Why Lead?
Ben Owden hosts weekly conversations with leaders from around the world, exploring topics of leadership, clarity, and conviction. The podcast aims to help listeners lead more meaningful and impactful lives by learning from experienced practitioners.
Episodes
0087 - The Power of ‘I Don’t Know' | Why Your Brain Loves Being Ignorant (And How That Makes You Smarter) ft Stuart Firestein
What if knowing less could actually make you more? In this riveting conversation, Ben Owden sits down with Dr. Stuart Firestein, former Chair of Columbia University’s Biological Sciences, neuroscientist extraordinaire, and author of Ignorance: How It Drives Science and Failure: Why Science Is Successful. Far from being gloomy topics, Stuart shows us how ignorance and failure are the secret engines
0086 - AI is Humanity’s Savior and Possibly Our Worst Mistake! ft Mo Gawdat
Imagine waking up to a world run by hyper-intelligent machines. It sounds like science fiction, but Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer at Google X, bestselling author, and renowned happiness evangelist, says it's coming faster than you think.In this gripping episode, Mo shares a prophetic vision that’s equal parts warning and hope. As we hurtle toward a future where artificial intellige
0085 - Sleep Your Way to Better Decisions, How Rest is Becoming the New Hustle ft Sara Mednick
In this conversation, Dr. Sara Mednick, world-renowned scientist, author of the influential book Take a Nap, Change Your Life, and professor directing the Sleep and Cognition Lab at UC Irvine, shares eye-opening insights about the profound link between rest, sleep, longevity, and your overall quality of life.Ever wondered why stress at work drains your energy or why cutting corners on sleep today
0084 - Unleash Your Brain’s Four Superpowers, & Become the CEO of Your Mind ft Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor
Imagine discovering four distinct “personalities” inside your brain—each with its own way of thinking, feeling, and experiencing the world. That’s exactly what Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a Harvard-trained neuroanatomist, revealed after surviving a major left-hemisphere stroke that erased her ability to walk, talk, and even recall her name. In this transformative conversation, Ben Owden dives into how
0083 - The AI Playbook: How to Win with Machine Learning ft Eric Siegel
What if you could predict who will buy, who will click—or even who might lie or die? In this episode, Ben Owden sits down with Dr. Eric Siegel founder of Machine Learning Week, a globally recognized expert on demystifying machine learning and author of two landmark books, Predictive Analytics and The AI Playbook, Dr. Siegel.They cut through the hype of “AI” to reveal how predictive analytics (the
0082 - Why Most Strategy Fails—And How to Fix It ft Dr. Felix Oberholzer-Gee
What if everything you thought you knew about strategy was wrong—or at least incomplete? In this eye-opening episode, Ben Owden sits down with Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Harvard Business School’s Andreas Andersen Professor of Business Administration and the author of Better, Simpler Strategy: A Value-Based Guide to Exceptional Performance. Renowned for his award-winning teaching and cutting-edge resear
0081 - Stop Fixing—Start Transforming: How to Spark Real Change ft Dr. Monica Sharma
How do we create a world where our children—and all of us—can truly thrive? In this episode, Ben Owden sits down with Dr. Monica Sharma, a physician, epidemiologist, and former senior leader at the United Nations, whose groundbreaking work in Radical Transformational Leadership helps people tackle global challenges by harnessing their own inner capacities. Drawing from decades of experience across
0080 - Why ‘I Have Feedback for You’ Feels So Scary—and How to Move Past It ft Jason Rosoff
Ever felt your heart sink when someone says, “I have some feedback for you”? You’re not alone. In this insightful episode, I chat with Jason Rosoff, co-founder of Radical Candor, about the gripping fear and anxiety that often hijack feedback and performance conversations.Jason has helped organizations of every size—from scrappy startups to Fortune 100 heavyweights—create honest, human-centered cul
0079 - Stop Wasting Money, Focus on Your Most Profitable Customers ft Peter Fader
Kick off the new year with a fresh perspective on your business strategy! In this episode, Ben Owden chats with Dr. Peter Fader, Wharton professor and co-founder of a predictive analytics firm acquired by Nike. Peter is also the author of Customer Centricity and The Customer Centricity Playbook, and he’s on a mission to debunk the myth that “all customers are created equal.” Discover why focusing
