Partnering Leadership

Mahan Tavakoli•www.partneringleadership.com

Partnering Leadership is a top global podcast designed to help CEOs and senior leaders navigate the complexities of leadership, strategy, culture, and innovation. Hosted by Mahan Tavakoli—a seasoned leadership advisor with over 25 years of experience and recognized as a top thought leader in management—the podcast brings you real-world insights and practical advice to drive meaningful results.

Mahan’s experience as a trusted advisor shapes each discussion, driving deeper insights that challenge conventional thinking and uncover innovative approaches. Drawing from his extensive advisory background, Mahan dives into candid conversations with purpose-driven CEOs and global thought leaders, exploring how they overcame their biggest challenges and achieved transformative success. Each episode provides actionable strategies, real-world examples, and proven approaches to help you navigate change, align teams, and drive lasting impact.

Hear directly from top experts such as Ram Charan, Ken Blanchard, John Kotter, Stephen M.R. Covey, Hal Elrod, Carmine Gallo, Daniel Burrus, Garry Ridge, Jacob Morgan, Emily Field, Jonah Berger, Barbara Kellerman, Rich Diviney, Andrea Sampson, Ajay Agrawal, Dave Ulrich, Jerry Colonna, Renee Cummings, Brian Johnson, Warren Berger, Gustavo Razzetti, Azeem Azhar, David McRaney, Tim Clark, Jim Detert, Gary Bolles, Greg Satell, Robert Wolcott, Alden Mills, Minter Dial, Greg Wooldridge, Pete Steinberg, Joseph Fuller, Paul Roetzer, Whitney Johnson, Ron Adner, Bob Johansen, Leidy Klotz, Paul Smith, Louis Rosenberg, Rob Sadow, Dan Turchin, Steve Robinson, Park Howell, Mark Crowley, Maz Jobrani, LaTonya Wilkins, Rob Cross, Aiden McCullen, Eduardo Briceno, Jan Rutherford, Stephen Wunker, Charlene Li, Jon Levy, Anu Gupta, John Rossman, David Marquet, Tamsen Webster, Jack Phillips, Vanessa Bohns, Patrick McGinnis, Hakeem Oluseyi, Ed Hess, and Carolyn Dewar as well as renowned leaders like David Rubenstein, Jean Case, Tony Pierce, Linda Rabbitt, Paul Daugherty, Richard Bynum, John Veihmeyer, Howard Ross, Bill Novelli, Tien Wong, Stephanie Linnartz, Chuck Robb, Doug Dennerline, Charlene Drew Jarvis, Robert Rosenberg, Diane Hoskins, Deidre Paknad, David Gardner, and Marty Rodgers, and many more!

Their insights, paired with Mahan's expertise, equip you to tackle complex challenges, foster a high-performance culture, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving world.

Listen today to gain the tools, perspectives, and proven strategies that can transform your leadership journey.

Available on all major podcast platforms or visit https://partneringleadership.com.

Last refreshed: July 2nd, 2025 at 1:37 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

215 How to Evolve as a Leader in a Fast Growing Organization with David DeWolf, President & CEO 3Pillar Global | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with David DeWolf. David DeWolf is the Founder, President, and CEO of 3Pillar Global, a digital product development services organization building breakthrough software products that power digital businesses. He is also an Amazon best-selling author of The Product Mindset: Succeed in the Digital Economy by Changing the Way Your Organization Thinks. David DeWolf’s leadership at 3Pillar has been honored by numerous awards, including T...

Nov 29, 2022•54 min

214 [BEST OF] Practical Decision Making with the Creator of The Terms FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and FOBO (Fear of a Better Option) Patrick McGinnis | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Patrick McGinnis. Patrick coined the term FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and FOBO (Fear of a Better Option) while attending Harvard Business School. Patrick McGinnis is the author of two international bestsellers, including Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice, and the host of the hit podcast FOMO Sapiens. In this conversation, Patrick McGinnis discusses why our need to be included can be...

Nov 24, 2022•42 min

213 Catalyzing Large-Scale Movements and Waging Justice as an Unapologetic Optimist with Dr. Paul Zeitz, Co-Founder of Brave Movement & Executive Director of Build a Movement | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Paul Zeitz. Paul Zeitz is a physician, epidemiologist, and award-winning global justice and human rights advocate with over 35 years of advocacy experience. As a survivor of early childhood incest, he serves as the interim coordinator of a newly forming global movement to end sexual violence against children and adolescents and Keep Kids Safe. Dr. Zeitz serves as the Executive Director of Build A Movement 2022 and co-leader...

