that begs the real question. What is it - exactly - about her negotiation style and leadership skills that truly set her apart? 

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Because all of these leaders know it's wise to have the country's top legal mind in their corner.  Alex plays by a different rule book - and his win/loss record is indisputable. Not only does Alex help clients in the heat of battle - during a high-stakes trial, for example - he also helps clients grow stronger and become even more resilient leaders.  

Spiro is the ultimate 'fight doctor' - like Ferdie Pacheco was to Muhammad Ali - a loyal guru ready to repair deep cuts in the heat of battle - and instill confidence - into champions who are quite literally changing the world.

www.imperfectleaders.com 

This country was built on the shoulders of great entrepreneurs and innovators – from Henry Ford to Steve Jobs to Elon Musk.

But for all of the iconic legends we hear about daily in the national media – there are thousands upon thousands who fail miserably. Transforming a great idea into a great company takes leadership skills.  Developing those 'soft' skills is hard work.

Today’s guest – Anna Barber – is a CEO whisperer - and her superpower is helping hard-charging entrepreneurs become great leaders. I've heard many entrepreneurs rave about Anna - including former guests on this show - Sid Pandiya (Kona) and Claire Schmidt (AllVoices) - two amazing CEO/founders.

Anna is a partner at the red hot venture capital firm - M13 - and one of the reasons why founders flock to the VC firm for capital, advice, and an unparalleled, long-term relationship.

www.imperfectleaders.com - to join private discussions

That's been the rallying cry among many, for decades, in our country. There's only one problem with this philosophy. It doesn't work!

Today's guest - Dean Williams - Director of Colorado Department of Corrections - implemented a fundamentally different vision during his four-year tenure - one that embraced humanity, hope, and even vulnerability. The results are nothing short of amazing.

It's one of the most impressive cultural transformation initiatives in the history of Colorado - public or private - and required incredible leadership skills to bring to life. Listening to the stories of the formerly incarcerated - like this one from Bernard Hurley - are truly inspirational and settle the debate once and for all - yes indeed, there are second chances in this country. 

To join private conversations with leadership experts, www.imperfectleaders.com. 

Of course not!  

Tricia Biggio - todays guest is a mother and the founder of a cool new company called Invisible Universe. She says these anxiety-provoking feelings happen all the time, both as a mom and when running a fast paced, venture backed startup. There are many times - almost daily - during which you feel like crying or screaming or shutting down completely.  But you can't, because you're the CEO - and everyone is watching - and listening your every word - and even analyzing your body language.  

It's true, the CEO's personal style and character truly does impact the culture of the entire organization. And at Invisible, Biggio has created a culture of fearless honesty - a psychologically safe space in which all employees are inspired to give direct and brutally honest feedback during the creative and new character development process. 

Invisible Universe is destined to become the next Pixar, but even better. Even though they are still in startup mode, they have quickly amassed an impressive list of creative partners and top venture investors including:  Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian; the D'Amelio family, (a.k.a. the first family of Tik Tok); and of course, Clydeo, a character based on Jennifer Aniston's actual dog; and Spencer Rascoff.

To join private conversations with our guests and leadership experts - visit www.imperfectleaders.com.

Todd  started alongside the founding team and was the founder of the Consumer practice at True -  he shares on today's podcast his incredible journey of self awareness and leadership development.  Anyone looking to sharpen their leadership skills or perhaps become a CEO of a great company should listed carefully to Todd's inspiring story and practical advice.

To join private conversations with our guests and leadership experts - visit www.imperfectleaders.com.

Allvoices has a solution - it's a novel software that gives every single employee in an organization a strong voice - that is guaranteed to be heard - and acted upon - by the right people at the right time.

Claire Schmidt is not only the founder of Allvoices, she is a direct beneficiary of feedback generated by the software her team created. Her company has experienced massive growth since its inception a few years ago and has attracted some of the smartest investors in the country like Silverton Partners, Spencer Rascoff, Necessary Ventures, and M13 Ventures.

