Imperfect Leaders
Episodes
Winning the War for Rainmakers & Law Firm Leaders, with John Cashman, President Major, Lindsey, & Africa
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Big law is changing fast, but one thing hasn’t: the firms that win still recruit – and keep – talent better than everyone else. In this episode,...
Michael Paul, CEO of MaraBio - Finding 'Ability' in Disability
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some CEOs hide behind the veil of invulnerability. Michael Paul, Ph.D., does the opposite—he believes that real leadership starts ...
Molded from Clay – Chris Johnson Brings Bluebird Kids Health to Families Across America
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Clay Christensen was the famous business school professor who wrote the influential book, "The Innovator's Dilemma." Clay had a brilliant m...
“From Care to Character with Amanda Lukof: How Eleplan Transforms Families – and Ourselves”
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a deeply human conversation with Amanda Lukof, founder of the groundbreaking Eleplan app and devoted caregiver to her autistic brother, Li...
The Neurodiverse Leadership Challenge – with Professor Keivan Stassun, Founder of Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do teams with neurodiverse talent often out-innovate more homogenous teams?Because solving complex problems require diversity of thought. As Steve...
A True North Leader – Chris Male – Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Autism Impact Fund
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every once in a while you're lucky enough to meet a values-driven leader who has the passion, the mind, and the skills to make the world a better plac...
Like a Hollywood Talent Agency but for Top Business Leaders – with Dave Boehmer, CEO & Founder of Banff Advisors
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dave Boehmer was one of the top executive search professionals in the entire world.At the pinnacle of his career, he suddenly left the global giant, H...
My Autistic Son Taught Me to Be a More Resilient Leader – with Adrian Jones, Goldman Sachs – Chairman & Co-Head, Global Private Equity, Asset Management
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adrian Jones is one of the classiest, humble, and resilient leaders I have ever met. Not just at Goldman Sachs, but at any company.His son Liam – re...
How His Autistic Son – Caleb – Helped Him Become a Better CEO – with Brian Harper, CEO of 11 North Partners.
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest – Brian Harper – shares how his beautiful son, Caleb, who has profound autism, taught him how to be a better CEO, a better father, a...
Blair Berk – How Does a Jewish Girl from North Carolina Grow Up to Become One of the Country's Top Criminal Defense Lawyers?
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Blair Berk was a little firecracker growing up deep in the heart of Dixie. Little did she know at the time – or did she? – that she was destined ...
How Can Good Lawyers Become Great Leaders? – with Anastasia Boyko
21 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I recently wrote an article called, "How Yale Law School is Becoming the Next Harvard Business School."In this article, I showcased Anastasia Boyko, w...
"I am in a Pacaso State of Mind" – with Founder & CEO, Austin Allison
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pacaso is more than a startup that allows individuals to buy a piece of a beautiful home...it's a state of mind. Being part of the Pacaso ecosystem h...
How Can Emerging Leaders Develop a Breakthrough Mindset? – with Larry Connor – Philanthropist, Founder, & CEO of The Connor Group
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How many great business leaders – in the entire world – can you name who have done any of the following: A) Helped pilot a...
Think Different. Can Autistic Children Develop into Innovative Leaders? - with Dr. Trenna Sutcliffe
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Think Different". That was the iconic tagline popularized by legendary Apple Founder, Steve Jobs. Autistic children have significant challenges – a...
McDermott – The Ultimate Career Accelerator in Big Law, with Chairman, Ira Coleman
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
McDermott, Will & Emery is a leadership factory. They are career accelerators. This is their special sauce. It's what helps separate them from oth...
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
06 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 – racis...
What makes 2024 SEC Champion - Coach Bruce Pearl so Special - Authenticity & Auburn University?
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
What I Learned Running for President of the United States - U.S. Representative, Dean Phillips
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
U.S. Representative Dean Phillips is an innovative leader. He has drawn praise from modern day business heroes - like hedge fund icon Bill Ackman - fo...