Nov 22, 2022•35 min

212 Living a Meaningful Life and Leading with Soul with Vitaliy Katsenelson | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Vitaliy Katsenelson about leading with soul and living a meaningful life. Vitaliy Katsenelson is the CEO of the Denver-based value investment firm IMA. He is also the author of Soul in the Game: The Art of a Meaningful Life. His recent book has received praise from leading thinkers, including Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Ret. General Stanley McChrystal. In the conversation, Vitaliy Katsenelson spoke about the impact of scarcity on...

Nov 17, 2022•51 min

211 Designing a Better Future of Work with Bob Fox, Fox Architects Founder & Work Design Magazine Publisher| Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli discusses how to design a better future of work with Bob Fox, founder of Fox Architects and Publisher of Work Design Magazine. As FOX Architects’ Principal, Bob Fox chairs the firm’s advisory board, focusing on building the firm to design more complex, integrated projects while also helping increase client value. Bob Fox is a leader in the architecture and interior design industry and is well respected for his open-minded and innovative ap...

Nov 15, 2022•43 min

210 How to Reframe Your Thinking to Free Yourself from the Patterns and People that Hold You Back with Lia Garvin | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Lia Garvin. Lia Garvin is the author of UNSTUCK: Reframe Your Thinking to Free Yourself From the Patterns and People that Hold You Back. In the conversations, Lia Garvin shares lessons from her experience working for some of the largest and most influential companies in tech, including Microsoft, Google, and Apple, on ways to use reframing to manage difficult situations and get unstuck. Finally, Lia Garvin shares thoughts on ov...

Nov 10, 2022•40 min

209 Leading the Transformation of an Organization and Upgrading the Brand for Greater Impact with Catherine Meloy, President & CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Catherine Meloy. Catherine Meloy serves as President and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington and the Goodwill Excel Center Adult Charter High School. In the conversation, Catherine Meloy shared why she decided to leave a successful 20+ year management career in the radio industry to join Goodwill in 2003. Next, Catherine Meloy talked about the strength of the Goodwill brand and how she led the rebranding of Goodwill in the Gr...

Nov 08, 2022•45 min

208 How Minds Change: the Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion and Persuasion with David McRaney | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with David McRaney. David McRaney is a science journalist, host of the You Are Not So Smart podcast, and an internationally best-selling author of books, including his latest, How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion. In the conversation, David McRaney shares the origin of his fascination with persuasion and his thoughts on the basis of how we form our beliefs. David McRaney shared examples of psyc...

Nov 03, 2022•1 hr 16 min

207 Use These Three Leadership Practices To Significantly Increase Accountability In Your Team | Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli talks about one of the biggest challenges he sees in organizations and a struggle for many leaders: holding team members accountable. Mahan shares why outstanding leadership requires accountability and why it's hard to hold ourselves and others accountable. Finally, Mahan shares three leadership practices that can significantly increase accountability in your team. Some highlights: -What makes holding ourselves and others accountable so di...

Nov 01, 2022•12 min

206 The Four Powerful Conversations that Help Us Connect with Chuck Wisner | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Chuck Wisner, author of The Art of Conscious Conversations: Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact. Chuck Wisner spoke about the power of stories in shaping our lives and interactions with others, the importance of self-awareness, and our egos' role in conversations. Finally, Chuck Wisner shared the four universal types of conversations and how we can maximize the effectiveness of each. Some Highlights: -Chuck Wisner on...

Oct 27, 2022•48 min

205 Connecting the Community by Bringing the World to Washington D.C. with President and CEO of Washington Performing Arts, Jenny Bilfield | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jenny Bilfield. Jenny Bilfield is the President and CEO of Washington Performing Arts (WPA), one of the U.S.'s preeminent multi-disciplinary arts presenters. WPA was the first organization of its kind to receive the coveted National Medal of Arts conferred by President Obama at the White House. In the conversation, Jenny Bilfield shares the origin of her passion for the arts and how her career progressions eventually led her to...

Oct 25, 2022•52 min

204 How Leaders Can Successfully Manage Conflict and Have Difficult Conversations with Marlene Chism | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Marlene Chism. Marlene Chism is the leading authority on stopping workplace drama and the author of four books, including her most recent book, From Conflict to Courage: How to Stop Avoiding and Start Leading. In the conversation, Marlene Chism shares what leaders get wrong about conflict, the negative consequences of avoiding conflict, and how to most effectively address conflict by changing our narrative. Some Highlights: -Ma...

