Hoda Tahun
Appearances
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
And Louie, on this topic of where the value is going to be created as companies and executive leadership teams and board directors are thinking about the next 10 years, what should they be thinking about? And what advice would you give to leaders so that they don't maybe make mistakes that have been made over the last 10 years?
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
And I think we saw a very similar adoption curve with the digital transformation about a decade ago, where some leaders quickly figured out the process and value of digitizing their businesses, while others were a bit stuck in maybe more traditional workflows and processes, right? And I'm sure you've seen that with your clients.
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
And as a follow-up to this part of the conversation, what about responsible AI and ethics? We would love your perspective on this piece. And what should leaders keep in mind around the ethical piece as it comes to AI?
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
I certainly have seen quite a bit of that in the hospitality world with cruise and hotel companies that are perhaps... figured out how to use the AI and the technology to scan through and scour through customer feedback forms, or maybe others are still doing it the old-fashioned way.
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Each episode gives you a fresh perspective on your leadership and career journey. I'm Hoda Tahun, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds.
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Do you think that AI is owned by a specific leader in an organization?
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Yeah, and I think we're going to dive in quite a bit today on the ethical piece. So today's guest can hopefully help us better understand how leaders can harness the power of AI in their business, especially when it comes to creating better experiences for their customers and employees.
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
You've led three companies to either acquisitions or IPO. You were president and CEO of the Klang Group, which was acquired by Ben in the 90s. You went on to co-found Taleo, which was acquired by Oracle. Then you grew Caveo and took it public in 2021. Very impressive track record. For those listening, what advice or guidance would you give other leaders who are aspiring for similar success?
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Louis, who was a mentor that had the biggest impact on you?
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Louie, what's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Louis, welcome to Redefiners.
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
And you mentioned that you are a licensed helicopter pilot. Where is the most interesting or unusual place that you have flown to?
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
So, Louis, when most people think of AI companies, they typically think of the big tech hubs like Silicon Valley or Seattle in the United States. And your previous company, Taleo, is based in San Francisco. But Coveo is based in Quebec, Canada, which is quite a bit away from Silicon Valley. Do you see that as an advantage or a disadvantage being outside the typical tech hubs?
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Louis, thank you so much for the wonderful insights and the incredible knowledge that you've shared with us. We've so much enjoyed having you on Redefiners. Thank you so much for joining us.
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Redefiners. For more compelling insights from leaders across industries and around the world, listen to Redefiners wherever you get your podcasts.
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Hi, everyone, and welcome back to Redefiners. I'm Hoda Tahun, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates, and I am here with my phenomenal co-host, Simon Kingston.
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
Before we get started, just a quick reminder to our listeners that you can find all episodes of Redefiners and the Leadership Lounge on YouTube. And if you're currently watching Redefiners on YouTube, please go ahead and hit that subscribe button below so that you don't miss an episode. And for our audio listeners, don't forget to rate Redefiners wherever you get your podcasts.
Redefiners
AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu
We absolutely love to get your feedback. Simon, today's conversation focuses on a key topic that we've been covering that is the potential to continue to redefine and at least impact every aspect of our lives, business, and society, AI.
Redefiners
Digging Deep: Leadership, Growth & Risk with BHP CEO Mike Henry
Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers.
Redefiners
Digging Deep: Leadership, Growth & Risk with BHP CEO Mike Henry
Each episode gives you a fresh perspective on your leadership and career journey. I'm Hoda Tahun, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds.
