Leading Minds Revealed

Michael Apollo

Leading Minds Revealed Podcast: Unlocking the Secrets of Mindful Executive Leadership Welcome to Leading Minds Revealed, a transformative podcast that dives deep into the intersection of mindfulness, mental fitness, and executive leadership. Hosted by industry experts, this thought-provoking series brings you exclusive conversations with C-suite executives, organizational leaders, and visionaries from industries navigating rapid change. Each episode explores how strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and mindful practices empower today’s top leaders to thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape. Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, Leading Minds Revealed offers actionable insights to elevate your leadership game. Why Listen to Leading Minds Revealed? In today’s high-stakes business environment, effective leadership requires more than technical expertise—it demands mental clarity, resilience, and the ability to inspire teams through uncertainty. Leading Minds Revealed showcases real stories from seasoned executives who have faced complex challenges, driven strategic transformations, and built high-performance cultures. From navigating technological disruptions to fostering emotional intelligence (EQ) in the C-suite, our guests share the mental tools, frameworks, and strategies that have fueled their success. Our podcast is designed for forward-thinking leaders who want to: Master decision-making under pressure. Build resilient organizational cultures that preserve core values during change. Leverage emotional intelligence to influence and inspire teams. Adapt to market shifts, technological advancements, and evolving workforce expectations. Implement mindful leadership practices for sustainable high performance. With a focus on real-world applications, Leading Minds Revealed bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering listeners practical takeaways to sharpen their leadership skills and drive measurable results. What to Expect from Each Episode Every episode of Leading Minds Revealed is a masterclass in modern leadership. Our guests come from diverse industries—technology, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and more—bringing unique perspectives on what it takes to lead with confidence and foresight. Topics are tailored to each guest’s expertise, ensuring fresh, relevant content that resonates with today’s executives. Expect in-depth discussions on: Mental Fitness for High-Stakes Leadership: Learn how top executives maintain clarity and make sound decisions in high-pressure environments. Discover mindfulness techniques and mental frameworks that enhance focus and resilience. Building Resilient Cultures: Explore strategies for preserving organizational values while navigating mergers, restructurings, or market shifts. Hear how leaders foster trust and alignment in dynamic settings. Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Uncover the role of EQ in driving influence, collaboration, and team performance. Learn how to cultivate self-awareness and empathy to lead with impact. Future-Ready Leadership: Stay ahead of the curve by adapting to technological disruptions, AI advancements, and changing market dynamics. Our guests share how they position their organizations for long-term success. Mindful Leadership Practices: From meditation to structured reflection, discover tools that promote sustainable high performance and prevent burnout at the executive level. Career Journeys and Lessons Learned: Hear inspiring stories of how leaders got started, overcame pitfalls, and honed their expertise. Learn from their successes, failures, and comebacks to accelerate your own growth. Decision-Making Processes: Gain insights into how top executives approach critical decisions, including the good, the bad, and the lessons learned along the way. Overcoming Leadership Challenges: From talent development to organizational culture, explore how leaders tackle comp

  1. How AI Is Reshaping Work, Skills, and Leadership - Insights from Stanford’s Human Perception Lab | Mohan Reddy | EP 123

    1D AGO

    How AI Is Reshaping Work, Skills, and Leadership - Insights from Stanford’s Human Perception Lab | Mohan Reddy | EP 123

    AI is changing how work gets done but not in the way most people think. In this episode, Mohan Reddy, Chief AI Research Scientist at Cornerstone and Associate Director at Stanford’s Human Perception Lab, explains why automation transforms tasks rather than eliminating skills, how workforce dynamics are shifting globally, and what leaders must do to guide responsible adoption. A grounded conversation on strategy, human capability, and leadership in a rapidly evolving world. Mohan Reddy is Chief Scientist at Cornerstone AI Labs and Associate Director at Stanford's Human Perception Lab. At Stanford, he leads research at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and AI, focusing on human-machine perception, predictive cognition, and multimodal reasoning. His lab work includes the Universal Sensory Index for multimodal perception, frameworks for embodied cognition in robotic systems, and agent readiness models that ground AI behavior in human cognitive principles. A nine-time founder with three successful exits, Mohan built SkyHive (acquired by Cornerstone OnDemand) and co-founded FogHorn Systems (acquired by Johnson Controls), one of the first edge AI platforms for industrial IoT. At Cornerstone, he architected the Labor Market Engine, a workforce computation system representing 1.2 billion people and 5 billion jobs, executing over 150 trillion computations daily. His platforms have served hundreds of millions of users and are built to scale to billions globally. With 25+ years of building intelligent systems across enterprise, robotics, and distributed computing, Mohan bridges deep research with production engineering, taking ideas from the lab to planetary-scale deployment.

