Innovating Leadership: Co-Creating Our Future

S8-Ep34: How to Own the AI Revolution - with Neil Sahota

Featured Guest: Neil Sahota
Many people fear the Artificial Intelligence revolution that’s underway.  But like every other major societal revolution in human history, you can play it to your favor.  The key?  Innovative thinking.  In reality, these upheavals create newer, better jobs for people – though, from the sabot to the Luddite, people who don’t think differently, innovatively, even disruptively miss the opportunities these advancements create.  IBM Master Inventor Neil Sahota joins host Maureen Metcalf to detail the key strategies for thriving through the AI revolution.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:  
- The Future Is Yours to Create with Rebecca Ryan
- Uncharted: How to Map the Future Together with Margaret Heffernan
- Stewarding the Future of the Planet: Views from the Boardroom with Helle Bank Jorgensen
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute. We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Neil's book, Own the A.I. Revolution: Unlock Your Artificial Intelligence Strategy to Disrupt Your Competition, can be purchased here.
Learn more about Neil on his website at NeilSahota.com.
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf.
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here.
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Podbean Guru: Luigi Morelli (This is his favorite interview from 2022!)
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Neil Sahota (萨冠军) is an IBM Master Inventor, United Nations (UN) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisor, author of the best-seller Own the AI Revolution, and a sought-after speaker. With 20+ years of business experience, he works to inspire clients and business partners to foster innovation and develop next generation products/solutions powered by AI.

S8-Ep1: Do It on Purpose

Featured Guest: Nell Derick Debevoise
If you don’t know your own purpose, can you really get behind your organization’s purpose?
Nell Derick Debevoise found that a critical component of success is knowing how your personal purpose intersects with your organization’s purpose.  That holds true for the individual members of your team, too:  if you understand what their personal or professional purpose has in common with the company’s purpose, you’ll foster a happier and more productive team.
With purpose in mind, you can then look at decisions through the Me/We/World dimensions: how does this affect me and the individual members of my team; how does this affect my organization; and how will it affect the world?
Nell draws from her years of experience in both the non-profit and private sectors to reveal the commonalities of good, purpose-driven leadership in both, highlighting the techniques within her new book, Going First: Find the Courage to Lead Purposefully and Inspire Action.

S7-Ep44: Reimagining American Identity

Featured Guests: Amiel Handelsman and Jewel Kinch-Thomas
America’s racial reckoning is underway, yet continues to be hotly debated. One novel approach comes from leadership consultants Amiel Handelsman and Jewel Kinch-Thomas: frame it as a hero’s or heroine’s journey. The answer is surprising, simple – and makes a great deal of sense in fostering reckoning…then reconciliation. 
The same core principles also apply to leadership, particularly when combined to the fundamental leadership style required by musicians when performing jazz:  the music simply couldn't be performed without a leader who knows how to forge a team, yet preserve the unique perspectives and talents of each member of the team.

S7-Ep50: Looking at Labor Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: the International Labor Organization

Featured Guests: Kevin Cassidy & Christopher Washington 
Formed in the aftermath of World War I, the International Labour Organization has evolved along with the workforce as part of the League of Nations and the United Nations. The ILO studies the environment for workers from a tripartite perspective:  from labor itself, from business, and from government. All three are necessary to create optimal conditions for workers – but for women, minorities, and citizens of developing nations, conditions are far from optimal.
Kevin Cassidy, Director for the ILO Office for the United States and Canada, has a uniquely comprehensive view on both the issues and solutions for labor today…as well as glimpses of how artificial intelligence and new tech will affect labor tomorrow. It’s not what you think; CEOs and CFOs, for example, are in the group most easily replaced by AI. Kevin and Franklin University Provost Christopher Washington join host Maureen Metcalf in this wide-ranging discussion of labor’s past, present, and future.

S7-Ep51: Red Roof: Revisioning the Future

Featured Guest: George Limbert
Helping nurses and doctors during the pandemic. Assisting first responders as towns recover from natural disasters. Joining the fight against human trafficking.
Red Roof’s evolution as a corporation is more than just another branding story. New president George Limbert firmly believes leaders must guide their organizations into always doing what is right: for customers, of course, but also for employees…and communities. As a new president, we plan on following George quarterly to better learn his vision, observe his evolution and growth as a leader, and study how he incorporates his principles into day-to-day operations. Join us for this first introductory episode as George discusses his history, and the steps he’s already taken in the midst of 2021’s radical viral, social, and economic changes.

S7-Ep49: The Circular Economy: Better for Earth, Better for Business

Featured Guest: John Kilpatrick
Traditional organizations follow a linear economy: everything flows one-way, from resource to product to consumer to trash. It’s often summarized by the mantra “take, make, waste.” That certainly doesn’t mitigate climate change, pollution, and other threats to humanity. Is there a better path that won’t disrupt our consumer-driven culture?
John Kilpatrick heartily believes so. Just circle back to the economy of our great-great-grandparents: the circular economy. It’s the old “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra, with a heavy emphasis on the “reuse.” It was the common sense way of life for most Americans for much of our history. John goes into the details—and reveals the clear benefits to both business and consumers—as he joins host Maureen Metcalf in this episode.