As a result of this early success, Claire has had to build new leadership skills and adjust her style - like getting out of the weeds, not being such a perfectionist, and delegating even more to others. Her vulnerability and authenticity shines through in this candid discussion.

To share thoughts with today's podcast guest - Claire Schmidt - or future guests - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

Today's guest - Sid Pandiya - is the co-founder of Kona - a software company that has created a practical tool that helps companies bring Professor Edmondson's ideas to life. Kona software helps companies create a psychologically safe culture that enhances mental health and reduces burnout and turnover. It also helps employees become more self aware and empathic - the main ingredients of emotional intelligence - as Daniel Goleman espoused nearly 25 years ago.   

It's been an amazing journey for Sid and his co-founders - Andrew and Corine.  They've faced incredible leadership challenges along the way. But they are determined to achieve their vision of helping companies supercharge their culture - enabled in part through Kona software solutions.

Share your thoughts and suggest future podcast guests at -  www.imperfectleaders.com.

Today's guest - Professor Aiyesha Dey, Harvard Business School - is a governance expert who recently conducted fascinating research on exactly this topic - and Corporate America should pay attention to her practical and well-researched advice.

Like all human beings, CEOs are complex and may have a dark side. Rather than ignore these warning signs, smart boards of directors gather as much intelligence as possible on candidates during the CEO succession process, even if that means investigating the personal lives for important clues on rule bending, self-control and humility. Armed with multiple data points, Boards are able to see the full picture, manage risks, and up-skill their governance capabilities.

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Professor Aiyesha Dey - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

Teece is a scholar-entrepreneur who is equally comfortable creating a multi-disciplinary theory that solves a complex business challenge; directing an elite research institute at U.C. Berkeley; or advising Fortune 50 Boards of Directors on bet-the-company strategic decisions. 

Teece is also a world-class CEO, building from scratch the fastest-growing professional services firm in history - The Berkeley Research Group - an award winning economics consulting firm. Teece's leadership style is to create a talent magnet culture that attracts and inspires world-class consultants and academic experts who want to make a huge impact with clients and policy-makers.

If that weren't enough, Teece is a savvy venture investor, real estate developer, viticulturist, and captain - with a fleet of sailboats across the world.

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - David Teece - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

Bhutani's leadership style is refreshing. He completely embraces vulnerability and makes a habit of learning from past mistakes.  HIs mindset helps him connect authentically with others and create a culture of continuous improvement. Bhutani shares a powerful metaphor - learned as a child - of a bending mango tree to illuminate the importance of respect, learning, and inclusivity.

Everyone - from first time managers and team leaders to powerful chief executive officers - can learn from Bhutani's inspiring story and practical lessons. 

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Aman Bhutani - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

"The Deal" is as funny and disarming as it is practical and smart. 

In today's conversation, Josh shares his unique perspective on real estate including the importance of having the right mindset, the art and science of valuation, and unwavering client focus. He also shares a little bit about how his personal perspective - and core values - were shaped at a very young age by Grandma Edith - a true icon and hero during Flagg's formative years.

To share your thoughts and join the conversation join our community of rising stars at www.imperfectleaders.com  

Like Mark Zuckerberg and Reid Hoffman – creators of Facebook and LinkedIn – Rascoff knows how to build a revolutionary brand that taps into the deepest of human emotions and desires – a skill that all great entrepreneurs possess. 

Spencer Rascoff has already proven himself to be a Hall of Fame player – an entrepreneur who built billion dollar brands. Now he is ready for his next big challenge in life – becoming a Hall of Fame Coach – helping others start admired companies and develop into authentic leaders. 

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Spencer Rascoff - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

He has created a product, a brand, and a values-driven corporate culture that is widely admired by consumers and celebrity-investors across the country - including Beyonce, Blake Griffin, Sloane Stephens, Jared Mccain, and C.J. Stroud. 