    56 min
  2. Beyond AI Tools: How Leaders Should Think About AI | Srini Koushik | EP 120

    FEB 4

    Beyond AI Tools: How Leaders Should Think About AI | Srini Koushik | EP 120

    In this episode of Leading Minds Revealed, host Michael Apollo sits down with Srini Koushik, founder of Right Brain Labs, for a grounded and practical conversation on what AI fluency really means for today’s leaders.   Rather than focusing on hype or tools alone, Srini reframes AI as a leadership capability — one that requires intention, discernment, and responsibility. The discussion explores how executives can engage with AI in a way that strengthens human judgment, supports sustainable decision-making, and avoids over-automation at the expense of people.   Srini shares how he personally uses AI systems, why leaders must invest as much in human capability as in technology, and how ethical and responsible adoption starts with mindset, not policy. This episode challenges leaders to move beyond experimentation and toward thoughtful integration of AI into how they think, learn, and lead. If you’re navigating AI acceleration at the leadership level and want clarity without noise, this conversation offers a steady and practical lens.   ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Leading Minds Revealed 00:33 – Podcast mission and leadership focus 00:45 – Introducing host Michael Apollo 01:15 – Framing the challenge of AI acceleration 02:10 – Introducing Srini Koushik and Right Brain Labs 03:22 – What AI fluency actually means for leaders 06:04 – Why AI is a leadership issue, not a tech issue 09:18 – Investing in humans alongside technology 12:41 – Responsible and ethical use of AI 16:09 – Moving beyond hype and tool obsession 19:27 – How Srini personally uses AI systems 23:08 – AI personas and intentional engagement 27:34 – Decision-making, judgment, and discernment 31:56 – Sustainability and long-term thinking 35:42 – Supporting organizations through AI adoption 39:10 – Final reflections and leadership takeaways   👉 Subscribe for conversations with leaders shaping the future of business through clarity and mindfulness. 🔗 Share this episode with a leader navigating AI strategy.

    57 min
  3. AI and Leadership Playbook from U.S. Bank’s CIO | Mo Jamous | EP 119

    FEB 3

    AI and Leadership Playbook from U.S. Bank’s CIO | Mo Jamous | EP 119

    In this episode of Leading Minds Revealed, host Michael Apollo sits down with Mo Jamous, Chief Information Officer at U.S. Bank, for a deeply human conversation on leadership, purpose, and AI-driven transformation.   Mo shares how purpose becomes an anchor during uncertainty, why technology should be used to empower—not replace—people, and how leaders can stay grounded while navigating rapid, overlapping waves of change. Drawing from decades of experience across digital, cloud, and AI transformations, Mo offers practical insight into building customer-obsessed cultures, introducing AI responsibly, and leading with clarity in moments of disruption.   This episode is a powerful exploration of future-ready leadership, human-centered technology, and the mindset required to create lasting impact in an AI-driven world.   Guest: Mo Jamous, Chief Information Officer, U.S. Bank Host: Michael Apollo   ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Leading Minds Revealed 00:55 – Episode focus: leading with purpose in transformation 01:37 – Introducing Mo Jamous, CIO of U.S. Bank 02:27 – Why purpose matters most during uncertainty 03:28 – Mo’s early story and discovering his leadership “why” 05:40 – Purpose as the constant through transformation 07:25 – Translating mission into daily leadership behaviors 08:35 – Staying grounded through customer feedback 09:16 – Turning personal habits into organizational culture 10:38 – What customer obsession looks like in practice 12:04 – Avoiding “shiny object” syndrome in AI 13:44 – Being intentional with innovation 15:22 – AI as empowerment, not replacement 17:54 – Addressing fear and misinformation around AI 19:19 – Creating value vs. cutting costs with AI 21:21 – Separating hype from reality in AI narratives 23:08 – Task-based work and human-AI collaboration 24:19 – Leadership principles that stay constant 26:40 – Psychological safety, collaboration, and trust 28:58 – Is AI fundamentally different from past tech waves? 30:39 – Why AI adoption lags behind capability 33:00 – Upskilling teams and AI literacy challenges 35:53 – Helping teams change how they work 38:22 – Progressive AI rollout strategies 40:32 – Human-centered change leadership 41:22 – Being present as a leader during uncertainty 43:28 – Recognition, visibility, and employee motivation 45:57 – How service shaped Mo’s leadership philosophy 48:38 – Is digital transformation really human transformation? 49:06 – Advice for leaders navigating AI-driven change 52:35 – Where to follow Mo Jamous 54:20 – Final reflections and closing   📣 Call to Action If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to Leading Minds Revealed, like this episode, and share it with a leader navigating change. Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway—we’d love to hear your perspective.