0078 - To Be Innovative, Less is Always More: How Constraints Ignite Creativity ft Dr. Simone Ahuja
Ben Owden in a conversation with Dr. Simone Ahuja, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and CEO of Blood Orange, a global innovation strategy firm. Simone talks about Jugaad innovation, a frugal and flexible approach to problem-solving under constraints. She shares how embracing scarcity can actually fuel creativity and drive meaningful innovation from within organizations. Learn about intraprene
0077 - Losing $400M, Bouncing Back, Owning Failures and Embracing Being an Outsider ft Stacy Spikes
Ben Owden engages in a conversation with Stacy Spikes, the visionary co-founder of MoviePass and author of "Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider." Stacy's journey is a masterclass in turning failures into stepping stones and embracing the unique advantages of being an outsider.From working alongside entertainment icons like Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, and Eddie Murphy
0076 - Is Your Inner Critic Holding You Back? Transform Judgment to Make it Your Greatest Ally ft Janet M Harvey
Join host Ben Owden as he engages in a transformative conversation with Janet M. Harvey, a globally recognized leader in the coaching industry and author of "From Tension to Transformation: A Leader's Guide to Generative Change." Discover how embracing discomfort and leaning into tension can unlock your hidden leadership potential. Janet explores how to turn your inner critic into y
0075 - Leading Through Crises from WHO's Chief Scientist During COVID-19 & Overcoming Biases to Revolutionise Healthcare ft Dr Soumya Swaminathan & Dr. Muthoni Ntonjira
Host Ben Owden engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, a renowned pediatric leader and former WHO Chief Scientist. They explore the interconnected relationship between health and climate change and the role of transformative leadership in addressing these complex challenges.The conversation explores the need for innovative thinking, diversity of thought, and collab
0074 - How Women Are Secretly Running Africa & Breaking Norms in Leadership ft Dr. Samukeliso Dube & Abosede George-Ogan
Ben Owden talks with Dr. Samu Dube, the Executive Director of FP2030. Dr. Dube shares her insights on the intrinsic potential within everyone to be extraordinary, highlighting the importance of intentionality and continuous improvement. She recounts her personal journey, drawing inspiration from her grandmother and stressing the significance of being uncomfortable with comfort to drive progress.T
0073 - How to Sacrifice Our Privilege for a More Equitable World and Collaborate to Fuel Global Change ft Dr. Michael Charles & Dr. Githinji Gitahi
Host Ben Owden engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Michael Charles and Dr. Githinji Gitahi. They discuss the importance of social justice and equality as fundamental human rights. Dr. Gitahi highlights the need for awareness of male privilege and the importance of allyship in creating a level playing field for women. He calls for urgent policy changes to remove barriers and promot
0072 - Transforming a Crisis to a Change Opportunity & Building Trust in Leadership ft Amie Batson & Dr Yasmin Ali Haque
Ben Owden sits down with Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, who has a rich background in UNICEF and humanitarian response, and Amie Batson, President of Women Lift Health, to explore the evolving nature of leadership and share insights on the universal aspects of leadership—empathy, respect, and a commitment to impactful change. The discussion also covers creating inclusive environments that encourage open dia
0071 - Confronting Fears That Silence Women, Speaking Up & Standing Out ft Lizz Ntonjira & Rachel Ombaka
Ben Owden explores the challenges women face in gaining visibility and leadership roles with guests Rachel Ombaka and Liz Ntonjira of WomenLift Health. The discussion transitions to overcoming these barriers through continuous learning, authenticity, and mentorship, highlighting strategies for "doing it afraid" and building confidence. The guests share personal stories and advocate for i
0070 - Master Any Skill: The Ultimate Guide to Learning How to Learn ft Barbara Oakley
Dive into a journey of transformation with Barbara Oakley, from struggling with basic math to becoming a renowned engineering professor, and discover the secrets to mastering any skill. This episode isn't just a story; it's a blueprint for turning your biggest challenges into your greatest strengths. Barbara shares groundbreaking insights on the neuroscience of learning, the power of hab