Oct 20, 2022•52 min

203 Building Bridges Across the River and the Community with the President of BBAR Rahsaan Bernard| Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Rahsaan Bernard. Rahsaan Bernard serves as the President of Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR). This nonprofit organization built and now manages the 16.5 acres of Townhall Health Education Arts Recreation Campus known as THEARC in Washington, DC. BBAR is also building the first elevated park in Washington, the 11 Street Bridge Park Project. In the conversation, Rahsaan Bernard shared the impact of his upbringing in Jamai...

Oct 18, 2022•36 min

202 How to Become a More Emotionally Intelligent Leader with Amazon Global Head of EPIC Leadership & Chief EQ Evangelist Richard Hua | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Richard Hua, Global Head of EPIC Leadership and Chief EQ Evangelist at Amazon Web Services. In the conversation, Richard Hua shared his origin story, why he became interested in the power of emotional intelligence, the importance of emotional intelligence to individual and organizational success, and how we can all develop our emotional intelligence EQ. Finally, Richard Hua shared leadership practices for leading with greater e...

Oct 13, 2022•44 min

201 Transforming Lives Through The Power of Events with Rebecca Linder, Founder & CEO Linder Global Events | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Rebecca Linder, founder, and CEO of Linder Global Events. Rebecca Linder shares her leadership journey and the joys and challenges of entrepreneurship. Rebecca Linder also shares her thoughts on the impact of the pandemic on the events industry and how technology is reshaping gatherings. Finally, Rebecca shares why expectations for all kinds of meetings have changed and how leaders can rethink gatherings for greater engagement ...

Oct 11, 2022•48 min

200 How to Cultivate a Thriving Organizational Culture with Brad Federman | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Brad Federman, Leadership and Culture Expert, Speaker, Coach, and Author of Cultivating Culture: 101 Ways to Foster Engagement in 15 Minutes or Less. Brad Federman shares how leaders can cultivate a company culture that will help them succeed in creating a two-way dialogue and improving teamwork. Brad Federman also highlighted the eight key focus areas that will amplify values at work to achieve a healthy and productive organiz...

Oct 06, 2022•34 min

199 Celebrating 200 Episodes & How to Achieve Your Purpose Through Genuine Gratitude, the Gap & the Gain and Living in Crescendo | Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli first acknowledges the 200th episode of the podcast. Mahan then shares his thoughts on the three practices that can help us stay aligned with our purpose: feeling and expressing genuine gratitude, focusing on the gain and not just the gap, and living life in crescendo. Some highlights: - Celebrating 200 episodes of Partnering Leadership, a journey of learning and growth for purpose-driven leaders with a growth mindset - The importance of i...

Oct 04, 2022•11 min

198 How to Live Life in Crescendo: inspiring lessons from legendary leadership expert Stephen R. Covey’s powerful final book with co author Cynthia Covey Haller | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Cynthia Covey Haller, a teacher, speaker, an active participant in her community and co-author Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work is Always Ahead of You. Cynthia Covey Haller shares what it means to live life with a crescendo and how to face challenges and opportunities in the middle to later stages of life. Cynthia Covey Haller also tells inspiring stories on how we can enrich the lives of people around us, the c...

Sep 29, 2022•50 min

197 Infusing Design with Innovative Thinking To Improve Business Performance with Steve Polo, Managing Partner OPX | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Steve Polo, the Managing Partner at OPX, a design consultancy with a mission to help good companies work better. In addition to his leadership journey, Steve Polo shares his unique perspective on how to lead with authenticity and think about the future of the workplace enabling greater human connection and collaboration. In the episode, Steve Polo also talks about leading OPX through the pandemic and leaders' role in employee e...

Sep 27, 2022•49 min

196 How to Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace with Gustavo Razzetti | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Gustavo Razzetti, CEO and Founder of Fearless Culture, creator of the Culture Design Canvas, and author of Remote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace. In the conversation, Gustavo Razzetti talked about the critical barriers to designing a great organizational culture and shared tools and approaches to intentionally design a great organizational culture. Gustavo Razzetti also sha...

Sep 22, 2022•43 min

195 Leading to Provide Opportunities for All through Education with CEO of Prince George’s County Public Schools, Dr. Monica Goldson | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Monica Goldson, Chief Executive Officer of Prince George's County Public Schools. In the conversation, Dr. Monica Goldson shared the source of her love for education and why she decided not to pursue accounting and become an educator. Monica Goldson also shared the many challenges in leading the school system during the pandemic and the role the school system had to play in supporting families throughout the pandemic. Final...