    55 min
  4. Why Leaders Must Stop Having All the Answers: The Power of a Learning Mindset | Humayun Ali | EP 117

    JAN 14

    Why Leaders Must Stop Having All the Answers: The Power of a Learning Mindset | Humayun Ali | EP 117

    In this episode, Humayun Ali joins the show for a deeply reflective conversation on mindfulness, leadership, and the inner work required to lead with clarity in a fast-moving world. Humayun shares how mindfulness became a grounding force in his personal and professional life — not as an abstract concept, but as a daily practice that shapes how he listens, decides, and responds under pressure. He speaks candidly about identity, self-awareness, and the discipline required to slow down in environments that reward constant motion. This conversation explores presence, intentional leadership, and why cultivating stillness is not a retreat from responsibility, but a way to meet it more fully. It’s a thoughtful discussion for anyone navigating complexity, growth, or the weight of leadership in modern life. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome and episode opening 00:58 — Introducing Humayun Ali 01:47 — Discovering mindfulness 03:21 — Early influences and inner awareness 05:06 — Mindfulness beyond meditation 07:02 — Leading from presence, not reactivity 09:18 — Identity, self-observation, and growth 11:44 — Creating space before responding 14:07 — Pressure, performance, and calm 16:33 — Letting go of control 19:01 — The discipline of slowing down 21:40 — Mindfulness in leadership moments 24:58 — Navigating uncertainty with awareness 27:36 — Stillness as strength 30:10 — Advice for leaders beginning this work 32:28 — Final reflections and close 📣 CALL TO ACTION If this conversation resonated with you: 👍 Like the video 💬 Comment with your biggest insight 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mindful leadership 📤 Share this episode with someone who could benefit from slowing down

    48 min
  5. Same Language, Different Meaning: Leading Across Cultures | Lamiaa Soliman | EP 116

    JAN 7

    Same Language, Different Meaning: Leading Across Cultures | Lamiaa Soliman | EP 116

