A Podcast About Leadership

AIIR Consulting
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Leadership has the power to shape the future — of work and of the world. But in a period of history increasingly defined by complexity, uncertainty, and change, the skills and mindsets leaders need to succeed are shifting faster than ever. A Podcast About Leadership faces this challenge head-on, offering the insights and inspiration leaders need to navigate change and shape a better future. Each episode, we speak with leaders and leading thinkers in business, leadership, psychology, neuroscience, and human performance. Together, we explore the challenges leaders face today— from leading through volatility and uncertainty to developing the empathy, resilience, and strategic vision required to thrive in the years ahead. Whether you’re an individual leader looking to increase your impact or a human resources (HR), talent, or learning and development leader shaping the future of leadership across your organization, A Podcast About Leadership has the information, inspiration, and practical application you need. Meet the Hosts Dr. Jonathan Kirschner is the founder and CEO of AIIR Consulting, a global authority on executive coaching and leadership development. A psychologist and entrepreneur, Jonathan has nearly two decades of experience helping leaders at the world’s most respected organizations accelerate performance, transform cultures, and unlock human potential. His expertise sits at the intersection of behavioral science, business strategy, and technology, making him a sought-after advisor to executives navigating complexity and change. Dr. Joy Nissen is a psychologist and seasoned executive passionate about helping leaders unlock their full potential and accelerate business performance. Joy brings both scholarly rigor and deep human empathy to her work, and has a unique ability to translate psychological insight into practical strategies that drive organizational results. Her coaching has shaped C-suite leaders, rising executives, and high-potential talent, making her a trusted voice for anyone serious about leadership growth. Presented by AIIR Consulting AIIR Consulting is a global leadership development firm trusted by Fortune 500 companies and forward-thinking organizations across industries. With a foundation in psychology and a commitment to measurable business impact, AIIR helps leaders and teams excel in today’s complex world. From executive coaching to team effectiveness to leadership development at scale, AIIR delivers solutions that enable organizations to thrive. You can learn more at www.aiirconsulting.com.

  1. When Culture Is the Strategy: Lessons from Elite Leaders in HR

    5D AGO

    When Culture Is the Strategy: Lessons from Elite Leaders in HR

    The CHRO role has been quietly transforming — not in the gradual, incremental way of most professional evolution, but in a sharp, compressed shift that has redrawn what it means to lead people inside a major organization. The question is no longer whether HR belongs in the room where strategy gets made. The question is whether HR leaders are ready for what that actually demands. Jonathan Kirschner sits down with three accomplished voices in the field: Maxine Carrington, Chief People Officer at Northwell Health, Bill Strahan, EVP of Human Resources at Comcast, and John Touey, Managing Partner of Trilogy Talent Advisors. The result is one of the most candid and substantive conversations about the CHRO role you're likely to hear. From Functional to Enterprise Leader - The CHRO has moved from managing the competition for talent to sitting alongside the CFO and COO in the highest-stakes business decisions; John Touey explains why this shift has fundamentally changed what boards are asking for. Culture as an Enabling Force - Maxine Carrington makes the case that culture isn't a feeling or a values poster — it's the infrastructure that allows organizations to move fast, absorb shock, and do things they never thought possible, as Northwell proved during COVID. What M&A Gets Wrong - Both Carrington and Strahan share hard-won lessons on why cultural due diligence has to come before policy alignment, org charts, and branding — and what it costs when it doesn't. The AI Reckoning - The panel surfaces the uncomfortable truth underneath all the AI enthusiasm: organizations risk hollowing out the human judgment they need most, right at the moment they're being told to automate faster. Leading Teams Into an Uncertain Future - Touey's parting challenge lands hard: your people are being trained for jobs that won't exist in five years, and it's on HR leadership to see that clearly and act now. This episode is for anyone who leads people — or leads leaders — and wants to think more honestly about what that responsibility requires in 2026 and beyond.  To learn more about how AIIR Consulting helps leaders build resilient, high-performing teams, visit aiirconsulting.com.