Redefiners
Digging Deep: Leadership, Growth & Risk with BHP CEO Mike Henry
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Redefiners. For more compelling insights from leaders across industries and around the world, listen to Redefiners wherever you get your podcasts.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Ewan Clarke had a chance to talk about this to L.A. Rams COO Kevin DeMoff, who had a pretty clear way of describing how he thinks about this aspect of his leadership.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
That was such a great conversation with Kevin. And I really remember him talking about passion and consistency and consistency being a key driver for leaders. Today's leaders are challenged more than ever to stay consistent and a very fast changing business landscape with new issues, expectations and quarterly financial pressures to contend with.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And we already mentioned AI, but there are certainly many other things that we mentioned earlier. Sustainability, political change, the list goes on. And embracing that complexity and uncertainty has become table stakes now for leaders as they determine the best ways to be future ready and to try to future proof their business.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And that reminds me of something Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat said in your conversation. She's led through lots of change and adversity in two very different industries. Not only has she seen the challenge of that leadership in the tech industry, but before joining Google, she was CFO, as she reminded us, of Morgan Stanley during the financial meltdown of 2007-2008.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
So she knows more than most of us about leading through real turmoil. Ruth shared three very hard-earned lessons that she keeps coming back to, both in good times and in bad.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Okay, before we get started, I'd like to take a few minutes to reflect on all of our years. I also find it very helpful to acknowledge what we've accomplished, both professionally and personally, and what we're most proud of.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
You know, it was really amazing to hear Ruth's story and her experience leading Morgan Stanley out of the financial crisis clearly had an impact on how she leads to this day at Google. When I hear Ruth's comment about developing teams with the right experience, I think of Clark's conversation this past year with sailing world record holder Dee Khafari.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Dee's the only woman to have sailed solo nonstop around the world in both directions and has sailed around the world six times. In her conversation with Clark, she talked about the leadership lessons she learned in her first around the world sailing opportunity with a crew.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Each episode gives you a fresh perspective on your leadership and career journey. I'm Hoda Tahun, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Dee's right, of course. Although she didn't tell us what it was she was looking for as she sailed around the world six times. Leaders, whatever they're up to, need to make difficult decisions all the time. And to do that, they need to understand not just the commercial context, the markets, the sectors they serve, but the people in their organizations.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
So before we dive into the craziness of what this whole year has brought us, Simon, how about I go first and I share three or four things that I'm most proud of for 2024, and then I hand the baton to you.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Emma and I spoke to President and CEO of Waste Management, Jim Fish, and he talked about an unusual way in which he connected with his people and how that helped him to understand what his teams go through day to day.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
If you remember, Hoda, another leader we spoke to this year whose organization is very obviously driven by empathy and compassion, is the President and Chief Executive of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband. In addition to discussing the breadth and range of the crises that he and the IRC team are actively involved in, he also talked about the importance of strategy for a leader.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Clarity of strategic direction is as vital, if not more vital, for non-profits as it is for profit organizations. The era of the headless heart is over. And David really demonstrated that when he talked about his use of strategy to prioritize how the IRC's inevitably limited resources are allocated when they face the challenges they do.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
I had the privilege to advise a number of clients this year in hospitality leisure through major organization transformations in a year of unprecedented growth and momentum in the industry. I also had the chance to work with a large number of clients, taking them into new international markets, which was very exciting. I had the chance to volunteer in my local community.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
You know, David and his team at the IRC operate on the front lines of active humanitarian crises. Dealing with and mitigating risk are part of their daily jobs. And risk is also something that global leaders across industries need to navigate. This past year brought a lot of risk and uncertainty due to an unprecedented number of national elections.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
We mentioned earlier, 2024 saw almost half of the world's population go to the polls to vote for their national leader. That's a lot of potential geopolitical change happening in just one year. And for any leaders who perhaps were not paying attention, this year likely encouraged them to change that strategy.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Former president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, talked about this when we asked how leaders are thinking about geopolitical risk.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Geopolitical risk then is certainly at the top of the agenda for a great many leaders today. But we can't talk about risk without also talking about trust. And that was another topic we covered this year. As we all know, trust is a critical component of leadership, and it's vital to the success of any organization.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
But as people wrestled with worries about economic instability, job reductions, and increased polarization socially in 2024, that need for trust was demonstrated on multiple levels. As organizations look to their leaders to navigate through uncertainty and change, how are leaders going about building that all-important asset?