    In this episode of Leading Minds Revealed, host Michael Apollo sits down with Lamiaa Soliman, a global leader working at the intersection of healthcare, technology, AI, and international expansion. Drawing from lived experience across the Middle East, Europe, and North America, Lamiaa shares what it truly means to lead across cultures — not from theory, but from practice. From navigating healthcare adoption in culturally sensitive markets to understanding why slowing down can be a strategic advantage, this conversation explores how trust, listening, humility, and context shape successful leadership. Lamiaa also reflects on growing up in Saudi Arabia, bridging Western and Middle Eastern leadership models, dispelling stereotypes, and why representation, ethical AI, and human-centered design matter more than ever in global healthcare. This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation for leaders navigating complexity, change, and cross-border work in today’s world. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome to Leading Minds Revealed 01:10 — Introducing Lamiaa Solaiman 02:09 — Returning to Saudi Arabia and unlearning assumptions 03:41 — Women, technology, and shifting cultural narratives 04:57 — The challenge of leading across cultures 05:48 — Healthcare as a culturally sensitive space 06:47 — Why language and naming matter 07:46 — Human-centered design across borders 08:40 — “Same language, different meanings” 10:09 — Family dynamics and patient decision-making 11:43 — Expanding healthcare platforms globally 13:19 — Navigating the NHS and public systems 14:49 — Time, trust, and relationship-based regions 15:53 — Growing up between cultures 18:01 — Skills leaders need in cross-cultural meetings 19:44 — Listening beyond words 21:16 — Growth mindset and adapting to change 22:15 — AI adoption in unexpected ways 25:30 — A lesson in slowing down during conflict 27:29 — Dispelling stereotypes through presence 29:55 — Polarization, identity, and empathy 32:24 — Diversity, inclusion, and lived experience 37:30 — AI, healthcare, and representation 41:14 — Ethics, data, and patient impact 45:43 — Genomics and population health 47:30 — Leadership shaped by upbringing 50:09 — Majlis, storytelling, and leadership without titles 52:45 — Ego, humility, and informed leadership 56:24 — How leaders can build cultural fluency 01:00:19 — Where to connect with Lamiaa 01:02:00 — Final reflections and close 📣 CALL TO ACTION If this episode resonated with you: 👍 Like the video 💬 Share your biggest takeaway in the comments 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mindful leadership 📤 Share this episode with someone leading across cultures

    1h 3m

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About

Leading Minds Revealed Podcast: Unlocking the Secrets of Mindful Executive Leadership Welcome to Leading Minds Revealed, a transformative podcast that dives deep into the intersection of mindfulness, mental fitness, and executive leadership. Hosted by industry experts, this thought-provoking series brings you exclusive conversations with C-suite executives, organizational leaders, and visionaries from industries navigating rapid change. Each episode explores how strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and mindful practices empower today’s top leaders to thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape. Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader, Leading Minds Revealed offers actionable insights to elevate your leadership game. Why Listen to Leading Minds Revealed? In today’s high-stakes business environment, effective leadership requires more than technical expertise—it demands mental clarity, resilience, and the ability to inspire teams through uncertainty. Leading Minds Revealed showcases real stories from seasoned executives who have faced complex challenges, driven strategic transformations, and built high-performance cultures. From navigating technological disruptions to fostering emotional intelligence (EQ) in the C-suite, our guests share the mental tools, frameworks, and strategies that have fueled their success. Our podcast is designed for forward-thinking leaders who want to: Master decision-making under pressure. Build resilient organizational cultures that preserve core values during change. Leverage emotional intelligence to influence and inspire teams. Adapt to market shifts, technological advancements, and evolving workforce expectations. Implement mindful leadership practices for sustainable high performance. With a focus on real-world applications, Leading Minds Revealed bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering listeners practical takeaways to sharpen their leadership skills and drive measurable results. What to Expect from Each Episode Every episode of Leading Minds Revealed is a masterclass in modern leadership. Our guests come from diverse industries—technology, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and more—bringing unique perspectives on what it takes to lead with confidence and foresight. Topics are tailored to each guest’s expertise, ensuring fresh, relevant content that resonates with today’s executives. Expect in-depth discussions on: Mental Fitness for High-Stakes Leadership: Learn how top executives maintain clarity and make sound decisions in high-pressure environments. Discover mindfulness techniques and mental frameworks that enhance focus and resilience. Building Resilient Cultures: Explore strategies for preserving organizational values while navigating mergers, restructurings, or market shifts. Hear how leaders foster trust and alignment in dynamic settings. Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Uncover the role of EQ in driving influence, collaboration, and team performance. Learn how to cultivate self-awareness and empathy to lead with impact. Future-Ready Leadership: Stay ahead of the curve by adapting to technological disruptions, AI advancements, and changing market dynamics. Our guests share how they position their organizations for long-term success. Mindful Leadership Practices: From meditation to structured reflection, discover tools that promote sustainable high performance and prevent burnout at the executive level. Career Journeys and Lessons Learned: Hear inspiring stories of how leaders got started, overcame pitfalls, and honed their expertise. Learn from their successes, failures, and comebacks to accelerate your own growth. Decision-Making Processes: Gain insights into how top executives approach critical decisions, including the good, the bad, and the lessons learned along the way. Overcoming Leadership Challenges: From talent development to organizational culture, explore how leaders tackle comp