    1h 4m
  2. The Hidden Cost of Harmony: Wissam Adib on Leadership in the GCC

    APR 16

    The Hidden Cost of Harmony: Wissam Adib on Leadership in the GCC

    What does it take to lead in a place where ambition has no ceiling — where building the world's tallest skyscraper is just the beginning, and failure isn't an option? The Gulf Cooperation Council region has achieved what many thought impossible: transforming desert into global economic powerhouses in a single generation. But that kind of velocity creates a unique leadership challenge. Jonathan Kirschner speaks with Wissam Adib, executive coach and leadership advisor based in Dubai, who has spent twenty years at the center of the UAE's transformation. Adib, a veteran of Dubai's government reform programs and now part of AIIR Consulting's executive coaching practice, has watched leaders navigate the tension between massive ambition and the psychological weight of never being allowed to fail. Joy Nissen, AIIR Managing Partner and business psychologist, joins the conversation to explore how leaders in high-stakes environments manage anxiety, contain risk, and build cultures that can sustain relentless growth. The Social Contract of Ambition — How tribal leadership structures create clarity and loyalty, but also concentrate the emotional burden of achievement at the top.When Anxiety Leaks — The three reactive tendencies (controlling, protecting, complying) that emerge when leaders can't contain the fear of failure — and why these patterns drain energy without delivering results. Building Bigger Containers — Practical strategies for creating psychological safety at four levels: individual, relational, systemic, and symbolic. The Limits of "Fail Fast" — Why Silicon Valley mantras don't translate in cultures where failure is socially costly, and how to create space for innovation without undermining trust. Who Contains the Leader? — Why executive coaching isn't remedial — it's structurally essential when the stakes are this high. This conversation is for senior leaders navigating high-growth environments, HR professionals building resilience into ambitious cultures, and anyone interested in the psychology of achievement under pressure. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how cultural context shapes leadership — and how to design systems that support rather than exhaust the people driving them. To learn more about how AIIR Consulting helps leaders build resilient, high-performing teams, visit aiirconsulting.com.

    1h 4m
  3. What Monkeys Can Teach Us About Leadership with Michael Platt - Bonus Episode

    APR 9 ·  BONUS

    What Monkeys Can Teach Us About Leadership with Michael Platt - Bonus Episode

    In this bonus episode of A Podcast About Leadership, AIIR CEO Dr. Jonathan Kirschner sits down with Dr. Michael Platt — professor across three schools at the University of Pennsylvania, founder of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, and author of The Leader's Brain — to explore the science of social connection and what it means for leadership. From a landmark monkey study on a Puerto Rico island to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Dr. Platt shares surprising findings about resilience, friendship, and the brain's capacity to adapt under pressure. The conversation spans genetics, grooming, empire-building, and why the most connected employees help companies outperform the S&P 500. If you lead teams, communicate under pressure, or want to understand the hidden biology driving human performance, this episode offers a rare and fascinating look at what is really happening beneath the surface of every great team, every great conversation, and every great leader. To learn more about how AIIR Consulting helps leaders build resilient, high-performing teams, visit ⁠aiirconsulting.com⁠.

    19 min
  4. The Leader's Brain: What Neuroscience Reveals About the Future of Leadership with Michael Platt

    MAR 24

    The Leader's Brain: What Neuroscience Reveals About the Future of Leadership with Michael Platt

    What is actually happening in the brain when a team clicks, a leader inspires, or a group of individuals becomes something greater than the sum of its parts? According to one of the world's leading neuroscientists, the answer lies not in strategy decks or personality assessments, but in the biology of human connection — and most leaders are only scratching the surface of what that means. On this episode of A Podcast About Leadership, AIIR Consulting CEO Jonathan Kirschner is joined by Dr. Michael Platt, professor across three schools at the University of Pennsylvania, founder of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, and author of The Leader's Brain. Drawing on decades of research, from neuroeconomics to brain synchrony and AI, Dr. Platt makes the case that understanding how the brain actually works is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools available to leaders today. The conversation spans the neuroscience of decision-making, the biology behind team chemistry, and why the human brain's unchanging nature makes great leadership more urgent than ever in the age of AI. In this episode, we explore: Why the Brain Hasn't Changed in 200,000 Years — But the World Has. How the accelerating pace of technological change is outpacing human evolution, and why leadership is the critical bridge between the two. The Social Brain Network. What neuroscience has revealed about how our brains are wired for human connection — and why loneliness is now proven to be worse for your health than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. The Neuroscience of Team Chemistry. Why "clicking" as a team is not a feeling but a measurable biological phenomenon, and what interpersonal brain synchrony actually looks like in high-performing groups. Why Self-Reported Data Lies — and the Brain Tells the Truth. How passive brain data predicts real-world behavior far more accurately than surveys, assessments, or what people say in the room. Practical Neuro Hacks for Leaders. Simple, science-backed ways to build trust, boost synchrony, and create the conditions for psychological safety — before the real work even begins. AI, the Future of Work, and What Keeps a Neuroscientist Up at Night. Why Dr. Platt sees AI as the most significant disruption human society has ever faced — and where he finds reason for optimism anyway. If you lead teams, communicate under pressure, or want to understand the hidden biology driving human performance, this episode offers a rare and fascinating look at what is really happening beneath the surface of every great team, every great conversation, and every great leader. To learn more about how AIIR Consulting helps leaders build resilient, high-performing teams, visit aiirconsulting.com.