Humanizing Private Equity - Ted Bililies, Global Head of Transformative Leadership at Alix Partners
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Tim Connelly, Minnesota Timberwolves GM - The Emotionally Intelligent Leader
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best leaders in the NBA is today’s guest – Tim Connelly – General Manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Before billionaire owner Mar...
The Milken Global Institute – Rich Ditizio, Chief Executive Officer – Creating A Psychologically Safe Space for World Leaders to Solve Intractable Challenges
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Milken Institute is a think (and action) tank - founded by legendary visionary Michael Milken - brings together brilliant people and world leaders...
Love - the secret ingredient all great leaders share - with Monique and Melvin Rodriguez - founders of super brand, Mielle Organics
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mielle Organics - the hair care and beauty brand - is the fastest ever growing consumer startup in history of this industry - and was recently acquire...
What NBA Champ Nikola Jokic can Teach CEOs about Leadership - with World Renowned Business Professor Dave Ulrich
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What matters more to winning - superstar talent or the organization's system and culture? According to today's guest - Dave Ulrich - a world-c...
Arguably Tom Brady's Most Important Mentor - Greg Harden - The Peak Performance GOAT
07 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Superstars don't just emerge out of thin air. Every single one of them - including GOATs like Tom Brady and Michael Phelps- must overcome serious...
Tim Brown - Chair IDEO - Where Innovators Turn for Inspiration
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When the world's most innovative organizations need a little inspiration, they turn to IDEO. IDEO is the most iconic design studio in the world. ...
The Success Condition - Rey Flemings - Founder & CEO of Myria
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rey Flemings - the founder and CEO of an app called Myria - the world's most exclusive concierge service - is on a quest to change the world. Myri...
Why Do Five Million People Trust Professor Robert Cialdini?
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every once in a while I'm stupid enough to get into an argument with my wife. Even when I win the battle (rarely), I lose the war (always). This p...
The Metamorphosis of Jason Karp - Founder, HumanCo - True Food, Snow Days, Cosmic Bliss, Grove Collaborative
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do Oprah Winfrey, Drew Barrymore, and Scarlett Johansson have in common with today's guest - Jason Karp? Every one of them is passionate abo...
Pixar Co-Founder Ed Catmull - The Hero's Journey
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ed Catmull is an enigma. There's a good chance you wouldn't recognize him if he were standing right next to you. Yet, he's the creative ge...
Embracing Imperfection - Greg Sands, Founder Costanoa Ventures
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Greg Sands isn't perfect. To name just a few of his imperfections: He had a serious fear of failure as a young athlete. He struggled to find his &...
The Right Kind of Wrong - with Harvard Business School Professor, Amy Edmondson
18 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Harvard Business School Professor Amy Edmondson has been recognized as the #1 thought leader in the world. She literally revolutionized the way CEOs ...
Doing Well by Doing Good - with Jennifer Nuckles, CEO R-Zero
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Think of all the germs, bacteria, virus, and other airborne diseases we expose ourselves to every single day. Think how much worse this problem is wh...
G.H. Smart - The World's Best Leadership Advisory - with Founder, Geoff Smart
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest - Geoff Smart - has literally revolutionized the way companies around the world think about talent and leadership. The leadership a...
Succession - Not the HBO Hit Show, But Real Life Succession with Chairman of Tyson Foods, John Tyson
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Long before 'Succession' - the hit TV Show on HBO, John Tyson was actually living this drama. His grandfather started a company called Tyson Foo...
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone - Stan Van Gundy, Former NBA Coach and TNT Analyst
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stan Van Gundy - is an icon in sports and broadcasting. Before his current stint as a top basketball analyst at TNT, he was an NBA coach for several ...
The Brand Leader - A Conversation with Vivaldi's Founder and CEO, Erich Joachimsthaler
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest - Erich Joachimsthaler - is the #1 brand strategist on the planet. He built from scratch a top-ranked professional services firm -...
Kent Thiry - Inspiring a Future Generation of Transformational Leaders
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kent Thiry is one of the most admired and accomplished leaders in the country. For many years he was CEO and Board Chair of Davita ...
