Disrupt Disruption

In this episode, Pascal is joined by Brian Brault, a leadership-development expert who runs the flagship leadership program for the Entrepreneurs Organization at MIT, to explore how leadership has fundamentally evolved over the past two decades. Brian shares his journey from the era of Jack Welch’s “smartest person in the room” leadership style to today’s emphasis on emotional intelligence, authenticity, and vulnerability-based leadership. The conversation delves into the critical shift from leaders needing to have all the answers to empowering teams to find solutions collectively. Brian reveals a pivotal moment from his own business when admitting “I don’t know” became his strongest leadership act, illustrating the difference between being vulnerable and leading with vulnerability. The discussion then tackles the modern challenge of leading in uncertainty, particularly with AI integration, where leaders must balance empathetic human management with rigid control systems for machine intelligence. Brian addresses the debate around flatter organizations versus the continued need for middle management, emphasizing that while data gathering may be automated, the human aspects of leadership – compassion, accountability, and recognizing people’s humanity – remain irreplaceable. The episode concludes with practical advice for emerging leaders, including finding mentors, taking leadership assessments, and focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses. 00:00 Introduction and Leadership Evolution 02:00 From IQ to EQ: The Transformation of Leadership Selection 06:00 The Duality Challenge: Leading People vs. Managing AI 11:00 The Importance of Data Accuracy in AI-Driven Decisions 12:00 Skills Leaders Should Stop Using 13:00 The Power of Admitting “I Don’t Know” 17:00 Leading Into the Unknown 22:00 Organizational Structure: Flat vs. Hierarchical 26:00 Vulnerability vs. Leading with Vulnerability 29:00 Practical Advice for Emerging Leaders 33:00 Finding Mentors and Leadership Development Resources ↗ Connect with Brian: Legacy of Significance - leadership development across all life dimensions

In this episode, Pascal is joined by Scott Wingo, a pioneer in the e-commerce space, to discuss the concept of 'liminal space' and the rapid changes brought by AI and geopolitics. Scott shares his journey from growing up with a mainframe in his home to navigating the fast-paced shifts from desktop to mobile and now AI. The conversation delves into the complexities organizations face in adapting to technological advancements, highlighting Martex’s Law and the need for a non-binary approach to change. Scott explains his 70-20-10 framework developed at ChannelAdvisor to balance core business activities with innovation. The discussion also covers the future of AI-native organizations, the rise of agents in e-commerce, and how leaders can manage these agents effectively. Scott emphasizes the importance of staying updated through podcasts and other high-signal sources while also sharing insights on potential disruptions in traditional search models by AI-driven platforms. 00:00 Introduction and Liminal Space 00:59 Technological Evolution and AI 03:15 Organizational Change and Martex Law 04:15 Framework for Managing Change 07:34 AI Native Organizations 11:31 Staying Updated in a Rapidly Changing World 17:36 Diving into Agent AI in E-commerce 18:56 The Potential of Agent AI in Everyday Life 20:52 Managing a Company with AI Agents 22:06 Building an AI-Driven Organizational Structure 28:42 The Future of AI in Business Efficiency 31:26 The Shift from Google Search to AI-Powered Tools 33:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ↗ Scot’s new venture: ReFiBuy.ai

In this episode, the first of Season 2, Pascal welcomes Johnathan and Melissa, founders of the Raw Signal Group, to discuss the evolving landscape of management and leadership. Known for their impactful writings and expertise, Johnathan and Melissa share their insights on how leaders can navigate the turbulent shifts brought about by remote work, AI advancements, and geopolitical changes. They explore the concept of 'liminal space' in the workplace and the challenges faced by managers in constantly adapting to new norms. The conversation delves into the importance of middle management, the need for organizations to prioritize clarity and communication, and the critical role of one-on-one meetings in managing change effectively. They also highlight the pitfalls of relying solely on top-down directives and the importance of critical self-reflection for leadership development. The episode concludes with practical advice for leaders at all levels and a glimpse into the training and resources offered by the Raw Signal Group. Raw Signal Group: ↗ https://www.rawsignal.ca Raw Signal Group’s “The World’s Best Newsletter”: ↗ https://www.rawsignal.ca/worlds-best-newsletter/ Unmanageable - Leadership Lessons from an Impossible Year: ↗ https://www.amazon.com/Unmanageable-Leadership-Lessons-Impossible-Year/dp/0995964327/ How F*cked Up Is Your Management - An Uncomfortable Conversation About Modern Leadership: ↗ https://www.amazon.com/How-cked-Your-Management-uncomfortable/dp/0995964300 00:00 Introduction to Season Two 00:49 Meet Jonathan and Melissa 00:55 Navigating the Liminal Space 01:27 Challenges in Modern Leadership 03:22 The Human Element in Tech 05:49 The Role of Middle Management 08:48 Effective Change Management 10:53 Building Confidence in Leadership 17:37 The Importance of One-on-Ones 20:16 Overcoming Resistance to Change 24:24 Creating a Narrative Hook for Change 25:12 Responding to Overwhelming Change 25:43 The Importance of Structure in Fast-Moving Organizations 26:53 The Impact of Intentional Design in Management 29:24 The Killer Competitor Exercise 30:13 The Challenge of Stopping Activities 32:20 The Importance of Trade-offs in Management 36:07 The Future of Work and Management 44:04 Practical Advice for Leaders in Liminal Spaces 47:17 About Raw Signal Group and Conclusion