    1h 21m
  5. The High-Performance Mindset of Elite Athletes with Leaders from the NBA, MLB, and Elite Endurance Sports

    FEB 5

    The High-Performance Mindset of Elite Athletes with Leaders from the NBA, MLB, and Elite Endurance Sports

    What separates good performers from truly elite ones, and why do some teams suddenly turn things around while others stay stuck? According to leaders working at the highest levels of professional sport, the answer is not just talent, technique, or effort. It is mindset, decision-making, recovery, and the often invisible dynamics that shape how people perform under pressure. On this episode of A Podcast About Leadership, AIIR Consulting CEO Dr. Jonathan Kirshner is joined by three world-class performance experts operating at the intersection of sport, psychology, and leadership: Simon Rice, Vice President of Athlete Care for the Philadelphia 76ers; Holly Benner, elite ultramarathoner; and Lindsay Shaw, Director of Sport Psychology for the Cleveland Guardians. Together, they offer a rare, inside look at how elite performance is built, sustained, and recovered when things go off track. Drawing from professional basketball, Major League Baseball, endurance sport, and executive coaching, the conversation explores why excellence is less about pushing harder and more about aligning people, culture, and decision-making over time. The group unpacks how leaders can navigate burnout, ruts, and losing streaks, and why the same principles that drive athletic turnarounds apply directly to organizations under pressure. In this episode, we explore: What Actually Separates Elite Performers. Why love of the craft, self-belief, and consistency over time matter more than raw talent or relentless grinding.Mindset as a Performance Lever. How subtle shifts in internal language, such as “we will” versus “we have to,” change behavior, resilience, and outcomes.Turnarounds Without Changing the Roster. How leadership, culture, and shared mental models can unlock performance even when the players stay the same.Decision-Making Under Uncertainty. Why leaders can make the right call and still lose, and how elite performers stay grounded anyway.Recovery as a Competitive Advantage. Why focusing on sleep, nutrition, hydration, and mental recovery drives better performance than chasing marginal gains.Coaching, Support, and Self-Leadership. Why the highest performers invest in coaching, and why great coaches have coaches of their own.If you lead teams, operate under pressure, or want to elevate performance without burning out, this episode offers practical, hard-earned insights from environments where feedback is immediate and the stakes are public. To learn more about how AIIR Consulting helps leaders build resilient, high-performing teams, visit aiirconsulting.com.

    1 hr
  6. Confetti and Chaos: An Inside Look at Leading an IPO with Kat Williamson and Gary Survis

    JAN 22

    Confetti and Chaos: An Inside Look at Leading an IPO with Kat Williamson and Gary Survis

    From the outside, an IPO can look like it's all confetti, bell ringing, and a soaring valuations. But, behind the scenes, it’s one of the most intense leadership transitions a company can face. Scrutiny increases overnight. The margin for error shrinks. And the leadership behaviors that fueled early growth can break under the weight of scale. In this episode of A Podcast About Leadership, host Dr. Jonathan Kirchner sits down with two leaders who have seen what it really takes to navigate that shift: Gary Survis (Operating Partner, Insight Partners) and Katherine “Kat” Williamson (VP of Talent Development, Gong). Together, they unpack the realities that rarely make it into the celebratory headlines — from the human toll of “living in transformation,” to the cultural rewiring required when a company goes from building fast to delivering predictably. Gary and Katherine explore how founders and executives must evolve as the organization matures — including the hard truth that what got you here won’t get you there. They discuss why charisma and “good vibes” can’t substitute for clarity, discipline, and accountability — and how the best leaders learn to trade heroics for systems. You’ll hear how to identify which leadership skills will scale, which ones become liabilities, and why the companies that succeed long-term are the ones that treat reinvention as the job, not the exception. This conversation is also a practical guide for leaders preparing for their next inflection point. Expect insights on building a “ready-now” leadership bench, managing expectations from investors and boards, and creating alignment when the pressure to execute is relentless. If you’re navigating hypergrowth, preparing for an IPO, integrating new executive talent, or trying to build a company that can thrive under constant change — this episode delivers the perspective (and the realism) you need.

