In 15th century Florence, the Medici family was well-known for patronizing great artists, scientists, engineers, and writers. This investment in cross-disciplinary thinking planted the seeds of the Renaissance, a time of extraordinary growth and enlightenment in Europe. Today, we have other words for this practice: Diversity & Inclusion. Author, speaker, and consultant Frans Johansson wrote "The Medici Effect," about how expanding your "surface area" of perspectives can help companies, famil...
Jun 09, 2022•51 min•Ep. 273
Getting your "big break" rarely comes down to luck. But it's also hard to engineer a breakthrough moment. Anne Chow believes it's a combination of science and serendipity: Planning ahead so you can seize a lucky moment when it appears. Her career embodies that philosophy. Anne is the CEO of AT&T Business, and a 2nd generation American. As the daughter of Taiwanese immigrant parents, their outlook on success was tremendously formative for her. She's a Julliard-trained musician who became an e...
Jun 07, 2022•55 min•Ep. 272
When we spend 50-60 of our waking weekly hours at the office, our "work family" sometimes eclipses our actual one. Companies capitalize on this. Our jobs become our identities. Our work becomes very personal. And this can lead to emotional disaster during career changes, layoffs, and other transactions. What if we valued work differently? What would the world look like if we stopped treating work itself as our purpose, but as a means to enjoy a more important purpose: Family, relationships, hope...
May 31, 2022•50 min•Ep. 271
Any career contains thousands of S Curves, large and small, and Russ Wheeler's journey certainly embodies this. He's the CEO of BBQGuys, a retailer for all things grilling, smoking, and camping, but he's worked as an executive in the home improvement business for decades. That means many tough decisions about how to balance the needs of his employees, customers, and himself. But Russ' core values keep him grounded, even when he's not sure if his decision is right. As he explains in this candid c...
May 24, 2022•57 min•Ep. 270
Nobody wants to be sad. We actively avoid it, and use all the technology in our power to distract ourselves from it. But Susan Cain says, maybe we should seek sadness out. She knows a thing or two about it. Her books about introversion and quiet reflection are New York Times bestsellers, and her TED talk has been viewed 40 million times. Her latest book, "Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole," is about what we miss when we stop confronting sad feelings. Susan explains that reflectin...
May 17, 2022•33 min•Ep. 269
"The way we've always done it" is often not the best way. This is the very definition of disruption, but getting "stuck" on old habits can sneak up on us — in our personal lives, and our companies. That's what Roger Martin explores in his latest book, "A New Way to Think." Roger has built his career as an author and professor studying disruption, mainly identifying business models that we've relied on for decades, and then asking, "Does this really work?" Roger returns to the show for another ro...
May 10, 2022•51 min•Ep. 268
Achieving something that's important to you: That's probably a big reason you're listening to this podcast. But what is it about success that drives us? Do we achieve for its own sake, or is there something more? That's what Marshall Goldsmith is exploring. He's one of the most recognized thinkers and writers on the topic of leadership, but in his latest book, "The Earned Life," he asks: Why are we doing all this? Does success really make us happy? And what if those two things were not so deeply...
May 03, 2022•37 min•Ep. 267
"Fear of Missing Out" or "FOMO" is wired into our brains for a reason. When our ancestors flocked to greener pastures, it was advantageous to follow. FOMO can inform modern, strategic decisions as well, but Patrick McGinnis says we should be vigilant against its more dangerous sibling, FOBO: "Fear of Better Options." This is a kind of decision paralysis that's catastrophic for personal well-being and companies. Patrick has studied it closely. After all, he invented the term "FOMO" back in 2004, ...
Apr 26, 2022•51 min•Ep. 266
John David Mann is a writer and the co-author of more than 30 books. Ana Gabriel Mann is a professional therapist, speaker and coach. Together, they've been married for more than 25 years, which also happens to be the subject of their latest work. The Go-Giver Marriage is rooted in a framework of gratitude, kindness and self-disruption that John has been writing about for years. When Ana thought to apply this to relationships, it was a "light bulb" moment for both of them. They join Whitney to d...
Apr 19, 2022•57 min
Running a marathon, writing a book, or learning piano. These are big undertakings that require discipline and practice. The harder we work each day, the faster we'll succeed, right? Wrong, say authors and podcasters Jami and Jeffery Downs. Biting off more than our daily chew can lead to a cycle of discouragement. Instead, commit to laughably small steps: Write one sentence a day. Practice for five minutes. These micro goals are much easier to sustain, and when you keep the streak going, you'll f...
