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 ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

245 Leading for a Better Future of Higher Ed and Workforce Development with Anne Kress, President of Northern Virginia Community College | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Anne Kress, President of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), the third-largest multi-campus community college in the United States and the largest educational institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the conversation, Anne Kress shares the origin of her passion for community college education and its impact on people's lives. Next, Anne Kress talked about the importance of bridging the gaps in the community b...

Mar 14, 2023•50 min

244 Magic Words to Unleash the Power of Effective Leadership and Positive Influence with Best Selling Author and Wharton School Professor Jonah Berger | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jonah Berger, Wharton School professor and internationally bestselling author of Magic Words, Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst. In the conversation, Jonah Berger talked about the role of influence in our lives and leadership. He explained why influence is a tool and how to use it for positive impact. Jonah Berger then addressed the role of language in influencing others, and the six types of research supporte...

Mar 09, 2023•35 min

243 Augmented Future of Work with Artificial Intelligence, Going Beyond the AI Hype to Visualizing & Embracing Possibilities with 10 AI Tools| Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can transform the future of work and leadership. Mahan first addresses the hype around AI and urges caution while also mentioning the long-term transformative impact of AI on organizations and the future of work. Next, Mahan shares why he believes the future of work will be an augmented one where human intelligence will be augmented through the use of Artificial Intelligence. Then, to help list...

Mar 07, 2023•20 min

242 Leading with Character & How Leaders Can Maintain Balance and Avoid Burnout with Caren Kenney |Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Caren Kenney. Caren Kenney is the CEO and Founder of Evolve Leadership and coauthor of Leading with Character: 10 Minutes a Day to a Brilliant Legacy. In the conversation, Caren shared why she cofounded a business focused on wellness and mental health, which was then bought by Johnson & Johnson and became part of their Human Performance Institute. Next, Caren Kenney spoke about how leaders can develop their skills and bec...

Mar 02, 2023•55 min

241 Leading Communication, Corporate Citizenship & Social Responsiblity for Impact with Debbi Jarvis, Chief Communications Officer at AtlaGas | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Debbi Jarvis, Vice President & Chief Communications Officer at AltaGas. Debbi Jarvis talked about the impact of her upbringing as a Midwestern girl from Kalamazoo, Michigan. How her sales career led her to pursue journalism and becoming a TV anchor, eventually bringing her to Washington, DC. Debbi Jarvis went on to share about her transition to Pepco, why she was asked to start a Corporate Social Responsibility group whil...

Feb 28, 2023•31 min

240 AI and The Future of Work with Dan Turchin, CEO PeopleReign and Host of AI and The Future of Work Podcast | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dan Turchin. Dan Turchin is the CEO of the AI company PeopleReign and host of the podcast AI & The Future of Work. First, Dan shared thoughts on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Silicon Valley and the potential of hybrid or fully remote work in organizations. Next, Dan Turchin mentioned a Worknet future where organizations hire the best talent and create a fluid work structure. The conversation then turned to AI advancement...

Feb 23, 2023•53 min

239 Mentorship and Community Support so Every Young Person Can Attain Economic Mobility with Khari Brown, CEO at Spark The Journey | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Khari Brown, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Spark the Journey. In the conversation, Khari Brown shared the impact of his upbringing, what drew him to basketball, and the leadership lessons he learned in playing the game. Khari shared the origin of his passion for educating youth and his involvement in Capital Partners for Education, rebranded last year as Spark the Journey. Khari Brown talked about the impact of the ...

Feb 21, 2023•1 hr

238 How to Lead From the Heart and Deliver Results with Mark C Crowley | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Mark C Crowley, author of Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century. In the conversation, Mark C Crowley shared how his tough childhood contributed to his leadership practice of leading from the heart. Mark also shared why the heart is more than just a muscle and how leaders can balance mind and heart in their leadership. Mark C Crowley finally shared how leaders can encourage leading from the heart ...

Feb 16, 2023•58 min

237 How to Lead and Build a Culture That Can Thrive Through Any Crisis with Shaara Roman | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Shaara Roman. Shaara Roman is the award-winning founder and CEO of The Silverene Group and author of The Conscious Workplace: Fortify Your Culture to Thrive in Any Crisis. Shara shares stories, examples, and insights on organizational culture and how leaders can intentionally nurture an inclusive culture that can thrive through any crisis. Some Highlights: - How Shaara Roman's upbringing instilled in her a sense of curiosity, r...

Feb 14, 2023•46 min

236 How to Use Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas with the Author of A More Beautiful Question & The Book of Beautiful Questions with Warren Berger | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Warren Berger. Warren is the author of multiple books on innovation and the power of questioning in leadership and everyday life. The conversation focused on Warren Berger's books A More Beautiful Question and The Book of Beautiful Questions. Warren shared thoughts on his study of the world's foremost innovators and creative thinkers, revealing what he has learned. Warren Berger also shared his insights into the natural tendenc...