After a decade coaching basketball - and learning from some of the most iconic head coaches in the country - Jeff Capel, Eric Musselman, Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt), and Tommy Amaker (Harvard), including - he decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge.  After he raised his first dollar from a supportive investor, he knew he was all in, and there simply was no turning back. 

It wasn't easy. There were a lot of dark days. A lot of tears.  But now the company is experiencing hockey stick growth straight to the stars.   

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Yanni Hufnagel - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com. 

We are fortunate to have on today's show, one of the country's top experts on this subject - Joann Lublin.  She is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for the Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine.  She has also written two incredibly well-researched and insightful books on women and leadership, "Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World.” And, “Power Moms: How Executive Mothers Navigate Work and Life.”

Also joining us today is my long-time friend and podcast co-host - Kevin Yorn - who has been an employer, partner, advisor, friend and father to working women his entire life. Both Kevin and I ask Joann for practical leadership lessons - for both women and men. And because Joann is an award-winning journalist, don't be surprised if she sometimes turns the table and asks us questions, too. 

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Joann Lublin or Kevin Yorn - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

In the poem, Prufrock laments a string of intellectual dead ends and lost opportunities, and is haunted by what could have been - instead of his reality - struggling through never ending, visceral feelings of regret, shame, and humiliation. Leach could relate. Even though he was a partner at a prestigious law firm, he had these exact same feelings of dread and boredom.  

Rinse. Wash. Repeat.  

But unlike many of us, Leach had the courage to do something about it. He quit his job - and started a new venture. Success didn’t come easy. But it was a journey worth taking. Today, Ibotta is one of the most successful private companies in the country and is poised to disrupt the entire consumer loyalty industry.  Leach is a powerful leader who displays unabashed vulnerability - not afraid to do the hard work necessary to become more self aware and authentic.    

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Bryan Leach - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

This is exactly what happened to today's guest - Richard Spencer - when he refused to exonerate Commander Eddie Gallagher after breaking the Navy Seal code of honor. How did this make Spencer feel? Did he learn anything? 

If he could rewind the clock, would he do anything differently? What is his 'True North' moral compass and why does it guide every one of his leadership decisions?

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Richard Spencer - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

Pendo is a software company that helps other software companies make their product even better. Olson and his co-founders have created a uniquely fertile corporate culture that attracts and inspires the world's greatest talent. This is a remarkable accomplishment given that Pendo isn't even headquartered in Silicon Valley - they are based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Olson and Pendo have worked hard to create a culture that challenges all employees to reach their maximum leadership capability and make an immediate impact in society. And that's precisely what the next generation of talent crave. 

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Todd Olson - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

As CEO of the company, Gene has encountered a dizzying array of technical hurdles - but even more daunting are the leadership challenges he's confronted. In our conversation, he reflects upon these challenges - the incredible culture he's helped build - and the development steps he is embracing to reach his full potential

Any comments, questions or thoughts to share with today's podcast guest - Gene Berdichevsky - join our community at www.imperfectleaders.com.

Muth makes a convincing argument that it's every leader's job to create a culture that helps talent reach their full leadership potential. The flip side of that same coin, if you're a talented-future-leader, be sure to carefully examine culture fit before accepting a job offer. If you pick poorly you'll likely fail. If you pick wisely you'll succeed beyond expectations.

Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.

She was co-CEO of Bridgewater, the global hedge fund behemoth, a senior executive at Morgan Stanley, and a current board member at HSBC and the financial regulatory agency FINRA.  In this episode of Imperfect Leaders she shares perspective on governance, leadership development, core values, and technology.

Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.

Today’s guest – Roger Martin – is one of the smartest people on the planet when it comes to business and leadership.

He was recently voted the #1 by Thinkers50 a ranking of the most influential global business thinkers.

He is on speed dial of hundreds of famous CEOs across the world – from Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 50 giants. They call Roger when they are faced with a complex strategic or cultural issue that has no easy answer. Roger has a unique way of framing tough challenges and communicating in a crystal-clear way that helps top leaders rethink old mental models.