​Join Pascal Finette in our dynamic bimonthly live event series to dive into the heart of innovation. Pascal engages in candid conversations with eminent experts who demonstrate progress in practice. ​In our first session of 2024, we feature Aaron Frank, a longtime expert in Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Spatial Computing. Together, we will explore the future of this field. ​With the recent release of Apple's Vision Pro headset, Meta's ongoing efforts, the continuous updates to the Quest Pro hardware, and the entry of new companies into the market, this could be the moment when headset-based computing takes off – or not?!

Kacee Johnson, as the Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at CPA.com, stands out in the realm of accounting technology. Grounded in global FinTech, she pinpoints pivotal trends and forges collaborations in the sector. Celebrated by Accounting Today and CPA Practice Advisor, Kacee also ranks among the Most Powerful Women in Accounting. In our conversation, Kacee explores the complex issues of AI integration in the accounting realm. She emphasizes the need for robust infrastructure, the recruitment of talent knowledgeable in both AI and accounting intricacies, the critical role of upholding data quality for precise financial forecasts, and the essential harmonization of AI-based strategies with overarching accounting goals and benchmarks.

In our discussion, David shares insights from years on the boards of major corporations. He urges CEOs to engage board members for strategic guidance, not just oversight. David sees board meetings as chances to focus on the future, offering strategies like independent incubators and migrating innovations from edge to core. He emphasizes selecting directors individually and fostering a strong chair-CEO relationship. For startups, he advises gradually building an advisory board of experts and wisely anticipating disruption. With four decades of leadership experience spanning multiple industries and roles, David Beatty is a highly accomplished strategist and governance expert. He led a major North American food manufacturer, served as CEO of a closed-end investment trust, and taught strategy at Rotman School of Management. Beatty has served on 39 boards, chairing 9 public companies, and created director education programs. He focuses on helping boards and CEOs collaborate to anticipate disruption and invest time wisely. Beatty has been recognized with the Order of Canada and a lifetime achievement award from the International Corporate Governance Network.

Brant Cooper is the New York Times bestselling author of “The Lean Entrepreneur” and “Disruption Proof,” and the innovative mind behind Moves the Needle. With a rich history of transforming industrial age dynamics into digital age opportunities, Brant brings unique insights on agility, digital transformation, and how to create real value for customers amidst today’s complex and disruptive business landscape. What happened to the glory days when scrappy startups could disrupt entire industries? Brant Cooper says those days are over – but large companies shouldn’t retreat into their innovation labs hoping for breakthroughs. Instead, they must empower diverse teams and partner with the startup community. Cooper provides a dynamic playbook to make companies “disruption proof” in this rapidly changing world. Learn how to balance exploration and execution, drive real impact, and create resilient yet adaptable organizations. A must-listen for any innovator dealing with today’s challenges!

Frederik is a renowned global thought leader and former Chief Innovation Evangelist at Google, where he led the growth of the company's innovation culture and mentored a diverse global community of over 600 Innovation Evangelists. He is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University's d.school and teaches graduate classes on navigating ambiguity at the intersection of innovation, creativity, and design. In our conversation Frederik and I talk about developing a future mindstate, why the future belongs to all of us and not just a few “innovators”, and his upcoming book on the topic.

Christina is the CEO of biotech startup Officinae Bio, and the former cofounder of the Innovation Lab of ViiV Healthcare, a joint venture between GSK, Pfizer, and Shionogi. Previously she held leadership positions at GSK and has spent her career at the forefront of healthcare innovation." Repeat guest Christina, and I discuss all things leadership, how to manage successful innovation initiatives and their teams, and the pitfalls which can present themselves along the way.

Mary is Managing Partner of Bread and Butter Ventures. She began her career working on the Google IPO, and went on to lead new business development partnerships, negotiating early-stage product and technology deals worldwide. Mary served as the founding director of Google for Startups, leading the company’s global efforts to support entrepreneurs in over 100 countries. After her 15-year career at Google, Mary worked as an investment partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, where she led dozens of investments in a range of sectors, including healthcare, enterprise software, and fintech. In our conversation, we dig deep into the learnings from thousands of startups, explore how corporates can better partner and work with entrepreneurs and their companies, and discuss common pitfalls to avoid.

Josep heads up Innovation at Swiss-based Oberalp Group, a world leader in mountain sports equipment. Further, he is General Manager at POMOCA, the market leader ski touring skin manufacturer. In our conversation, we explore the many lessons which can be learned from the timeless classic Swiss army knife, why sustaining innovation oftentimes trumps the perceived need for disruption, and what might be next for the outdoor sports industry.