0069 - How to Use Simple Conversations to Get Others to Change ft Haesun Moon
Join host Ben Owden on a transformative journey through the art of conversation with communication scientist, educator, and author Haesun Moon. In this heartfelt episode, we delve into the healing power of dialogue and discover how intentional communication can lead to profound changes in our personal and professional lives. Haesun shares her insights on the significance of celebrating progress, t
0068 - Thrive at Work and in Life While Anxious ft Morra Aarons Melle
Morra, with her rich background in leadership and mental health advocacy, shares groundbreaking insights into how we can reframe our relationship with anxiety. From the gripping tales of leaders who've harnessed their inner turmoil to achieve greatness, to practical advice on managing the day-to-day challenges of anxiety, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone looking to find p
0067 - Winning The Stress War, Embracing Calmness and Overcoming Procrastination ft Paul Loomans
Ben Owden engages with Paul Loomans to explore the intersection of calmness and productivity. Loomans offers profound insights into the detrimental effects of sustained stress and the importance of embracing calmness in everyday life. They discuss strategies for managing interruptions, focusing on one task at a time, and transforming limiting beliefs that hinder productivity. Through anecdotes and
0066 - How Busyness is Stealing Our Happiness and How Our Obsession Is Robbing Us of True Meaning ft Oliver Burkeman
Ben Owden engages in a profound conversation with Oliver Burkeman, the insightful author of the New York Times bestselling book, Four Thousand Weeks. A book Adam Grant called, the most important time management book of all time. The discussion delves into the societal glorification of busyness, exploring the ironic guilt associated with idleness. Oliver addresses the discomfort of slowing down and
0065 - Transform Your Life NOW: Unlocking Superhuman Productivity ft David Allen
In this insightful conversation, Ben and David Allen, one of the world’s most influential thinkers on productivity, explore the principles of productivity, life philosophy, and the essence of "Getting Things Done." As the creator of the GTD methodology, David shares wisdom gained from a lifetime of experiences, discussing the importance of control and focus, the value of patience, and th
0064 - Cultivating Your Soft Life, Saying No, Avoiding Being Average and Grow Old and Rich ft Sam Ndandala, Anna Mwasha and Chris Rwechungura
This episode features personal finance coaches, Sam Ndandala, Anna Mwasha, and Chris Rwechungura. We delve into a discussion on the Psychology of Money book by Morgan Housel.Important Links*Join Thrive in the Middle Today!*Book WhyLead to Train Your Teams*Explore Our ServicesSocial Media*Ben Owden's LinkedIn*Ben Owden's Twitter
0063 - Invite Change and Embrace Judgment as a Catalyst for Growth ft Janet Harvey
In this episode, dive deep into the profound insights shared by leadership expert Janet Harvey. Discover the transformative power of judgment and how it catalyzes personal and leadership growth. Janet highlights the importance of courage and curiosity, turning judgment from a stumbling block into a stepping stone. Get ready to redefine your relationship with judgment and unlock the doors to your t
0062 - How to Lead Successfully in the Digital Age ft Brian Spisak
Dive into the future of leadership with renowned researcher Dr. Brian R. Spisak as he explores the transformative realm of Computational Leadership. With insights from industry giants at IBM, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, and more, discover how simulations, AI, and network analysis revolutionize leadership practices. Uncover concrete strategies for enhancing remote collaboration, evidence-based techn
0061 - How to Become a More Integrated Leader and Lead with Grace ft Alexsys Thompson
You will discover the power of self-accountability, learning to greet yourself with humility and make amends when your actions misalign with your values. Alexsys guides us through a decade-by-decade relationship inventory, emphasizing the importance of compassion and forgiveness. The conversation delves into heart-centered leadership, challenging binary thinking in the corporate world, and cultiva
0060 - Building the Africa We Want ft Dr. Lucy Surhyel Newman & Hon. Prof. Kitila Mkumbo