He’s recently written a new book – which I loved – called “A New Way to Think” – and he’s published some of the all-time best-selling articles for the Harvard Business Review.

In that context, he’s the perfect guest to help leaders – of all shapes and sizes – think about their flaws, outdated mental models, and imperfections. Just because you learned a new principle at a top business school, doesn’t make it right. In fact it may be dead wrong, according to Roger. He should know, he was the Dean of one of the top business schools in the country – The Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto – for 15 years!

Nothing is out of bounds during our conversation – from money, power, politics, and capitalism, itself.

Tom was kind enough to let me sprinkle in a few questions that I often use during actual CEO interviews when Boards ask me to help them assess top prospects. Rising star leaders can listen and learn how authentic CEOs - like Tom - answer these questions in a clear and concise way. The truth is CEOs interview for jobs, just like the rest of us. 

But understandably, their interview process is quite a bit more rigorous. They go through an intense, multi-faceted assessment process that focuses on leadership potential, culture fit, and the so called ‘intangibles’ that company's crave. It’s never too early to start thinking about these questions and learning how to tell your story - the good, the bad, and even the ugly - in an honest way that clearly demonstrates your leadership style, strengths and development needs. 

After all, there’s no such thing as a perfect leader.

Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.

Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.

Why do so few black people - and other minorities - make it to the corner office? Most companies talk a good game about building a robust and diverse leadership pipeline. Organizations claim to create cultures that inspire and enable people to reach their full potential. The best ideas win. Everyone has equal opportunity. Executives gain power through hard work and intellect. The best people will rise to the top. 

But these are just the lies we tell ourselves, according to Dr. Robert Carter, the country’s most renowned expert on these topics - an acclaimed author and distinguished professor emeritus of psychology at Columbia University

It makes us feel good. It makes us feel worthy. But there are deeper, psychological forces and invisible barriers at play. And even though we can’t see these barriers with the naked eye, they exist, and they are causing real harm and economic pain. 

Agree or not, Professor Carter shines an interesting perspective on this complex topic, and helps us understand the root, psychological causes and structural barriers to achieving progress. 

Perhaps we should take his advice seriously. Until we do the hard work necessary to become more self aware and empathic, we won’t be able to capitalize on the economic benefits of diversity and inclusion.

Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.

Brad Karp has been the Chairman of Paul, Weiss since 2008. He is described by Chambers as “the best strategic adviser in the business,” “the best litigator in the country,” and “someone who every CEO in America should have on speed dial.” Brad is described by The New York Times and by Bloomberg as “the most connected lawyer in the country,” and by Best Lawyers as “the most talented, responsive, client-sensitive, creative, effective lawyer of his generation in the country, no question.”

Yet - for the first time ever he admits to Imperfect Leaders that he had to overcome extreme shyness and introversion earlier in his career. 

In fact, in law school he didn't speak up and voice his opinion nearly as much as he would have liked. This is almost impossible to fathom given his role as Chair of one of the top 10 law firms in the country and his role as an elite corporate litigator arguing his clients' point of view in front of crowded court rooms and tough judges.  

But it's true. Brad of the country’s leading litigators and corporate advisers, Brad has successfully guided numerous Fortune 100 companies, global financial institutions and other companies and individuals through “bet the company” litigations, regulatory matters, internal investigations, and corporate crises.  

Brad has been selected multiple times as the “Lawyer of the Year” and “Litigator of the Year.” Brad has earned dozens of industry awards and recognitions for his successful client representations and legal achievements as well as for his role as a leader in the legal profession, the business community and the public interest sphere.

Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.

Alan is almost 90 years old and a living legend in the venture capital arena. He has been a pioneer in this industry for over 50 years.  Fifty years!  Let that sink in for a moment. When he first started there really was no well defined industry at all. It was a bunch of mom and pop players scrambling to earn a living. Amidst this backdrop Alan helped create two hugely successful firms Greycroft and Apax Partners, which played a fundamental role in consolidating this fragmented space. 