Feb 09, 2023•48 min

235 Three mindsets of Top CEOs, Thoughts on Team Alignment & Collaboration, and a Strategic Challenge Posed by AI | Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks briefly about Google's strategic challenge with OpenAI's ChatGPT and highlights upcoming conversations on AI & the future of work, as well as a conversation with a pioneer of augmented reality. The episode also includes a recent appearance by Mahan on Uwe Dockhorn's Lift-Off podcast. In the discussion, Mahan shared more about his work with CEOs and their leadership teams to collaborate more effectively and align so they can exec...

Feb 07, 2023•25 min

234 Communication Secrets That Move Audiences & Persuade with Carmine Gallo | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Carmine Gallo. Carmine Gallo is a three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author. His books include Talk Like TED , The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs , The Storyteller's Secret , Five Stars , and his latest, The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World's Greatest Salesman. In the conversation, Carmine Gallo shared why many leaders struggle with telling their stories and why his latest research involved lookin...

Feb 02, 2023•56 min

233 Finding Your Voice for Impactful Leadership and Empowering Communities by Creating a World Free of Sexual Violence with Indira Henard, Executive Director of the DC Rape Crisis Center ( DCRCC) | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Indira Henard, Executive Director of the DC Rape Crisis Center ( DCRCC), the oldest rape crisis center in the country. Indira Henard talks about her upbringing in Chicago, Illinois, in a family of faith. She also shares her transformative experience while at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Indira Henard talks about the reason she came to Washington DC and eventually chose to forgo an opportunity to work in the Obama adminis...

Jan 31, 2023•52 min

232 How to Make Your Ideas Irresistible by Finding Your Red Thread with Tamsen Webster | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Tamsen Webster, renowned speaker, consultant, TEDx idea strategist, and author of Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible. In the conversation, Tamsen Webster shared how leaders can communicate, so their ideas resonate more with their audience. Tamsen also gave examples of why more than having a powerful idea is needed and some of the biggest reasons others don't embrace ideas. She also talked about the value of ...

Jan 26, 2023•1 hr 13 min

231 The C2 Factor of Leadership and How it Can Help Leaders Become Champions and Lead Meaningful Lives with Joanne Irving | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Joanne Irving, founder of Insight to Action Advisory and cofounder of The Chrysalis Group Inc. Joanne Irving is also the author of The C² Factor for Leadership: How the Alchemy of Curiosity and Courage Helps Leaders Become Champions and Lead Meaningful Lives. In the conversation, Joanne Irving talks about her upbringing in a small town in Vermont and an incident from her childhood where she was eager to play with a group of kid...

Jan 24, 2023•44 min

230 Show the Value of What You Do: Measuring and Achieving Success with World-Renowned Expert on Accountability, Measurement, and Evaluation, Jack Phillips | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jack Phillips, Chairman of ROI Institute, a world-renowned expert on accountability, measurement, and evaluation and author or editor of more than 75 books on evaluation, metrics, and analytics. The conversation focuses on Jack and Patti Phillips’ latest book, Show the Value of What You Do: Measuring and Achieving Success in Any Endeavor. In the conversation, Jack Phillips shares how his engineering background played a role in ...

Jan 19, 2023•42 min

229 Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: Life, Lessons, and Leadership with H.H. Leonards Founder and Chair of the O Street Museum Foundation & the Mansion on O Street| Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with H.H. Leonards. H.H. Leonards is the founder and chair of the O Street Museum Foundation, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and the Mansion on O Street, where Mrs. Rosa Parks called her home-away-from-home for the last decade of her life. H.H. Leonards is also the author of the book Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: Life, Lessons, and Leadership. Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery ...

Jan 17, 2023•42 min•Ep. 229

228 AI Bootcamp for Leaders: Unlocking the Power of Artificial Intelligence for Your Organization with Tom Taulli | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Tom Taulli, author of multiple books, including Artificial Intelligence Basics: A Non-Technical Introduction, which serves as the focus of this conversation. Tom Taulli has been developing software since the 1980s. In college, he started his first company, which focused on developing e-learning systems. He also created other companies, including Hypermart.net, which was sold to InfoSpace in 1996. Along the way, Tom has writte...

Jan 12, 2023•47 min

227 Economic Development by Building an Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem and Paving the Path for Startups with Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO| Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies. Troy LeMaile-Stovall has led the organization to cultivate an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. In this conversation, Troy LeMaile-Stovall discusses his upbringing and how it has impacted the kind of leader he is today. He shares how his experience as a Texan and a Catholic has shaped his leadership style and how he looks to...

Jan 10, 2023•48 min

226 How to Be an Inclusive Leader by Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive with Jennifer Brown | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jennifer Brown, an award-winning thought leader globally renowned for her diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Jennifer Brown is also the author of How to Be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive. In the conversation, In the conversation, Jennifer Brown discusses how her experience as an opera singer has helped her become a successful keynote speaker. She talks about how he...