Welcome to a thought-provoking conversation that delves into the heart of transformational leadership in Africa. Join Prof. Kitila Mkumbo and me, Ben Owden as I sit down with the author, Dr. Lucy S. Newman, to unravel the intricate layers of her book, "African Leaders’ Tête À Tête: Navigating Entity Design And Prioritization For Systemic Outcomes."In this enlightening dialogue, Dr. Newma
0059 - Weird, Irrational, and Wonderful Ways Humans Navigate the Workplace ft Matthias Sutter
Join the conversation as Matthias Sutter, renowned economist and author, reveals the surprising intricacies of leadership and human behavior. Unraveling the mysteries behind successful teams, he delves into the power of charisma, the impact of imitating others, and the vital role of a leader's social image. From the surprising habits of Mozart to the critical distinction between managers and
0058 - Five Keys for Unshakable Peace and A formula for Successful Conversations ft Jeremie Kubiceck
Unveil the secrets to a more peaceful and purposeful life with Jeremie Kubichek on the latest episode! Discover how to quantify and manage your peace using the groundbreaking Peace Index. Dive deep into the journey of finding your unique purpose, breaking free from external expectations. Learn the art of balance for increased influence, explore communication mastery to prevent breakdowns, and unlo
0057 - Choosing Excellence Every Time ft Christine Musisi
In this episode, Ben sits down with Ms. Christine Musisi, a leader with over 23 years of experience in the development field. Discover the power of love and integrity in leadership, and the importance of saying no for personal growth. Gain wisdom on family-work balance and the pivotal role of self-affirmation. Christine's story is a beacon of inspiration, urging us to find purpose, volunteer,
0056 - The Five Ingredients of Lasting Happiness ft Tal Ben-Shahar
Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar is an internationally renowned teacher, and author in the fields of happiness and leadership. In this episode, he discusses the misconceptions around happiness, particularly the belief that material success leads to happiness. Tal argues that money is a means to an end, not an end in itself and that pursuing it as such can lead to disappointment and unhappiness. Instead, he sugg
0055 - The Hero's Journey: How Leaders Can Guide Their Teams to Success ft Dr. J.J. Peterson
The guest speaker, Dr. JJ Peterson, shares his expertise in branding and marketing and highlights how leaders can use storytelling to build trust, foster effective team building, and get buy-in from their teams. He emphasizes that storytelling is a critical skill that leaders in the 21st century need to develop if they want to achieve long-term success.Dr. Peterson discusses the four main characte
0054 - Nurturing Curiosity & The Impact of Learning on Leadership ft Amb. Ombeni Sefue
I’d like to share a leadership conversation I had with an Amb. Ombeni Sefue. It covers various topics such as reading, change management, and growth mindset. Our guest served as Chief Secretary to the President of Tanzania and excelled as a diplomat. He also worked closely with two presidents and currently serves as the board chair for Uongozi Leadership Institute. Important Links*Join Thrive in
0053 - Leading From the Backseat ft Ngasuma Kanyeka
In today’s episode, we are exploring learning and growth, competition, and self-care as tools of empowerment in leadership. And in the course of this exploration, Ngasuma shares a leadership philosophy that has proven useful for her in her journey. Ngasuma Kanyeka is a leader who started her own consulting firm in 2011 called Capacitate Consulting, a niche communication and strategy development fi
0052 - Building Organic Clusters & Sustainable Innovation ft Dr. Nkundwe Mwasaga
In today's episode, we're exploring how to build clusters without falling into the pitfalls of cluster imitation. We explore how to build sustainable innovation systems and many more ideas. I am joined by Dr. Nkundwe Moses Mwasaga, a leader passionate about high-performance computing (HPC), in both micro and quantum capacity. He is currently the Director General of the ICT Commission, an
0051 - The Power of Losing Control & The Principles of Authentic Power ft Joe Caruso
In today’s episode, we will be diving into the individual mind, the collective mind of an organization, and how meaning drives our behavior and determines outcomes in all aspects of life. To have this conversation, I am joined by Joe Caruso, an in-demand keynote speaker worldwide, a syndicated columnist, and a sought-after business advisor, who brings his lifetime of expertise to help organization