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband, had a very clear and very simple answer when we asked him about how he does it with the IRC's clients and with the partners with whom they deliver their programs.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Say what you do and do what you say. That's advice many of us heard from our parents and teachers growing up, but it still holds true for CEOs. And this is especially true for CEOs who are new to the role as building trust is critical in that first year. Transitioning into the CEO role can be a challenge and there are various paths to the top.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Some of the CEO transitions are expected and planned in advance, while others are unexpected due to sudden and unforeseen circumstances. Let's talk about the planned CEO succession first. Wells Fargo president and CEO Charlie Scharf came into the role at a very challenging time with the bank in 2019.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And for those that are following my tennis game, I finally have a nice spin on my tennis serve. Simon, what are you proud of this year?
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
The bank was dealing with a fallout from a scandal, customer trust was very low, and he had to quickly get a handle on it and deal with it fast. Here's how he approached that CEO transition.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
By contrast is the challenge of the unexpected CEO transition. Marriott President and CEO Tony Capuano talked about his very sudden transition to the CEO role after their iconic leader, Anna Sorensen, passed away.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Well, Hoda, I can't compete with those accomplishments of yours, but starting with the professional, this year for social impact leaders around the world has also been unprecedented and not altogether in good ways. So it's part of the privilege that we have to advise CEOs and boards on how to navigate some of that turmoil.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Not only did Tony have very quickly to make the transition into the CEO role himself whilst in the midst of the pandemic, he was also wrestling with the natural emotions of mourning a beloved leader and friend. both for his team and for himself. He shared with us some of the advice he was given then.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Although Charlie and Tony had very different CEO transitions, both certainly felt the immense weight as they stepped into the role, which reminds me of one of our Leadership Lounge episodes where we talked about this challenge and how to nail their first year in the role.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
It's certainly not easy being a CEO. In fact, it's the most challenging role in the business and the loneliest. The scope, gravity, responsibility, accountability, and exposure of the CEO role is unparalleled. Yet despite that complexity, it's often hailed as the most rewarding and life-affirming move of your career.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
To set yourself up for success, a new CEO needs to approach the first few days and months very carefully and with a fair amount of empathy, both for yourself and and the people you now lead. But one thing to remember is something Ty Wiggins shared in that episode.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Ty is a leadership advisor in our London office, and he interviewed top CEOs around the world for his book, The New CEO, Lessons on How to Start Well and Perform Quickly. What he learned is that no CEO transition is perfect.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
We have had the great good fortune of being asked to support some of the largest organizations in the global development, advocacy and philanthropy space. So that's been fascinating and humbling. And we'll talk a little bit about some of those issues, I think, over the next 30 minutes or so.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Ty had some great advice there. Leaders have to make decisions big and small all the time, whether it's in your first year or 10th year. TCW President and CEO Katie Koch talked about this and had a really clear way of looking at the challenge of making tough decisions as a CEO.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Katie talked about the value of learning from mentors and integrating their advice into your own leadership style.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Yes, the data certainly backs up the critical role mentors play to leaders and their organizations. According to CEO data from Harvard Business Review, 84% of CEOs credited mentors with helping them avoid costly mistakes. 71% said company performance had improved, and 69% said they were better at making decisions.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
For Tony, he had a great relationship with his CEO, Arne Sorensen, and learned a lot from his many years working with him and others on the team. For others, they may need to search out a mentor who is best suited to propel them forward for professional and personal success. Simon Elliott, a leadership advisor in our London office, had some great advice here.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Another challenge leaders grappled with in 2024 was how or whether to respond to a number of social issues amid an increasingly polarized world. Today, CEOs aren't just trusted to deliver profits. They're expected to have an informed point of view on key issues that society is wrestling with. And society often puts a great deal of trust in what they say.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
In the rest of my Russell Reynolds life, clearly Redefiners has been a new experience and it's been fantastic to work with you. Hoda and a little bit with Clark and Emma on that. And in my personal life, the West Cork History Festival at 2024 was a great success.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Surprisingly to some, in fact, the Edelman Trust Barometer continues to find that business leaders are seen as the most trusted group in society, ahead of media, ahead of politicians. And as they say in the Spider-Man movies, with great power comes great responsibility.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Adding to the complexity, leaders have to decide when is the right time to speak out on these issues. Richard Davis, a leadership advisor in our Toronto office and author of Good Judgment, talked about that and the mistakes leaders sometimes make when it comes to timing.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
