Imperfect Leaders

Jeffrey Cohn, Podcast Host
  • 5.0 (29)
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Imperfect Leaders

There’s no such thing as a perfect leader. But we can all learn from the very best - as long as they’re willing to be vulnerable - and share their flaws, their anxieties, and of course, their wisdom. www.imperfectleaders.com

  1. Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana - How I Feel About Antisemitism, Racism, and Violence on Campus - and How We are Changing Our 387 Year Old Culture

    APR 6

    Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana - How I Feel About Antisemitism, Racism, and Violence on Campus - and How We are Changing Our 387 Year Old Culture

    Harvard is an iconic, 387 year old institution of higher education.  And it's time for a cultural overhaul. The events of the past year – racism, antisemitism, violence on campus, the removal of its president - have thrown their imperfections into stark relief for the world to see. Today’s guest - Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana – is very open and humble about Harvard’s imperfections. But that doesn’t mean he’s sitting still. Far from it. Recognizing he casts a long shadow and embracing a 'beginner's mindset', Khurana is spearheading the Intellectual Vitality effort which he hopes will revitalize the school’s culture. The lofty goal is to create a safe space environment across the entire campus and community – both physically and psychologically – that encourages tough conversations about divisive problems, in which students can learn from each other, regardless of how uncomfortable it is, at first. As Dean Khurana says, “let’s be hard on the problem, but easy on each other.” We should all be keeping an eye on Harvard's progress. Lessons gleaned may help other universities - and other divided institutions and partisan leaders across America in the media, politics, education, and business. www.imperfectleaders.com, Jefffrey Cohn

    1h 4m
  2. What makes 2024 SEC Champion - Coach Bruce Pearl so Special - Authenticity & Auburn University?

    MAR 18

    What makes 2024 SEC Champion - Coach Bruce Pearl so Special - Authenticity & Auburn University?

    Coach Bruce Pearl teaches his players to be 'great receivers.' Find out in today’s podcast what this means and why it's so important.  Auburn Coach Pearl’s lessons of empathy and authenticity don't just apply in basketball – but in politics, business, and life.  Get ready for the Big Dance. www.imperfectleaders.com

    26 min
  3. What I Learned Running for President of the United States - U.S. Representative, Dean Phillips

    MAR 18

    What I Learned Running for President of the United States - U.S. Representative, Dean Phillips

    U.S. Representative Dean Phillips is an innovative leader. He has drawn praise from modern day business heroes - like hedge fund icon Bill Ackman - for his willingness to shake things up - like staid industries including vodka, gelato, and most recently, U.S. politics. He even threw his hat in the ring and ran for President of the United States, even though everyone knew it was a long shot campaign. Find out what he learned during this intense process. www.imperfectleaders.com

    54 min
  4. Humanizing Private Equity - Ted Bililies, Global Head of Transformative Leadership at Alix Partners

    FEB 19

    Humanizing Private Equity - Ted Bililies, Global Head of Transformative Leadership at Alix Partners

    On any given day, a casual investor can tune into CNBC and be in total awe.  Public companies are showcased and glamorized by messianic analysts in a concerted effort to push stock prices higher. But in reality, as I recently wrote, the future economy is increasingly being financed in private markets, far away from the glitz and glamor of the New York Stock Exchange. Today’s guest – Ted Bililies – is a world leading private equity expert. Long gone are the old, wild west days of KKR and Barbarians at the Gate, when private equity investors would buy a company, saddle it with massive debt, ruthlessly squeeze out costs, and sell the company for a quick buck. According to Ted, PE investors, in today's world, are taking a radically different approach to adding value – a fundamentally more human approach that offers a more enduring advantage, and one that is certain to appeal to a entirely new generation of talent.   www.imperfectleaders.com

    39 min
  5. Tim Connelly, Minnesota Timberwolves GM - The Emotionally Intelligent Leader