0050 - Mimetic Desire, Outcome Independence, Virtue Signalling & How to Be Your Best Self ft Samwel Ndandala & Princely Glorious
In this episode, we explore many ideas. We dive deep into outcome independence and how one can develop the ability to focus on what one can control. We went on to discuss mimetic desire, a phenomenon that holds together and dictates the majority of our behavior, knowingly and unknowingly. We discussed how one can use mimetic desire to their advantage, and how when used well it can lead to original
0049 - Delegating Your Way Out Of a Job ft Kwasi Frimpong
In today's episode, we are discussing a form of empowering delegation and how to build effective teams that will challenge you as a leader to keep growing. I am joined by Kwasi Frimpong the Head of Corporate Banking and Global Subsidiaries at Citi Bank, who is well-versed in Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, and Business Management. He has over 12 years of leadership experience and has
0048 - Toxic Positivity, Overcoming Learned Helplessness & How to Become Happier ft Amaechi Nduka-Agwu
In this episode, we talk about; how to become happier, how to show empathy, and avoid toxic positivity. The utility of being a person who suffers from mental health. And how we need to rethink our approach to pursuing happiness and develop a judgment-free approach to difficult conversations.To have this conversation I am joined by a licensed Counseling Psychologist. She specializes in helping peop
0047 - Build a Team of Equals Who All Lead & Follow to Drive Creativity and Innovation ft Jeff Spahn
We cannot solve today’s problems with the leadership that got us here. Based upon science, We the Leader presents a seismic shift in leadership theory and practice evolution. Through the distinctive practice of a curious conviction We, the Leader actualizes an organic diversity, equity, and inclusion operating system that accelerates next-level innovation, wise decisions, and in-sync execution. I
0046 - Restore Your Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence ft Vikram Mansharamani
We live in a world of rising uncertainty. We live in a world where there’s an abundance of information that is impossible to sort through, add to that the fact that many leaders, including you dear listener, are griding, hustling, going 200KM per hour, simply put, there is a lot to do, and very little time to do it, so many of us don’t have time to sort through information, to analyze what is pres
0045 - The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don't Say ft L. David Marquet
What If I was to tell you there is a sure way of transforming and changing your organization from where it is to a place where it is more innovative, more adaptive, and more equipped and empowered to solve the increasingly complex problems your organization is facing.In today’s episode, we’re exploring the power of language and words in leadership. Its power to change your world and take your orga
0044 - Living and Leading Sustainably ft Emma Oriyo
The majority of initiatives that start off fail eventually. This is true of personal initiatives, as it is true of national initiatives. Sustainability seems to be a challenge for most people and organizations. Sustaining, maintaining, and doing so consistently is not easy. These are some of the things we will discuss in today’s episode. Today's guest is Ms. Emma Oriyo, a corporate Affairs, C
0043 - Seizing Your Day, Leading a Culture Change & Learning the Leadership Language ft Rony Charles
In this episode, we're doing a leadership review based on the film, Dead Poets Society. We're looking at the power of Organization Culture, and how one can muster the courage to be a disruptor of culture. Links: TransAIDhttps://www.transaid.org/CEO's who cut their salaries during COVIDhttps://www.gobankingrates.com/money/business/ceos-taking-pay-cuts-companies-survive-coronavirus/ht
0042 - Win Influence, Beat Overcommitment, and Get the Right Things Done ft Bruce Tulgan
Imagine that tomorrow morning, some high-priced workplace consultant shows up at your job. This consultant is there to conduct a talent review: an assessment of all the people in your organization, including you. Who is indispensable in your org? Who is absolutely essential to the success of your organization? Who is notably dispensable? Who is easily replaced? And Who are all the people in betwee
0041 - Delegate to Empower ft Murtaza Versi