If or how leaders respond has a major impact on talent acquisition and retention. A poll conducted by Business.com earlier this year showed that 75% of employees expected their employer to take a stance on social issues, showing just how important that is. We had a few leaders talk about this on Redefiners as well. L.A.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Rams CEO Kevin DeMoff talked about how and when leaders should respond to social issues.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And the memory that I will hold forever is watching my nine-year-old son klezmer dancing with Professor Margaret McMillan, who's in her early 80s. And the two of them were the most improbable dance partners, but it's a lovely image that we have shared since.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And this issue is not limited to any one country or region. Former president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, took a look at this from a global perspective, and he had this to add.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Sage advised that from a leader who has experience leading in both public and private, and indeed public-private sectors.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Another big issue that impacts both the public and private sectors, as well as social impact, is sustainability, of course. And when you look at sustainable leaders who have truly transformed their business, you have to go back to Francesco Starace.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
In addition to being former CEO of Enel, Francesco served on the board of Sustainable Energy for All, the Science-Based Targets Initiative, as well as the UN's Global Compact. Enel's transformation into one of the world's largest renewable energy producers didn't happen overnight.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Francesco talks about a key decision that helped everyone on the team get crystal clear on their transformation and growth process.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
I really liked Francesco's three-year decision criterion. Not only does it help focus the team to make investment decisions, it also provides a clear end date for everyone, including your board. But just because Francesco had a clear time window to complete a project, it doesn't mean it was easy. And that's where the resilience part comes in.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
That's amazing, Simon. Thank you for sharing. And it's been absolutely wonderful sharing the stage, the podcast stage with you over this last year. And it sounds like a lot has happened for us in 2024 around the world with global leaders throughout the year. And all I have to say is, wow, what a year.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
One of our Redefiners guests this season talked about resilience, especially when it came to their iconic founder of the company. Jordan brand president Sarah Mensah talked about how NBA legend Michael Jordan epitomized resiliency in both his on-court play and off-court business ventures.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And since we're talking about legendary athletes, I have to go back to something sailing legend Dee Khafari said. For those who want to push themselves harder than they ever have to achieve a goal, as Dee did multiple times, she shared some great advice about taking that first step.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Some of us may have been pushed or prodded into a career direction early on in our careers, which may have worked out well for some and not so well for others. Natalie Robin talked about that experience in her own career, and her response was really insightful for those listeners who may be considering a role about which they have doubts.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
The term unprecedented gets thrown out a lot and maybe overused these days, but I think it truly applies to many of the challenges leaders have faced this year in 2024. Yeah.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
TCW Group President and CEO Katie Koch got some terrific advice at an early age from her mom that helped drive her career decisions.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And for those of our listeners whose hope and resilience was tested this year, and my goodness, I think it was for most of us, we'll leave you with this message from David Miliband. As we've mentioned, his teams at the IRC are at the very sharp end of the humanitarian crises that disfigure our world and its people. So he knows a lot about hope.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
I think that's right, Hoda. It has been an extraordinary year, and in lots of dimensions, it's been unprecedented. If we start with the geopolitical situation in which leaders find themselves, sadly, the war... between Ukraine and Russia continues. There are very little signs of that ending in the very near future. In the Middle East, we see conflict in Gaza and Israel.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Look at the people and you'll have hope. And we can always use a bit more hope as we start the new year. Before we wrap up, as our listeners know, we like to end each episode with rapid fire questions. We've been asked by the Redefiners team to once again, put ourselves in the shoes of our guests to see what it's like from their side of the conversation.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
With that, we're going to change it up a bit. And Simon and I are going to pose a few rapid fire questions to each other. Simon, are you ready?
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
As you should be. All right. I will ask the first question. As we're in the holiday season, what is your favorite holiday movie?
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
My favourite holiday movie is... Blimey, what is my favourite? Actually, it's nothing to do with holidays.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
I watch it at Christmas, although it has nothing to do with Christmas.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Do you have it as a tradition, though?
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Continuing our holiday trend, what is your favourite holiday food, Hoda?
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Oh, this is so good. So I love all holiday food, but if I had to pick one, I would say pumpkin pie.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Well, not one bit, but it is very yummy. Simon, if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you want to ring in the new year?