Apr 12, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 264
We've covered bias in previous episodes, but this week we tackle it head-on — specifically, how our language choices affect people, and the difference between bias, prejudice, and bullying. Kim Scott is a coach to some of Silicon Valley's most influential CEOs, and known for her groundbreaking book Radical Candor , about the complexity of giving critical feedback, even when it's hard. Trier Bryant is the CEO of Just Work, a consultancy specializing in identifying harmful bias and injustice in th...
Apr 05, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 263
Hybrid offices. Work-from-home. Unlimited vacation. Parental and sick leave. Diversity, equity, and inclusion. The scrutiny of company culture has intensified during the pandemic as millions ask: Is there a better way to work? Johnny C. Taylor set out to write a book about this in March 2020 when we all expected a 2-3 week "pause" in normalcy. Two years of pandemic later, the thesis of his book transformed. RESET: A Leader's Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval is Johnny's analysis of a radical p...
Mar 29, 2022•59 min•Ep. 262
If you feel like the world is "speeding up" technologically and culturally, you're not alone. "Future shock" is real. We are faced with daily decisions that our grandparents could never conceive. This makes planning your life, career, and family rather hard. Amy Webb is a quantitative futurist, who uses data to imagine the unimaginable. She doesn't predict the future, but plans for every possible outcome so companies can be better prepared. One area she's been particularly fascinated with is syn...
Mar 22, 2022•57 min•Ep. 261
Navigating conflict is part of everything: Family, relationships, business. Productive disagreement can lead to innovation, compromise, and inclusion. But investigative journalist Amanda Ripley has spent much of her career studying what she calls "high conflict." This is where disagreements get so entrenched that they become identities, and a cycle of blame. People are quickly sucked into a tribal mentality: "It's Us verses Them." This is what has become of our politics, our online discourse, an...
Mar 15, 2022•55 min•Ep. 260
When we think of high-performance jobs like pro athletes and the military, practice is 90% of the work. An NFL quarterback trains a lot longer than the handful of games he plays, and benefits from a team of coaches. Yet in the professional world, we are thrown into the deep end, often learning on the job. This has its benefits, but also creates uncertainty, stress, and burnout. With mental health in sharp focus recently, so too has professional coaching become more important. But not everyone ha...
Mar 08, 2022•43 min•Ep. 259
We never stop learning on this show, but this week's topic is about the formal structures of education we all grew up in: school. It comes in many flavors these days, but in a world of rapid technological and social acceleration, many teachers, parents, and students wonder if the current model is still working. Dr. Ulcca Joshi Hansen is a teacher, author, researcher, and the Chief Program Officer at Grantmakers for Education. Her new book is called "The Future of Smart," and it looks at history,...
Mar 01, 2022•49 min•Ep. 258
You're in the sweet spot. You've mastered your role. Everything is going right. And then: You're laid off. The market shifts. A company goes under. These are always looming threats, but they came into sharp focus during the pandemic. Matthew Swaney has been an airline pilot for more than 35 years. When travel patterns shifted at the height of COVID, he was let go from his job with limited prospects for a new one. Re-inventing yourself early in your career is one thing. But Swaney built a lifetim...
Feb 22, 2022•35 min•Ep. 257
Sometimes, we're racing forward at 35 mph. Everything is going right. Momentum has kicked in. We're flying past the competition And then: WHAM. This week's guest knows this figuratively, and literally. Apolo Ohno is a world champion speed skater and Olympian with 8 medals, two of them gold. Even as one of the world's greatest athletes, he's hit his share of walls — sometimes on the ice, and sometimes in business, personal relationships, and in his challenging transition away from sport. As part ...
Feb 15, 2022•25 min•Ep. 256
Jumping to a new S Curve is hardest when your identity hangs in the balance. This happens often with professional athletes and members of the military who have trained their entire life for one job ... until it's gone. Our guest this week is Angela Ruggiero, one of the greatest ice hockey players in the world. She has represented the U.S. at four Olympic games, brought home multiple medals (including the gold), and served on the International Olympic Committee. But one of the greatest challenges...
Feb 08, 2022•46 min•Ep. 255
Finding the gift that makes each of us special is apparent to some, and a long, difficult journey for others. Waking up every day and choosing growth as our default setting goes a long way toward this self-actualization. So says Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, a cognitive scientist who has written several books on the subject of human potential, and hosts the Psychology Podcast, which has received more than 20 million downloads. And even when you do self-actualize, you'll likely need to jump to new S C...