How can leaders create a space of psychological safety so that people are comfortable enough to actually communicate if they believe they’re incompetent to carry out a delegated task? I am joined by Murtaza Versi to discuss the art of delegating to empower. Below are links to resources by Murtaza VersiTo listen to a continuation of our Conversation Click the link belowhttps://murtazaversi.co.tz/de
0040 - Business Unusual & The Psychology of Resilience ft Nathalie Nahai
Many of us are familiar with the phrase, Business as Usual. It’s a phrase that has survived many decades, but I am here to announce to you that the era of business as usual is gone, we’re now living in the age of Business Unusual. We live in a world of uncertainty, disruption, and black swan events, and so to thrive the people we lead and our demand more than business as usual, they demand that we
0039 - Playing the Long Game to Win in Life & Business ft Miranda Naiman
Being a business leader has become more challenging today. Challenges such as having multiple generations in the workplace, cultivating diversity yet building a cohesive culture everyone can own, black swan events like COVID disrupting how we work and how we view work. How do you play the long game in such an ever-changing, and increasingly complex business environment?
0038 - Become a Rebel at Work ft Carmen Medina
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you are dissatisfied with how things are and you believe you have ideas on how to make things better but didn’t know how? Or maybe you knew how but you were not successful? Are you a leader who wants to create a space where the status quo is never permanent but ever-changing because your team and organization are creative, innovative, and always pushin
0037 - The Secret to Being Consistent ft Samwel Ndandala
In this episode, we are talking about what separates the greats from the mediocre. The top from the bottom, the certified winners from the one-hit wonders, the tested and proven from the exceptions. This is a quality the likes of Drake, Apple, Diamond Platnumz, Cocacola, Ford, Mercedez, T.D Jakes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi all have. CONSISTENCY. Today we are talking about consistency, and mo
0036 - Closing The Knowing-Doing-Becoming Gap ft Dr. Patricia Murugami
The work of leadership will require you to dig deep within yourself and stretch yourself in significant ways. And the best place to start your growth journey is learning what you didn't know before. But unfortunately, many stop here, and a few practice what they know, and even fewer people become what they know and practice.In today's episode, we're exploring how to close the knowin
0035 - In Life, You Either Grow or You Die (Book Review)
Warren Buffett said this about Shoe Dog, "The best book I read last year was Shoe Dog, by Nike's Phil Knight. Phil is a very wise, intelligent, and competitive fellow who is also a gifted storyteller" In this episode, we're reviewing some key leadership ideas from one of the best leadership books in the past 10 years.
0034 - The 6 Infinity Skills of Leadership ft Ben Owden
Leadership has become more complex in the 21st century than it has ever been. The world is connected, which means it’s no longer just global leaders who are dealing with multi-cultural teams. Technology is evolving at a faster rate than we’ve ever seen, which means what you’re building today might not have any utility tomorrow. Diversity has grown from male-female to leftist-rightist-LGBTQIA… Ther
0033 - How to Not Fail Catastrophically ft Aidan Eyakuze
Failure is one of the things that fascinate me (Ben Owden) personally. Part of the fascination is the inevitability of failure, none of us seem to escape it. Part of the fascination is due to the enormous number of successful people crediting failure as one of their reasons for success. Part of the fascination is due to the enormous number of people who have quit their different conquests creditin
0032 - Your Network Will Determine Your Net Worth ft Linda Teggisa
Some of us have heard of phrases like, “You become who you’re surrounded with” “You’re the average of five people you spend the most time with” All this amalgamates to one big idea that, your network will determine your net worth, be it financially, career-wise, personal growth, and so forth. Who you’re connected to will either add speed to your progress or slow you down. And this idea is even mor
0031 - Leadership is the Linchpin of StartUp Success ft Salum Awadh
Today we will be looking at the role leadership plays in building a successful start-up. Startup success is a result of a number of factors; Idea - Team - Timing - Biz Model - Funding. But these factors are not equally important. In our Tanzanian context, which factor should be the most important?