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
I can honestly say I want to ring in the new year in West Cork, which is where I'm going to do it.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
In how many languages can you say happy holidays? And we'd like to hear them, please. So don't over claim.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Confidently, I would say three. Go for it. So I would say happy holidays in English. In Arabic. And Feliz Navidad, which is really Merry Christmas in Spanish, but I think it sort of encompasses Happy Holidays.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Well, to give you a fourth, Naleg Hanna Gwitch in Irish.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Well, oh, I love that. Well, thank you, Simon.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
You've learned something, an additional something.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Every episode. Simon, what is one of your goals for 2025? It can be a personal goal or a business one. Your choice.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
It's both. 2025 will be the opening of a new chapter for me as I step down from co-leading the bit of the business I've led up to now. There's a real chance to do some new things with the leaders we advise. So I'm looking forward to that. I can't wait to hear all about it. Hoda, the same question for you. What is one of your goals for 2025?
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Hi everyone, and welcome to our end of year reflections episode of Redefiners season four. I'm Hoda Tahun, a leadership advisor here at Russell Reynolds Associates. This is one of my favorite episodes of the year. We get to look back through all of the amazing conversations we've had with leaders this past season and highlight the many nuggets of wisdom and insights that our guests have shared.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Well, you know, I'm really excited to continue a lot of the advisory work that we do for our clients because it gets... It gives us the chance to be very bespoke, very tailored in how we deliver very high quality advisory services that span beyond just traditional searches, which is what I think we used to be known for.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Well, we survived the rapid fire questions once again. Well done, Simon. And I have to stay. I still prefer being the one asking the questions instead of answering them.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
That wraps up season four of Redefiners. As we come to the end of the year. Hopefully we all come away a bit wiser, a bit more hopeful, and a lot more grateful for friends and loved ones. And in the spirit of gratitude, thank you, Simon, for being such a wonderful partner and co-host on our Redefiners journey.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Thank you, Hoda. I hope I've got the job. Thank you for being a very generous and gentle guide in my first attempt at this.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
You did wonderfully. We also wanted to thank our colleague, Clark Murphy, for his curiosity and resilience in co-hosting Redefiners for the past four years, as well as Emma Coombe for her hosting expertise with Leadership Lounge.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
They are wonderful colleagues to have and to learn from. And we should also give a huge shout out to the production team and crew here at Redefiners and at Leadership Lounge. You're amazing. Thank you.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And thank you to all of the leaders who took the time to join us on Redefiners. We're incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with each of you and to have such amazing, thoughtful and authentic leaders and change makers. We've learned from and have been inspired by each conversation we have had throughout this past year.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And last but certainly not least, a huge thank you on behalf of all of us at Redefiners and Leadership Lounge to our amazing listeners for joining us on this journey on which we embarked, exploring how global leaders are redefining what it means to be a leader in today's increasingly complex world.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And we have more remarkable guests, inspiration and leadership insights already in the works for Leadership Lounge in season five of Redefiners starting in January 2025. Be sure to follow or subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
I also think of Sudan, which in scale terms is actually the greatest humanitarian catastrophe of them all at the moment and often is overlooked. So it's been an incredibly challenging year. And while we talk about leaders and that is our purpose here, the human toll of all of that is heartbreaking when you think about it.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
However you celebrate them, we wish you and your families a safe, happy, and healthy holiday time. See you all in January.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Redefiners. For more compelling insights from leaders across industries and around the world, listen to Redefiners wherever you get your podcasts.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And Simon, on top of these conflicts, leaders have had to deal with a whole host of climate disasters as well. In fact, I think climate change is certainly causing massive challenges on so many levels. 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And in addition to the immense humanitarian impact, Oxair released a report at the recent COP29 meeting estimating that climate-related extreme weather events have cost the global economy more than $2 trillion over this past decade.