Feb 01, 2022•42 min•Ep. 254
Workplace culture, work/life balance, and burnout have been under the microscope in recent years. But long before the unique challenges of the pandemic, Fran Katsoudas has worked to build a "conscious culture" at Cisco. She's a 25 year veteran of the technology company, and currently the Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer, who knows that our "work selves" can't be separated from our "regular selves" — especially when we work from home. Because of this, purpose is paramount — not just for t...
Jan 25, 2022•44 min•Ep. 253
We've got another bonus episode for you this week, because who doesn't love Adam Grant? Whitney's conversation with the author and organizational psychologist from July 2019 is one of our favorites. It's all about how we perceive reciprocity: givers, takers, any why it's so important not to confuse "takers" with those willing to receive help. Adam breaks down why this informs so much of our personal and professional lives. If you haven't heard this one, you're in for a treat. And even if you hav...
Jan 20, 2022•35 min
This week, Whitney shares the entire first chapter of her new book Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company , which covers the launch point of any new S Curve of learning: Exploration. Exploring something new is exciting, and we can be better decision makers if we consider criteria like: Is this achievable? Is it worth the cost? Does it align with my values? We also take a lesson that TV host Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) shared on this very podcast. If you're learning a new musical i...
Jan 18, 2022•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 252
We have an extra dose of inspiration for your week with this encore episode from January 2020. Author and speaker Simon Sinek sat down with Whitney to ask the simplest question: "Why?" "Why am I doing this work? Why am I on this career path?" These questions lead to a disruptive change in Simon's life. Despite uncertainty, Simon is so successful because he seeks out challenges, rather than looking for obstacles. --Original Show Notes from January 7, 2020-- To kick off 2020 I am talking to Simon ...
Jan 13, 2022•32 min
We can't talk about personal disruption without discussing disruptive technologies, so this week's episode is a bit different. It's a 101 course on blockchain, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and the philosophy behind the decentralization movement. Most of us have heard these terms by now, but many (even those who dabble with them) don't understand how they actually work, or why they matter. Adam B. Levine joins Whitney to provide a primer. He's the managing editor of CoinDesk, host of the "Speaking of ...
Jan 11, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 251
Eating smarter is always popular in January, so we're excited to share another bonus episode with you this week. This time, it's Whitney's conversation with wellness author and podcaster Shawn Stevenson from February 2021. Shawn was diagnosed with a debilitating disease in his early 20s. Doctors gave him pain meds and told him to lay in bed. His athletic career was over. That is, until he disrupted his diet. Today our guest is Shawn Stevenson, the host of the #1 Nutrition and Fitness podcast in ...
Jan 06, 2022•48 min
The S Curve of Learning is about personal development — our skills, mastery, and career aspirations. But applying it to teams unlocks a whole new way to run a business. After all, the individual is the fundamental unit of any company. In her latest article for the Harvard Business Review titled "Manage Your Organization as a Portfolio of Learning Curves," Whitney expounds on why it's not enough to track your team's performance and goals. Knowing where each individual is on their personal S Curve...
Jan 04, 2022•38 min•Ep. 250
Turns out, people like Star Wars more than they like spreadsheets. That's pretty obvious, yet we constantly find ourselves in front of boring presentations. Data and facts are important, but when woven into a "hero's journey," they become undeniable. Dan Roam is on a mission to put the tools of our greatest storytellers in your hands. Next time you need to convince your boss, your team, or a customer to get on board with an idea, consider his book, The Pop-Up Pitch. Whitney and Dan discuss why h...
Dec 28, 2021•55 min•Ep. 249
When we think of role models, we often picture mythical heroes, overnight success stories, and leaders who made key decisions in the nick of time. But Scott Miller is far more interested in the mistakes of successful leaders. He discusses them deeply in his bestselling books and immensely popular podcast On Leadership . For every world-famous actor, there are box office flops. For every bestselling author, there are manuscripts in the dustbin. Scott argues we can learn much more by "hyping our f...
Dec 14, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 248
Hard work is a pillar of any success, but it doesn't always have to feel so hard. Howard Morgan started his first company at 13 years old. Today it generates $130 million a year, and he hasn't slowed down. But Howard's joyful optimism around hard work is what sets him apart. It was instilled in him at a young age by his grandfather and a rich family life. Howard shares inspiring stories from his career, building multiple businesses, and his fascinating time settling labor disputes. His work illu...
Dec 07, 2021•57 min•Ep. 247