Sep 20, 2022•52 min

194 The Power of Perception in Leadership with Dr. Maja Zelihic | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Maja Zelihic, Dean at the Forbes School of Business and Technology at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Dr. Maja Zelihic is coauthor along with Dr. Diane Hamilton of The Power of Perception: Eliminating Boundaries to Create Successful Global Leaders. In this conversation, Dr. Maja Zelihic talks about the power of perception, its influence on the working environment, and perception's role in leadership. Maja Zelihic a...

Sep 15, 2022•45 min

193 Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch for personal, professional and organizational success with Jason Levin | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jason Levin, Founder of Ready, Set, Launch and author of Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch. In the conversation, Jason Levin talks about the power of building authentic relationships and the importance of deep connections in the workplace. Jason also shares the importance of strengthening weak ties, reconnecting with dormant ties, and how to do it well. Jason also talks about social media's impa...

Sep 13, 2022•45 min

192 The Importance of Empathy in Leadership and Empathy’s Role in the Future of Leadership with Sophie Wade | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Sophie Wade, founder of Flexcel Network, work futurist, speaker, and author of Empathy Works: The Key to Competitive Advantage in the New Era of Work. In the episode, Sophie Wade talks about why empathy is a crucial corporate value and how it enables workforce transformation. Sophie Wade also shared examples of leading with Empathy and Empathy's role in human collaboration. Finally, Sophie Wade talked about how leaders can gaug...

Sep 08, 2022•43 min

191 How to Reduce Leadership Blind Spots and Nurture Deeper Connections through the Johari Window | Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli shares thoughts on the importance of reducing our blind spots and letting others connect with our humanity. Then, Mahan briefly explains the Johari Window and how understanding it can help us better understand how to reduce blind spots and why showing more genuine vulnerability in leadership is crucial. Finally, Mahan shares specific actions we can take to reduce our blind spots and let others better connect with us as leaders. Some highli...

Sep 06, 2022•19 min

190 The Impact of Blockchain & Web 3 on Organizations (DeFi, Crypto, NFTs, DAOs & more!) with Richard Carthon of Crypto Current Podcast |Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Richard Carthon, CEO of Crypto Current and host of the Crypto Current podcast. Richard Carthon talks about blockchain technology, Web3, DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations), DeFi (Decentralised Finance), NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and cryptocurrency. Richard shares the basics of the technology behind each and their impact on the future of organizations. Finally, Richard Carthon discusses how leaders can use blockchain...

Sep 01, 2022•43 min

189 [BEST OF] The Influencer’s Influencer Leading for Community Impact with Akin Gump’s Tony Pierce | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Tony Pierce. Tony Pierce is Akin Gump's Washington DC office partner in charge. He has more than three decades of experience in trial and litigation. In addition to his leadership at Akin Gump and impactful work on behalf of his clients, Tony Pierce has played a crucial leadership role in advancing business and philanthropic initiatives in the Greater Washington DC DMV region. Tony Pierce has served as past chair of the Greater...

Aug 30, 2022•46 min

188 [BEST OF] How You Can Prepare for The Acceleration and Lead in The Exponential Age with Azeem Azhar | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Azeem Azhar - writer, technology analyst, and creator of the acclaimed Exponential View newsletter. Azeem Azhar is a senior advisor to PwC and is an investor in early-stage startups in AI, renewable energy, female health tech, self-driving cars, and marketplaces. In the conversation, Azeem Azhar shared perspectives from his book The Exponential Age: How Accelerating Technology is Transforming Business, Politics, and Society. Az...

Aug 25, 2022•1 hr

187 [BEST OF] Leading with Purpose and Designing the Future of Collaboration and Work with Gensler Co-CEO Diane Hoskins | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Diane Hoskins. Diane Hoskins serves as co-CEO and chair of the board of directors for Gensler. As an MIT-trained architect and an MBA from The Anderson School at UCLA, Diane's career has touched architecture, design, real estate, and business. She has broad responsibility for running the company, which spans over 6,000+ employees across the globe. Diane Hoskins shared how her upbringing impacted her professional and leadership ...

Aug 23, 2022•49 min

186 [BEST OF] How to lead your organization through change to achieve hard to imagine results in uncertain and volatile times with John Kotter | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with John Kotter, professor emeritus at Harvard Business School, co-founder of a management consulting firm Kotter International and a pioneer in organizational change. John Kotter is the author of 22 books on change, including his most recent book, Change: How Organizations Achieve Hard-to-Imagine Results in Uncertain and Volatile times . John Kotter talks about the struggles leaders and teams face when it comes to change and how t...

Aug 18, 2022•49 min

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