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Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And that, of course, is not all that leaders have to face.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
If one thinks about economic instability, persistent inflation, different though it is in different parts of the world, how to take advantage of technological change and gen AI in particular, while mitigating the risk and all of the changes and disruptions to global supply chains that have come as a consequence of these different fragmentary tensions, geopolitical and the extreme global
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
weather conditions you've talked about. And that has all been brought into really sharp focus this year in particular by political change. We know that it's been an unprecedented year in that dimension of human life too. 2024 saw more than 70 national elections with almost half the world's population voting on their country's leaders.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
I mean, that is an enormous amount of change for leaders to manage. Wouldn't you say, Simon? Huge. And in thinking about all of these issues from a macro level, it's given me a deep appreciation for how leaders constantly have to refine and in some cases, redefine their strategies, whether that's their business strategy, their technology strategy, sustainability, or their people strategy.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Leaders need to stay on top of what is going on, not only in their business, but around the world.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And of course, redefine us and redefinition of what it means to lead is the business that we're in. And several of our guests this past season talked about the need to stay nimble, to be agile and to adapt their organization's plans to changing data and information. And that was perhaps the biggest single topic that cropped up in so many of the conversations that we've had the privilege of having.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
artificial intelligence and specifically generative AI, something about which we all knew practically nothing a few years ago and now talk about with varying degrees, it would have to be said, of real knowledge. And that came up repeatedly. It's caused, evidently, considerable excitement, but also real anxiety for leaders as they work to calibrate what it means for their businesses.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And so while the phrase GenII launched into the world in late 2022, it's become a commonplace in most boardrooms and a business imperative in the course of 2024. And in that time, leaders have had varying success, I think it's fair to say, in their deployment of the technology. Some have sprinted ahead, integrating it into their business.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Others still struggling to work out what it means for them and still assessing how they should use it.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And I think regardless of where leaders fall within AI adoption, it's very clear that AI represents a transformative shift in both business and overall society.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Joining me for this very special episode is my very festive and fantastic co-host, Simon Kingston.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And one of the guests we had the privilege to speak with this season is truly at the forefront of AI and transformation, Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Peratt, who talked about the immense opportunities AI could provide across a multitude of industries, field overall.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Yes, I was really envious not to be in that conversation. It was a really good one, Simon. And one, as you say, of the industries that Ruth mentioned is healthcare. And AI clearly has the potential to help discover new drugs and diagnostics for previously incurable or unaddressable diseases whilst reducing research and development costs.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Hello, wise and wonderful Hoda. I'm really looking forward to this one because unlike you, I have never done this before. So the chance to review the year and the amazing generosity with their time of such a fantastic array of guests is something I'm looking forward to.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And one of the other healthcare companies which is really tapping into the potential of AI for exactly that purpose is Sanofi. And we also spoke to chairman and CEO there, Paul Hudson, and he talked about how his views on AI have developed earlier this season.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And Paul certainly looks at AI as a massive disruptor with huge potential when it comes to drug discovery.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Fascinating. As was former CEO of Enel, Francesco Staracci, and he was perhaps a little bit more subdued in his evaluation of its impact.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
You are in for a treat, Simon. Our other fabulous co-hosts and colleagues, Clark Murphy and Emma Coombe from the Leadership Lounge are unfortunately not able to join us today. So we'll be carrying on without them and carrying the torch for this episode. Simon, I have faith in us. How about you?
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
You know, Simon Francesco makes a good point that technology is just technology.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
It's all in how you use it to innovate and create new products and ways of working to really unleash the potential, which reminds me of another guest we had the chance to talk to this year who knows a thing or two about innovation, Volvo president and CEO Jim Rowan, who's the former CEO at Dyson and former chief operating officer at BlackBerry.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
So he's learned firsthand how close collaboration between engineering and design are how great products are born. He also knows that innovation isn't always a very seamless process.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
That was a fantastic conversation with Jim. And regardless of how you view AI, it's clear that it's going to have an enormous impact on all businesses. And it is the next big technology transformation opportunity. While it may be challenging for companies to integrate AI into their current operations, leaders can lean on some of the hard-earned lessons of the last decade in digital transformation.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And we've, of course, had the privilege of listening to some of those.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Yes. And one of those key lessons, I think, is that often the technology is not the hardest part to figure out. The bigger challenge where leadership becomes critical is the people part of the equation.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Leaders often need to change longstanding behaviors and processes to get people to use and partner with AI so that the organization can really realize the benefit and unlock that value creation of the technology investment.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
And we talked about how leaders need to keep in mind the people aspects of AI in the Leadership Lounge this season with Dana Landis, a leadership advisor in our San Francisco office.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
I think we'll do it. I think we'll do it.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
Just a quick reminder to our listeners that you can find all of the episodes for Redefiners and Leadership Lounge on YouTube. If you're currently watching Redefiners on YouTube, please go ahead and hit that subscribe button below as you don't want to miss an episode. And for our audio listeners, don't forget to rate Redefiners wherever you get your podcasts. We would love your feedback.