0030 - How to Lead Like a Servant ft Modesta Mahiga-Mbughuni
There are many leadership philosophies out there. But the one style that seems to work in every context is servant leadership. Whether you work are leading a public organization, a non-profit or you answer to shareholders in a for-profit organization.
0029 - Developing an Exponential Growth Mindset ft Harry Akinola
We must first change how we look at the world, in order to have a real chance of successfully changing the world.
0028 - Be a Successful Change Leader ft Abdi Mohamed
How do we effectively lead through major changes in our companies, changes in leadership, changes in operational philosophies, changes in vision, changes brought about by mergers, and acquisitions, changes brought by major rebranding, changes in company culture, and even the transformation of products and services?
0027 - Tokenism ft Petrider Paul
When organizations are confronted with a lack of diversity, be it gender diversity or racial diversity or generational diversity-mindset/idea diversity you know the young vs older ratio. When this happens, some organizations tend to respond or need I say, react to the issue by opening the door for a token person, by offering a seat at the table to a token person. You know, that one woman in the C-
0026 - All failure is a Failure to Adapt ft Nisha Ligon
Many organizations across the world were forced to adapt and pivot in the last 15 months. And some organizations died because of their failure to pivot and adapt. The ability to adapt and pivot is critical in the survival of an organization. Max McKeown says, “All failure is a failure to adapt, all success is successful adaptation.” So it is in all of our best interest as leaders to learn how to a
0025 - Impact is a Result of Being ALL IN ft Rebeca Gyumi
Being ALL IN means being fully committed to something, dedicating cognitive, social, and material resources sacrificially and consistently towards an idea, a business, or a cause you’re building. Some of the people who have been associated with this mindset include Nelson Mandela, Apostle Paul of Tarsus, Mother Teresa, Malala, Miriam Makeba, Steve Jobs, Dr. Victoria Kisyombe, Robert Sobukwe, Elon
0024 - Diversity and Inclusion Must Become a Norm ft Atiya Sumar
“We need to resist the tyranny of low expectations. We need to open our eyes to the inequality that remains. We won’t unlock the full potential of the workplace [And I add to that society] until we see how far from equality we really are.” — Sheryl Sandberg
0023 - Great Leaders are Great at Selling ft Enzo Graziano
Many of the duties of a leader require her or him to be a good storyteller and salesperson. In essence, a leader is always trying to sell something. Whether it is trying to get everyone to buy into their vision, trying to get everyone to buy into a change the organization is executing, trying to get buy-in on an initiative from key stakeholders, trying to inspire and motivate their teams, trying t
0022 - Building a Culture of Innovation ft Firas Ahmad
Innovation is a process of creating new sources of value. Innovation is not a product, it is a culture. It is not a destination, it is a process. So how do we build this culture of innovation within our teams and organizations, especially in our Tanzanian and African context? To have this conversation I am joined by Firas Ahmad
0021 - Lead the Change You Want to See ft Gladness Deogratias
If decision making is the cradle of leadership, then change is the sustenance of leadership. Change is what keeps us moving forward into new frontiers. Words like innovation, trailblazing wouldn’t exist without change. Change is the new normal for leadership success. But change doesn’t just happen, someone has to initiate it.
0020 - Are You Leading with Clarity? ft Princely Glorious
One of the common problems facing organizations, teams, and leaders today is a lack of clarity. Clarity of vision, clarity of strategy, clarity of goals, clarity of purpose, clarity of plan. If at any given time you ask your team the following questions and they don’t have answers, you have a clarity problem. The questions are; Why do we exist as an organization? Who do we serve? What’s our goal?