Jan 05, 2023•49 min

225 The Future is Now: Open AI's Chat GPT and the Exponential Changes Ahead | Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight

In this episode, Mahan Tavakoli discusses why open access to powerful conversational chatbots will be viewed in the future as a transformational moment, potentially equaling the wide use and disruptive impact of the internet or smartphones. Mahan shares why artificial intelligence is starting its exponential growth curve and will impact all aspects of our lives and organizations. He uses the introduction of the robust conversational AI platform, ChatGPT as an example of how AI will transform our...

Jan 03, 2023•24 min

224 [BEST OF] You Have More Influence Than You Think and The Science of Influence with Dr. Vanessa Bohns | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Professor Vanessa Bohns. Dr. Vanessa Bohns is a social psychologist, an award-winning researcher and teacher, and a professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University. Vanessa Bohns is also the author of the book: You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion, and Why It Matters. In this conversation, Vanessa Bohns shares insights on how we influence those around us and how to harn...

Dec 29, 2022•41 min

223 [BEST OF] Leading with Grit, Clarity and Empathy with Marriott International President and incoming President & CEO of Under Amour, Stephanie Linnartz | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Stephanie Linnartz, currently President of Marriott International, Inc., the world's largest hospitality company. Last week, Stephanie Linnartz announced that effective February 24, 2023, she will be leaving Marriott to take on the role of President & CEO of Under Armour. Under Armour founder and Executive Chairman Kevin Plank said Stephanie Linnartz was selected after a 7-month search partly because of her digital skills a...

Dec 27, 2022•49 min

222 [BEST OF] 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...

Dec 22, 2022•1 hr 16 min

221 [BEST OF] A Quantum Life: An Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars with World Renowned Astrophysicist Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, astrophysicist, STEM educator, multi-patented inventor, keynote speaker, and author of A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars. In the conversation, Hakeem Oluseyi shares his journey of overcoming adversities and becoming a leading astrophysicist of this generation. Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi also talked about his ability to explain astrophysics in a way that engages audiences and the value ...

Dec 20, 2022•46 min

220 [BEST OF] How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others with Stephen M. R. Covey | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Stephen M.R. Covey. Stephen M.R. Covey is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Speed Of Trust, former CEO of Covey Leadership Center, and author of Trust And Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others. Stephen shares why many leaders are still operating with a command and control mindset and the need to develop the mindset and capabilities of becoming trusting and inspiring lead...

Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 9 min

219 [BEST OF] Love, War and Politics with Chuck Robb, Former Virginia Governor & Senator | Greater Washington DC DMV Changemaker

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Chuck Robb, Virginia's 64th governor from 1982 to 1986 and U.S. senator from 1989–to 2001. Governor Chuck Robb is also the author of In the Arena: A Memoir of Love War and Politics. In the conversation, Governor Chuck Robb shares his story of joining the Marines, being assigned to the White House, serving in Vietnam, and marrying President Lyndon Baines Johnson's daughter, Linda Bird Johnson. Chuck Robb also talked about his le...

Dec 13, 2022•48 min

218 Leading Unstoppable Teams with Former Navy Seal Commander & Inc 500 CEO, Alden Mills | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Alden Mills, former Navy SEAL platoon commander and Co-Founder and C.E.O. of Perfect Fitness, an Inc 500 Fastest Growing Company. Alden Mills is also the best-selling author of Be Unstoppable: The 8 Essential Actions to Succeed at Anything and Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership. In the conversation, Alden Mills discusses his C.A.R.E. framework and the four essential actions of high-perf...

Dec 08, 2022•48 min

217 New Power Leadership Lessons from the Movement for Freedom in Iran: Woman Life Freedom: Zan Zendegi Azadi| Mahan Tavakoli Partnering Leadership Insight

In this episode, Mahan Tavakoli speaks about the leadership lessons we can learn from the woman-led movement for freedom in Iran: Woman Life Freedom, Zan Zendegi, Azadi. Mahan shares why we need to think about power differently in society or organizations. The reasons for a shift away from the old power models based on hierarchies to new power models based on aligned movements. Mahan uses this example to show the need for a change of thinking in organizations with a greater need to align around ...

Dec 06, 2022•20 min

216 How Organizations Can Earn Lifelong Loyalty Through the Four Factors of Trust with Deloitte’s Ashley Reichheld and Amelia Dunlop | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Amelia Dunlop and Ashley Reichheld. Amelia Dunlop is the Chief Experience Officer for Deloitte Digital and a Principal at Deloitte LLP. Ashley Reichheld is a principal at Deloitte Digital and the creator of the HX TrustID. Together they are the coauthors of the newly released book The Four Factors of Trust: How Organizations Can Earn Lifelong Loyalty. In the conversation, Amelia Dunlop and Ashley Reichheld share why trusted com...

Dec 01, 2022•42 min

← Prev Next →

Hosted on Buzzsprout

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android