Redefiners
Redefiners Rewind: Insights and Takeaways from 2024
I really liked Dana's term, change fatigue. It's a good reminder of the vast amount of change and disruption that both leaders and the teams they lead have had to deal with over this year. And in a world where clearly that uncertainty and continuous change are going to remain the norm, it's vital for leaders to provide clear guidance and to model consistency in their behavior with their teams.
Redefiners
Talking Transformational Leadership with RRA’s CEO Constantine Alexandrakis
Each episode gives you a fresh perspective on your leadership and career journey. I'm Hoda Tahun, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds.
Redefiners
Talking Transformational Leadership with RRA’s CEO Constantine Alexandrakis
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Redefiners. For more compelling insights from leaders across industries and around the world, listen to Redefiners wherever you get your podcasts.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. Hi, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Redefiners. I'm Hoda Tahun, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates, and I'm joined once again by my very captivating and fantastic colleague and co-host, Simon Kingston.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
And are there maybe one or two gems that you help them with the confidence piece? Because it's such an important topic and a lot of people are talking about this right now. But do you have one or two key takeaways that you sort of point them to?
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
And the two align in some magic sort of magic timeline.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
And what is his name?
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Okay. Well, with a name like that, it kind of says it all. Yeah.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
I'm not a dog owner, but I am a terrific dog auntie to a number of dear friends. And what I have learned is that people who have pets of any sort truly love them and treat them as their own family members. And pet parents know that their fur babies are not only adorable and will do anything for them, they are so loyal and so lovable.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
In fact, according to Bloomberg Intelligence, the global pet industry is expected to grow from $320 billion today to almost $500 billion by 2030. Pet parents tend to treat their pets like they would with their own children, often sparing absolutely no expense to make sure their beloved pets are taken very well care of. And I can tell you, Simon, my friends spare absolutely no expense.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Lisa, when you were describing the shift of where the business or the core business, what it was when you stepped in versus where you're migrating it now and sort of expanding on some of these other facets, you know, the grooming, the clinics, the distribution centers, etc., Tell us, how have you been able to make that transformation from a leadership standpoint?
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
And what is your vision going forward?
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
From the grooming to the colorful little accessories, it's really adorable.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Well, today's guest is leading the charge on redefining the pet care industry to create a truly holistic pet care experience. This CEO will shed some light, pun intended, on the industry and share how she's leading her company in a very growing and expansive market. Simon, please tell our listeners who our guest is today.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Well, Lisa, it's been an absolutely wonderful discussion. And we've now come to the part of our conversation that we like to call rapid fire questions, where we ask you a series of questions designed to help our listeners get to know you even better. All you have to do is answer as quickly as possible. First thing that pops to mind. Are you ready? Ready. Okay.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
What type of dog breed best describes your personality?
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Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Now that you're a few years into your CEO role at Pets at Home, what's one thing you wish you had learned sooner?
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
And what is one important skill every person should have? Sleeping. That's a great one.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Before we get started, Simon, just a quick reminder to our listeners that you can find all episodes of Redefiners and the Leadership Lounge on YouTube. If you're currently watching on YouTube and you haven't yet subscribed to the show, please go ahead and hit that subscribe button below so you don't miss an episode.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Well, Lisa, we have absolutely loved having you on Redefiners. Thank you once again for joining us. No, thanks for having me. It's been a delight.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Lisa, welcome to Redefiners. Thank you for having me. It's lovely, lovely to be here. So Lisa, before we jump in, I read that 85% of your team are pet owners. I'm a little curious. What does bring your dog to work day look like at your company?