0019 - Making Data Driven Decisions ft Aidan Eyakuze
I believe that one of the cradles of leadership is decision making. Our ability as leaders to make decisions will determine the quality and the course of our leadership. I think the year 2020 has been a wonderful illustration of this. We have judged, we have labeled, we have categorized many worlds, corporate and religious leaders because of their decision making. Now since decision making is one
0018 - The True Cost of Integrity
Having integrity is one thing. Keeping it is something else. Keeping it at all costs is almost unheard of. In this episode, we look at the life of a leader who kept his integrity at all costs.
0017 - How to Achieve Your Most Important Goals in 2021 ft Tafadzwa Bete Sasa
Our word for the year within the why lead community is Consistency. This is the year of doing what you do consistently, it's the year of solving problems consistently. It's the year of getting things done consistently. It's the year of loving consistently. It's the year of building up people consistently. It's the year of operating with integrity consistently. It's th
0016 - Powerful Leadership Ideas of 2020
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. A special thank you to my producer Isaac McDonald from Eternal Entertainment.
0015 - What Happens When a Leader Says, "Mimi Kwanza"? ft Goodhope Heaven
In a world where servant leadership is on the up and up. In a world where books like Leaders Eat Last and Put People First can be bestsellers. Hopper stands up and says, as a leader you need to operate with the mindset of "Me First" or as he says it in Swahili, "Mimi Kwanza" This ideology seems destructive on the surface, but once you understand it, it can change your whole lif
0014 - It Took Hard Work, Mentorship, Luck & Privilege ft Anna Bwana
Anna Bwana shares her leadership journey and the different elements that contribute to her success. She talks about privilege, luck, failure, mentors, hard work, and assertion. If you're interested in becoming a better leader. Listen to the end.
0013 - How to Transform Your Team from a Group to a Tribe
In leading change and in building diverse teams, you will be challenged to think and operate outside the box. In this episode, we are laying out a blueprint as per Tribal Leadership and Remember the Titans. And the big question we are asking is, How do you transform a dysfunctional team that seeks the elevation of self at the expense of others and entity, to a functional team that is selfless that
0012 - What to Do, When You Aren't Sure of What to Do ft Fausta Musokwa
Decision making is one of, if not the cradle of leadership. Some people say vision. But vision without making a decision to pursue it is vapor-nothing-useless. From the dawn of time, humans reigned on earth because of the strength and maturation of their ability to decide. The strength and maturation of this ability was and still is far more developed than that of any other species in discovered l
0011 - Building an Authentic Leadership Brand ft Nandi Mwiyombella
Disclaimer: We recorded this episode in a busy coffee shop. So please bear with the background noise and the occasional coffee grinder.
0010 - The Impact of Financial Stress on Your Productivity ft Samwel Ndandala
Today we will be looking for connections between financial stress and workplace productivity. We will also look at the role of leaders/organizations in eliminating this stress, or better phrased, “Knowing that financial stress stifles creativity, productivity, and innovation, should leaders try to step in and help their teams eliminate this stress? If yes then how? If not, what is the cost?” And b
0009 - When Everything is Falling Apart, YOU Shouldn't
Stories, and especially films are a great platform to rehearse life without the consequences of real life. Films help us rehearse positive reactions to failure. Films help us rehearse resilience. Films help us rehearse empathy. Films help us rehearse courage. And when we have to deal with similar situations in real life, we've been given the upper hand. This same applies to leadership. We ca
0008 - Debunking the Fallacy of Untrained Yet Highly Successful Leaders
People like to bring up the fact that Oprah, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and many other hyper-successful leaders never graduated from University. As if that decision was the X-factor to their success. This argument that has completely undermined the role of formal training in the development of leaders has taken deeper roots with Millenials, but hopefully, not for long...