Marisa Thalberg - Using Soft Skills to Supercharge Iconic Brands - Taco Bell, Loews, and Estee Lauder
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest - Marisa Thalberg - has successfully guided some of the country's most iconic brands through incredible transformations - including Lowe...
JFK Jr. - America's Reluctant Prince - As Told by His Old Friend Professor Steve Gillon
11 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine if your father was a famous U.S. President? Then, imagine your father's life being taken away in a brutal assassination. How would you recover...
Collective Genius in Health Care - with Dr. Rakesh Suri - and Harvard Business School Professor Linda Hill
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Rakesh Suri is one of the top heart transplant surgeons in the world - with stints at both Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic - the top two hosp...
Power Lawyer - Marcie Cleary - Helping Artists Achieve their Dreams ... and their Dollars
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How did a sweet little girl from Memphis, Tennessee grow up to become one of the most admired entertainment lawyers in the country? Clients love...
Elon Musk's Personal Lawyer - Alex Spiro
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why do modern day icons, athletes, and artist have Alex Spiro on speed dial? Why do they call him when they run into adversity? Why has Alex been call...
Building the Future of Leadership - Anna Barber, Partner M13
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are proud to welcome, Anna Barber! This country was built on the shoulders of great entrepreneurs and innovators – from Henry Ford to Steve Jobs ...
The Real Shawshank Redemption - Dean Williams - Director, Colorado Prison System
28 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
"Lock him up, and throw away the key. Show no sympathy for hardened criminals - there is no hope." That's been the rallying cry among many, for decade...
Character Development - with Tricia Biggio, CEO & Founder of Invisible Universe
12 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine this - you're a parent in a crowded grocery store with your two kids - who have a total meltdown and start screaming for no apparent reason. &...
A Good Eye for Great Leaders - Todd Zangrillo - True Search
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
True Search is the world's best talent advisory - helping iconic companies like Walmart, Spotfiy, Google, Warby Parker, and Fanatics - find and recrui...
A Recovering Perfectionist - Claire Schmidt - Founder/CEO AllVoices
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's a big problem in Corporate America. Not every employee voice is heard - many people are silenced or severely muffled. This causes many problem...
Opendorse - Helping College Athletes Make Money
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Roughly 99% of college athletes - all with big talent and big dreams - will never turn pro. They’ll have to make their living doing something other ...
Scaling Psychological Safety - Sid Pandiya - Co-Founder, Kona
16 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Amy Edmondson - the immensely popular professor at the Harvard Business School - has done amazing research on the benefits of psychological safety. Gr...
Should a Speeding Ticket Disqualify a CEO Candidate? - Aiyesha Dey, Harvard Business School Professor
09 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Should a couple of speeding tickets - or perhaps a big, brand new house - disqualify a top CEO candidate? Should hiring companies investigate - ...
The Renaissance Leader - David Teece
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's a reason why top CEOs have David Teece's phone number on speed dial. Because Teece is one of the few people on the planet who can help t...
Why the Mango Tree Bends - Aman Bhutani - CEO Godaddy
02 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In today's podcast, Aman Bhutani - the CEO of Godaddy - shares his incredible leadership journey - from a modest upbringing in India to the CEO of one...
Million Dollar Listing's Josh Flagg - Discusses His Brilliant and Entertaining New Book "The Deal"
25 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Flagg has written a seminal new book called - "The Deal" - which I predict will soon become required reading in universities and busi...
Spencer Rascoff - Founder of Zillow and Pacaso - is a World-Class Coach to Future Leaders
17 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Spencer Rascoff is the legendary founder and CEO of iconic companies including Zillow, Hotwire, and most recently, Pacaso – a real estate company th...
Why Beyonce Loves Lemon Perfect
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Yanni Hufnagel - the founder and CEO of Lemon Perfect - is one of the most passionate entrepreneurs in the country - not just the $13 billion enhanced...