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
And for our audio listeners, don't forget to rate Redefiners wherever you get your podcasts. And please share your feedback on each episode as well as guest suggestions. We'd absolutely love to hear from you. Simon, as we start to think about this episode, do you have any pets or did you grow up with pets when you were younger?
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
Lisa, as you were talking about your time at Harvard, it made me smile because I think a lot of our listeners who are sort of our female listeners would sort of resonate with a lot of what you said. And this episode is actually going to come out around International Women's Day. And you've been very generous in lending your time to Russell Reynolds' Artemis program as a contributor, as a mentor.
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
You talked about some of the mentors that you have. For our listeners who don't know about Artemis, it's our unique one-year experiential accelerator program for women executives who are considered one to five years away from becoming a credible CEO contender. But Lisa, will you tell us a little bit about your experience with Artemis and what made you choose making time for this program?
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
And what do you think are some of the key barriers holding back women from becoming CEOs?
Redefiners
Paws, Purpose & Profit: A Conversation with Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan
I mean, this notion of perfection, it doesn't exist.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
And now back to our conversation with Ruth. This is just amazing because we continue to hear how AI is not only disrupting, but advancing all of these different business areas, but in particular, the healthcare space. And so what you're describing now is just so profound.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
And I think what we will continue to see is AI will continue to find new ways to diagnose and detect and treat diseases like cancer. And we know that you've personally battled breast cancer, not once, but twice. Tell us about your experience and really how that has shaped your influence and your perspective on leadership.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
And today's guest can hopefully also think about the topic of redefining our careers in an ever-changing world of technology, as she has been one of the most powerful people in both financial and technology industries over the past two decades.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
Each episode gives you a fresh perspective on your leadership and career journey. I'm Hoda Tahun, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
And Ruth, on that thread, in addition to overseeing the investments, you also oversee the organization's philanthropic efforts. So a lot of the expansion and the access to digital infrastructure and seeking initiatives globally. Can you tell us a little bit more about what you're doing at Google and Alphabet to create more access to opportunities for everyone?
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
So the key thing I find as I travel the globe is leaders...
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
What an impressive and phenomenal biography. Ruth, welcome to Redefiners. Thank you. It is great to be here with both of you. So Ruth, you were at Morgan Stanley for almost 28 years before making the move over to Google as CFO in 2015. What made you switch industries and was there a draw to the pace or energy about Google and the larger tech industry that stood out for you?
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
Thank you. That's a great story.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
And if you were to give one book to everyone on your team, what would it be?
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
Thank you so much, Ruth. Thank you. It's wonderful being with you. Thanks for joining us on this episode of Redefiners. For more compelling insights from leaders across industries and around the world, listen to Redefiners wherever you get your podcasts.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
And was it an easy transition to go from finance to technology? Were there a whole new different language or cultures? You kind of made that transition? Yeah.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
Hi, everyone, and welcome back to Redefiners. I'm Hoda Tahun, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates, and I'm here with my very esteemed co-host, Clark Murphy.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
So, Clark, before we get started, just a quick reminder to all of our listeners that you can find every episode of Redefiners and the Leadership Lounge on YouTube. If you're currently watching Redefiners on YouTube, just go ahead and hit that subscribe button below so you don't miss an episode. And for our audio listeners, don't forget to rate Redefiners wherever you get your podcasts.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
I think that's a great transition into what we also wanted to talk through around leading through change in different industries. And so what advice would you have for leaders who are looking to transform their own careers and go from one industry to the next?
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
You outlined some really fantastic thought pieces around what people can take in terms of learnings, but how do then folks apply that as they're thinking about their own careers?
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
We would love your feedback. Clark, technology has been changing pretty rapidly in every facet of our lives, and sometimes technology redefines our careers.
Redefiners
Exploring the Art of Possible with Google and Alphabet President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat
We'll be right back with Ruth Peratt. But first, let's hear from Robert Voth, a managing director in our Chicago office, who will discuss a critical challenge facing banking leadership today.