    11/27/2023

    Tim Connelly, Minnesota Timberwolves GM - The Emotionally Intelligent Leader

    One of the best leaders in the NBA is today’s guest – Tim Connelly – General Manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Before billionaire owner Marc Lore and co-owner Alex Rodriguez lured him to Minnesota, Connelly worked side by side with Stan and Josh Kroenke and Coach Michael Malone - as the team's GM who helped the Denver Nuggets win their very first world championship. What is Tim’s secret sauce?  Is it superior analytics and competitive intelligence? Nope. Actually, it’s the exact opposite. Tim is an incredibly emotionally intelligent leader – comfortable in his own skin and able to forge authentic relationships with star talent like Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert. Although Tim prefers to stay out of the spotlight – and rarely will you see him do public interviews on ESPN or the NBA on TNT– he was gracious enough to share wisdom with our listeners. We hope you enjoy! www.imperfectleaders.com

    49 min
  6. The Milken Global Institute – Rich Ditizio, Chief Executive Officer – Creating A Psychologically Safe Space for World Leaders to Solve Intractable Challenges

    11/14/2023

    The Milken Global Institute – Rich Ditizio, Chief Executive Officer – Creating A Psychologically Safe Space for World Leaders to Solve Intractable Challenges

    The Milken Institute is a think (and action) tank - founded by legendary visionary Michael Milken - brings together brilliant people and world leaders to develop blueprints for tackling some of our planet's most critical problems including poverty, hunger, and chronic disease. Rich Ditizio is an incredible CEO who is responsible for leading this effort. He's the symphony conductor who works hard to create a psychologically safe space for creative talent to share radical ideas, challenge each others core assumptions, and work towards a common vision. Although much more soft-spoken, in many ways Rich reminds me of some of our past guests who lead creative and iconic organizations: IDEO, Cirque du Soleil, and Pixar. www.imperfectleaders.com

    51 min
  7. Love - the secret ingredient all great leaders share - with Monique and Melvin Rodriguez - founders of super brand, Mielle Organics

    11/06/2023

    Love - the secret ingredient all great leaders share - with Monique and Melvin Rodriguez - founders of super brand, Mielle Organics

    Mielle Organics - the hair care and beauty brand - is the fastest ever growing consumer startup in history of this industry - and was recently acquired by ⁠Procter & Gamble⁠ in a truly historic transaction that made headlines across the country. Yet their founders - ⁠Monique and Melvin Rodriguez⁠ - had to overcome serious challenges most entrepreneurs can't even imagine. First of all the co-founders are African American, and faced a litany of nasty bias and rejection early in their journey. And if that weren’t enough the co-founders are also married and full time parents. Where did they find the time? The energy? The resilience? The faith to overcome so many obstacles on their path to excellence? Their authentic story will be an inspiration to a future generation of entrepreneurs and leaders - from all corners of life - seeking to understand how love and faith conquers all - even in cut-throat, Corporate America. www.imperfectleaders.com

    50 min
  8. What NBA Champ Nikola Jokic can Teach CEOs about Leadership - with World Renowned Business Professor Dave Ulrich

    10/20/2023

    What NBA Champ Nikola Jokic can Teach CEOs about Leadership - with World Renowned Business Professor Dave Ulrich

    What matters more to winning - superstar talent or the organization's system and culture? According to today's guest - Dave Ulrich - a world-class thought leader at the University of Michigan Business School - talent matters, but team work matters even more. The same rules apply in business and in sports - from Amazon to the Denver Nuggets. For example, why does world NBA champ Nikola Jokic prefer passing than scoring? Because, in Jokic's own words, when he passes the ball, two people are happy - one person gets the assist and the other gets the points. In today's episode, Professor Ulrich helps us understand what CEOs - and rising star leaders in any organization - can learn about leadership from transcendent talent - like Jokic, Michael Jordan, and Steph Curry - each of whom made the tough but necessary transition from individual contributor to team leader. www.imperfectleaders.com

    28 min
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5
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About

There’s no such thing as a perfect leader. But we can all learn from the very best - as long as they’re willing to be vulnerable - and share their flaws, their anxieties, and of course, their wisdom. www.imperfectleaders.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jeffrey Cohn, Podcast Host
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jeffrey Cohn, Podcast Host
  • Show Website
    Imperfect Leaders

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