S7-Ep52: Normal Is Gone: Leadership Trends for 2022

Guest: Christopher Washington, Franklin University Provost
The pandemic didn’t destroy the old “normal.”  COVID simply accelerated trends that were already underway.  The best leaders see that, and are forging new paths to success for their organizations and their people.
The tables turn in this episode, as regular host Maureen Metcalf becomes the guest, interviewed by ILI Fellow and Franklin University provost Christopher Washington.  Drawing on her own extensive experience as well as the collective knowledge of the leaders she interviewed throughout 2021, Maureen reveals the six major trends for leaders in 2022:  from a reduced emphasis on results in favor of growing capacity, to the continuing labor shortage (and the need to retain your current employees by truly valuing them).  Whether you’re in a government, non-profit, or business sector, this is a must-listen for leaders worldwide looking for success in the new year.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
To Err Is to Innovate with Beryl Tomay
Leading with an Eye on AI with Neil Sahota
The Rise of Humanness (The Role of People in an AI World) with Chris Nolan & Michael Schindler
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on TikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
Learn more about Franklin University at https://www.franklin.edu/ .
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together, the African Way by Mungi Ngomane. Hardback (https://amzn.to/48Doh6j) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/48YCRF4)
Nerve: Lessons on Leadership from Two Women Who Went First by Martha Piper & Indira Samarasekera. Paperback (https://amzn.to/3tOtzg4) and audiobook (https://amzn.to/41OYdT5)
Jilly Truit murder mysteries by Beverley McLachlin:
Full Disclosure – https://amzn.to/46TxW6Q (paperback) https://amzn.to/46VDL3Q (audiobook)
Denial – https://amzn.to/46YCbhs (paperback) https://amzn.to/3GJc0AA (audiobook)
Women and Leadership: Journey Toward Equity by Sherylle J. Tan & Lisa DeFrank-Cole
 
NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli
Highly Skilled at Being Skilled: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Threads: @innovativeleaders
X/Twitter/Whatever New Name It Has This Week: @IL_Institute 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
TikTok: @innovativeleadership
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 

S6-Ep45: The Blindspots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias

Featured Guest: Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
We all want positive, productive, and genuine relationships—whether it’s with our family, friends, peers, coworkers, or romantic partners. And yet, time and time again, we all seem to make the same thinking errors that threaten or sabotage these relationships. These errors are called cognitive bias, and they happen when our brain attempts to simplify information by making assumptions. Gleb joins Maureen to discuss his book The Blindspots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias and Build Better Relationships and the skills to help you debias—to stop, pause, and objectively observe situations before jumping to conclusions about others’ motives.

S7-Ep45: To Be Honest: Lead with the Power of Truth, Justice, & Purpose

Featured Guest: Ron Carucci
Honesty is more than a character trait: it’s a muscle that has to be built to stay strong; honesty can be learned. Truth, justice, and purpose are “three sides of the same coin." Together, they mean honesty - to have honesty, you need all three; honesty means you have to say the right thing, do the right thing, and say and do them for the right reason...even when it’s hard. Based on a 15-year longitudinal study of more than 3,200 leaders, we can now prove under what conditions people will tell the truth, behave fairly, and serve a greater good...and under what conditions they will lie, cheat, and serve their own interests. Ron Carrucci joins the show to discuss his book, To Be Honest. It is a book about heroes – the honest leaders and thinkers we should all want to emulate. Honest organizations out-perform, out-compete, and out-attract top talent by substantial multipliers.

S7-Ep46: One Big Idea: Helping Leaders Focus & Grow Their Organization

Featured Guest: Pete Martin
If you're a leader of a business or non-profit, how you spend your time has a direct impact on the success of your organization. Focusing on just one big idea instead of scattershot-ting your attention keeps that impact positive.
What you, as a leader, work on minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day matters—and either moves the needle and propels growth or constricts it. For instance, consistently and strategically choosing one “big idea” per month will move a business forward faster than any one particular tactic. Working on one big idea across each pillar of your business - team, customers, capital and strategic execution (and personal mindset) - will lead to exponential growth over time. Pete Martin joins Maureen to share reasons why companies get stuck and stop growing, and what leaders can do to change that.

S8-Ep5: Here’s Why Prime Minister Kim Campbell Gives Failing Grades to Today’s Leaders

Featured Guest: Kim Campbell, First Female Prime Minister of Canada
"The future will spit on our graves." Former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell doesn't mince words when she muses on the big issues facing the world today...and, particularly, what happens if we don't work to fix them now. From climate change to sexual harassment, host Maureen Metcalf draws remarkably candid perspectives from the only female to have served in Canada's top spot.

S7-Ep47: Meetings Stink: How to Make Meetings Matter (and Collaboration, Too)

Featured Guest: Darren Chait
There's one simple truth most working adults realize in their first job:  meetings stink.  Darren Chait is no exception.  While he was an attorney, he recoiled at how inefficient and archaic lawyers' meetings are...then he had sticker shock when he saw the invoices and realized clients pay for that slow-paced inefficiency!  That put him on the path to finding a better way for meeting.  The result:  Hugo, an online app that changes the way we think about meetings.
On the way, Darren learned that leadership in a fast-growth startup is very different than what the textbooks say. He joins Maureen to share what he's learned on the journey about leadership, how collaboration is changing, modern team dynamics, shared consciousness, direction versus support, and when to make leader problems team problems.