    1 hr
  7. The Art and Science of CEO Succession with National Vision CEO Alex Wilkes and Executive Chairman Reade Fahs

    JAN 9

    The Art and Science of CEO Succession with National Vision CEO Alex Wilkes and Executive Chairman Reade Fahs

    What does CEO succession look like when it’s planned, values-led, and built for continuity and change at the same time? In this episode of A Podcast About Leadership, host Jonathan Kirschner, founder and CEO of AIIR Consulting, sits down with three leaders who’ve lived the succession story from every angle: Reade Fahs, who led National Vision for more than two decades, guiding the company from a modest optical chain into one of the largest vision care retailers in America — and who recently transitioned out of the role of CEO. Alex Wilkes, National Vision’s new CEO, who joined as president and stepped into the top role with a modernization agenda rooted in customer reality and operational urgency. Jamie Ramsden, senior executive coach, author of Let’s Go, and a former CEO himself, who has coached both leaders and offers a behind-the-scenes view into what makes a succession succeed or fail. Together, they explore the art and science of handing over the baton — including the internal work required of the outgoing CEO, the strategic choices required of the incoming CEO, and the practical routines that protect trust during a high-stakes transition.

    1h 23m
  8. Leading with Love with Bob Chavez, Former CEO of Hermès Americas

    12/18/2025

    Leading with Love with Bob Chavez, Former CEO of Hermès Americas

    Can love be a serious strategy in today’s high-pressure business environment? In this episode of A Podcast About Leadership, host and AIIR Consulting CEO Dr. Jonathan Kirchner is joined by Bob Chavez, former President and CEO of Hermès Americas, and Jamie Ramsden, author and executive coach to both Jonathan and Bob. Together, they explore a leadership philosophy centered on trust, care for people, and long-term commitment — a deliberate alternative to fear-based leadership and short-term thinking. Drawing on Bob’s extraordinary journey — from his childhood on what he calls “the wrong side of the tracks” in San Antonio to his years at Princeton to stewarding one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands for more than two decades — the conversation reveals how timeless values, emotional courage, and focus can produce enduring performance in even the most competitive industries. This episode is a masterclass in human-centered leadership — and a reminder that the most powerful force in business may still be the one leaders are most hesitant to name. Key takeaways from the conversation include: Why leading with love is not soft leadership — and how it creates accountability, trust, and exceptional performanceHow Hermès sustained long-term growth by prioritizing patience, craftsmanship, and culture over short-term winsThe role of storytelling and sense-making in helping organizations stay focused amid distraction and volatilityWhat it takes to build culture as a living system — not a poster on the wallHow leaders can challenge people to grow while creating psychological safety and deep belongingWhy focus, trust, and care for people may be the ultimate competitive advantage in modern leadershipWhether you lead a global organization, a growing team, or yourself, this episode offers a powerful reframing of what leadership can look like when it is grounded in humanity. To learn more about AIIR Consulting and its executive coaching services, visit www.aiirconsulting.com.

    1h 8m
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About

Leadership has the power to shape the future — of work and of the world. But in a period of history increasingly defined by complexity, uncertainty, and change, the skills and mindsets leaders need to succeed are shifting faster than ever. A Podcast About Leadership faces this challenge head-on, offering the insights and inspiration leaders need to navigate change and shape a better future. Each episode, we speak with leaders and leading thinkers in business, leadership, psychology, neuroscience, and human performance. Together, we explore the challenges leaders face today— from leading through volatility and uncertainty to developing the empathy, resilience, and strategic vision required to thrive in the years ahead. Whether you’re an individual leader looking to increase your impact or a human resources (HR), talent, or learning and development leader shaping the future of leadership across your organization, A Podcast About Leadership has the information, inspiration, and practical application you need. Meet the Hosts Dr. Jonathan Kirschner is the founder and CEO of AIIR Consulting, a global authority on executive coaching and leadership development. A psychologist and entrepreneur, Jonathan has nearly two decades of experience helping leaders at the world’s most respected organizations accelerate performance, transform cultures, and unlock human potential. His expertise sits at the intersection of behavioral science, business strategy, and technology, making him a sought-after advisor to executives navigating complexity and change. Dr. Joy Nissen is a psychologist and seasoned executive passionate about helping leaders unlock their full potential and accelerate business performance. Joy brings both scholarly rigor and deep human empathy to her work, and has a unique ability to translate psychological insight into practical strategies that drive organizational results. Her coaching has shaped C-suite leaders, rising executives, and high-potential talent, making her a trusted voice for anyone serious about leadership growth. Presented by AIIR Consulting AIIR Consulting is a global leadership development firm trusted by Fortune 500 companies and forward-thinking organizations across industries. With a foundation in psychology and a commitment to measurable business impact, AIIR helps leaders and teams excel in today’s complex world. From executive coaching to team effectiveness to leadership development at scale, AIIR delivers solutions that enable organizations to thrive. You can learn more at www.aiirconsulting.com.

Information

  • Creator
    AIIR Consulting
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © AIIR Consulting
  • Show Website
    A Podcast About Leadership

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