'Power Moms' with Joann Lublin and Kevin Yorn
07 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
All leaders face obstacles in today's fast-moving, unpredictable world. But women - especially working mothers - 'power moms' - face challenges that m...
Rinse. Wash. Don’t Repeat – with Bryan Leach – Founder and CEO of Ibotta
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock is a TS Elliot poem that rings true with todays guest, Bryan Leach, founder and CEO of Colorado based unicorn - Ibo...
I Got Fired By The President of the United States - Richard Spencer - Former Secretary of the Navy
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
None of us like to get fired. It can cause intense shame and humiliation. But imagine getting fired by then President of the United States (Donald Tru...
Creating a Culture of Leadership Development, Todd Olson - Founder and CEO of Pendo
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Leadership guru Simon Sinek once famously said, "Customers will never love a company until employees love it first." Today's guest, Todd Olson, ...
He's not the next Elon Musk, He's the First Gene Berdichevsky
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gene Berdichevsky is going to change the world. Actually, he's already begun. The company he founded - Sila - has created a new technology that dramat...
Culture Fit and Leadership Potential - with Chuck Muth of Beyond Meat and Coca Cola
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When Chuck Muth was the Chief Growth Officer at Beyond Meat the company experienced faster growth than virtually any other food product in history. &n...
Shattering Wall Street's Glass Ceiling, Eileen Murray Paved the Way for a Future Generation of Talent
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Eileen Murray is one of the most powerful women on Wall Street. And she has been for decades. She was co-CEO of Bridgewater, the global hedge fu...
#1 Global Business Thinker, Roger Martin, Why is He on Speed Dial of Every Top CEO in the World?
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Click here for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders. Today’s guest – Roger ...
CEO of Adare Pharma, Tom Sellig, Articulating Core Values During a High-Stakes Interview
03 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Sellig is this week's podcast guest - and the CEO of Adare, an amazing pharmaceutical technology company owned by top private equity investors, Th...
Sequoia Capital Global Managing Partner, Doug Leone, A Venture Capital Legend
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hall of Fame venture capitalist, Doug Leone of #1 ranked Sequoia Capital, discusses the imperfections that will absolutely destroy you during a pitch....
Columbia Professor Emeritus, Robert Carter, The Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
18 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder why an astounding 95% of CEOs in Corporate America are white males? Why do so few black people - and other minorities - make it to t...
Paul Weiss Law Global Chairman, Brad Karp, Overcoming Introversion
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Click here for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders. Brad Karp has been the Chai...
A Venture Capital Legend, Alan Patricof, At 88 Years Old, Still No Stop Signs
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Click here for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders. Alan is almost 90 years old...
Thumbtack Founder & CEO, Marco Zappacosta, The Ultimate Grinder
11 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Click on www.imperfectleaders.com for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders. Thum...
Cirque du Soleil CEO, Reigniting the Creative Spark
04 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Where do Elon Musk and James Cameron go when they need a creative jolt of inspiration? Both recently went backstage at Cirque du Soleil and aske...
TNT Analyst, Stan Van Gundy: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Click here for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders. NBA Coach and TNT Star Anal...
Real Estate Tycoon, Bernard Hurley: Breaking Bad
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Talk about breaking bad. Bernard Hurley was locked up in a maximum security prison - serving what he thought would be a life sentence. Yet now he is o...
Chairman of the Boards - Intuit and Nordstrom - What are Your Crucible Moments?
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Smith is one of the most admired leaders in Silicon Valley. But, when Brad was in grade school, a little girl he had a crush on made fun of...
Mark Cuban, Owner Dallas Mavericks, Assessing Superstar Talent
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our very special guest - Mark Cuban - owner of the Dallas Mavericks and iconic Shark Tank judge - explains to student-leaders across the country that ...
Partners Group, Global Head of Health Care, Ben Breier, Don't Run Away from Your Deepest Fears and Insecurities
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Click here for free weekly episodes delivered to your inbox and the opportunity to join live discussions with top leaders. Ben Breier is best-selling ...