Not one to sit still at the young age of 88 years old, he is now launching his third firm to much fanfare - Primetime Partners - focusing on a weirdly overlooked consumer base of 60+ year consumers. Virtually all of his former partners are investing in the new fund, signaling their confidence in both the business plan and Alan's potential to live to 100.  But don't tell Alan, that will only get him mad. He's convinced he'll live to at least 114. This is to say just one thing - Alan has been around the block a few times - so it might be worth listening to his advice. 

His philosophy - and the name of his incredible new book - 'No Red Lights' perfectly summarizes his life philosophy. There's simply nothing he won't try. Don't believe me? Well, he's going to Burning Man this year. 

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Thumbtack - a marketplace for professionals who can take care of  your home - is a gem in the portfolio of Sequoia Capital, the legendary venture capital investors.   Through his vulnerability and thoughtfulness, Thumbtack CEO, Marco Zappacosta, has institutionalized a culture of leadership development and continuous improvement. In this podcast he asserts that life can be cruel - a leader's biggest strength can often be their biggest weakness. Just like one of our other podcast guests, Brad Smith, Board Chair at Intuit and Nordstrom, Zappacosta is completely transparent and shares his performance review with his entire company. To proactively keep things running smoothly, Zappacosta ensures rising star leaders receive plenty of coaching, mentorship, and developmental opportunities. It’s no wonder that pros earn billions on Thumbtack, delighting customers across the country.. Soon the phrase, "Just Thumbtack It" will be an action verb synonymous for taking care of your home. To receive free podcast episodes each week, subscribe at www.imperfectleaders.com

Both recently went backstage at Cirque du Soleil and asked an awful lot of questions. They were like kids in the proverbial candy store. So, who the heck is in charge at Cirque? The CEO - for nearly two decades - was a man named Daniel Lamare. I have been wanting to interview him for quite some time - to help unlock a few secrets of creativity. All of us get stressed out when the creative lightbulb doesn't come on as quickly as we'd like. 

Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.

NBA Coach and TNT Star Analyst Stan Van Gundy has a unique perspective on talent. He believes that people who never fail, simply aren't getting out of their comfort zone - and that's a huge problem. 

Coach Van Gundy has been in - and out - of the proverbial arena described so eloquently decades ago by Teddy Roosevelt. As a coach who led his team to the NBA finals, he knows what it's like to fight and sweat and bleed for your team. On the sidelines, in his unique perch, he provides expert analysis and shares insight that brings a whole new understanding to the game. 

We hope you will enjoy Coach Van Gundy's perspective on talent, resilience, adversity and stretching way outside your natural boundaries.

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How did he turn it all around? 

If you want to learn about resilience - I mean, really learn what it takes to bounce back from extreme failure - don't just read a book and call it a day. Instead, listen to Hurley's lessons and insight. From solitary confinement in a maximum security prison to one of the most successful real estate developers in Colorado history, Hurley embodies resilience and passion, and shares practical advice for all of us, whether you're just getting out of prison or have a Harvard MBA and on the CEO track at your company.

Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.

But, when Brad was in grade school, a little girl he had a crush on made fun of him and called him 'stupid'. This had quite an impact. It's now a core part of Brad's authentic story.- or what I would call a crucible moment that helped determine what was most important in his life.

In everyone's life, there are crucible moments, those intense experiences that help shape your core values and leadership style. It's important to understand and practice articulating these moments. They are an inexorable part of your personal story and personal brand. 

People really connect to leaders who are authentic and have strong core values Brad Smith is the perfect example of a leader who is masterful at telling his leadership development story, including the anxiety and pain he faced as a child. These experiences helped shape the man and leader he is today.

Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders.

www.imperfectleaders.com 

Ben Breier is best-selling author of "Intentional Disruption," the former CEO of Kindred Healthcare, and top private equity at the Partners Group. He encourages listeners to confront head-on their insecurities, fears and leadership development needs. He argues that this process will help future leaders learn to of lead through uncertainty and volatility.

To receive free podcast episodes each week, subscribe at www.imperfectleaders.com