Raphael Gielgen has spent most of his professional life working on improving the office environment. Raphael is Trendscout Future of Work Life & Learn at the legendary design firm Vitra. His curiosity for architecture, technology, and social change in the context of working environments is his fuel — always connected to the question of how the global working world is changing and what impact it has on existing business models. In our conversation, we explore the future of work, the role of the office (and other spaces) in this future, and how leaders can best prepare themselves for the future — not just the future of our working world but all futures.

Barak is the founder of MarketCentrix, a consumer strategy consultancy for tech companies. Barak consults to start-ups, VCs, and large companies and serves as a board member or advisor to start-ups. Most recently, Barak was the Director of Operation and Strategy at the MIT Media Lab. Prior to the Media Lab, Barak was CEO of Evi, the virtual personal assistant acquired by Amazon, and is now the intelligence in Amazon Alexa. Over his 30 years + in consumer technology, Barak established a broad range of businesses. He was the founder or senior executive in many start-ups, including Wolfram Alpha, Six Apart, OmniSky, The Go Network, and Logitech. Before Logitech, Barak spent over nine years at Apple USA and Apple Japan in several roles leading consumer marketing, and he was the founding manager of Macy’s Computer Stores. In our conversation, Barak explores the leadership traits of successful disruptors, how organizations look like supporting those leaders, and the common pitfalls firms encounter along the way. We end our inspiring discussion with an outlook on the possible impact of (technological) change on humanity.

Natasha is the Chief Operating Officer of Signol. Natasha has a Masters of Sience in Global Crime, Justice, and Security from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to Signol, Natasha spent nine years working within the UK Ministry of Defence, specializing in intelligence. Her final role in Defence was as Chief Operating Officer of the MOD’s most successful innovation team, responsible for delivering novel technology in machine learning, data science, special operations, and sustainability to Defence through user-centered design and non-traditional suppliers. In our conversation, Natasha and I explore her approach to innovation in a highly complex and interdependent environment, why and how organizations fail and what to do about it.

Marques is a cyborg anthropologist, innovator, and world builder. Seeking to be globally impactful, he created the World Education Foundation in 2009 while writing his Master’s thesis for the Adult Learning and Global Change program at Linkoøping University in Sweden. The WE Foundation’s mission and aim focuses on bridging the gap between academia, technology, and implementation in local communities around the world. In our conversation, we explore the fascinating work of a cyborg anthropologist, ancestral wisdom, and how to integrate this into one’s work.

Hemali is an industry-agnostic Multipotentialite with 30+ years of experience with in-depth technical and business acumen across different organizations. She is known for her thought leadership in Strategic Execution which includes strategic assessment, planning, governance, and implementation of complex systems with robust technical competencies. Hemali currently works at NASA / JPL – Caltech in Project Development Leadership for NASA’s flight projects and mission success and is Chair of the AIAA Space Economy Committee working to bring industry, academia, and innovators together. Hemali has co-founded and been an advisor for various technology startups and owned/operated a business in hospitality. In our conversation we explore (no pun!) the future of space exploration, and what companies and leaders can learn from NASA.

Grant is the founder of Knotion Labs where he works with leaders to invent breakthough products and get them into the hands of customers. In our conversation we talk a about innovation best practices, the common pitfalls, and Grant’s anti-patterns of innovation and disruptive.

David is the founder of Idea Farm Ventures where he invests into and helps build mission-driven companies for the modern consumer. He started and designed the Wharton School of Business’s first course on Digital Marketing and E-Commerce and the author of the book “Location Is (Still) Everything”. In our conversation we dig into the wonderous world of direct-to-consumer businesses, what’s next for B2C companies, and the inner workings of disruptive innovation in the space.

David Siegel is the CEO of Meetup, the largest platform for finding and building local community. He has over 20 years of experience as a technology and digital media executive leading organizations through innovative product development, rapid revenue growth, and digital traffic acceleration. Prior to joining Meetup, David was CEO of Investopedia and before that, President of Seeking Alpha. David’s book, Decide and Conquer: 44 Decisions that will Make or Break All Leaders lays out the framework for decision-making that leaders can use to ensure organizational and personal success. In our conversation we talk about David’s approach to failing, learning, and the art of the pivot, how to stand the inevitable tensions with doing things on the edge, and how to create a winning culture.

Bruce Smith is the founder and CEO of hydrow, the fitness company which created the leading connected rowing machine. A former Head of the Charles winner, Bruce coached the US Lightweight Eight to a Bronze medal at the 2015 World Rowing Championships. In our conversation we explore the many disruptions and state changes happening in the fitness industry at large, how community becomes the cornerstone of personal transformation, the approach the hydrow team took to creating their revolutionary product in a category which hasn’t seen much change over the last couple of decades, and how this all translates into the world of business and leadership.