Fearless Thinkers

In this episode of Undiscovered Country, host Peter Mulford is joined by Jenny Dearborn, Chief People Strategy Officer at BTS, to explore how data analytics is transforming leadership. Jenny shares how HR leaders can leverage insights from data to drive business outcomes, develop future-ready talent, and create a culture of agility. Tune in to learn how analytics can unlock untapped business potential and empower leaders. Listen now!

Join host Rick Cheatham in this episode of Fearless Thinkers as he talks with Richard Hargreaves, Managing Director at Corporate Research Forum (CRF), about how HR leaders can build a future-ready workforce in times of uncertainty. They discuss the importance of focusing on critical roles, prioritizing impact, and staying agile amidst disruption. Tune in to hear practical advice on how HR can prepare organizations for the challenges ahead. Listen now!

Join host Rick Cheatham in this episode of Fearless Thinkers as he sits down with Matt Tonken, a leader in BTS's Assessment practice, to explore the power of "future-back thinking" in creating frameworks for leadership success. They explore how organizations can build "success profiles" by imagining future scenarios and preparing leaders with the skills and mindsets necessary for those challenges. Tune in to learn how to create leadership frameworks that stand the test of time. Listen now!

Tune into this exclusive repost of the HIKE2 webinar featuring Peter Mulford and Peter Coffee, VP for Strategic Research at Salesforce. In this insightful session, they dive into the game-changing role of AI in transforming industries. From the shift to edge devices and AI's impact on the future of work, to the rise of quantum computing—discover how these groundbreaking technologies are fueling innovation and reshaping the business landscape. Don't miss out—listen now!

Join Rick Cheatham in this insightful episode of Fearless Thinkers as he talks with Peter about the transformational power of AI in business. They dive into the three key phases organizations go through when adopting AI—awareness, experimentation, and impact—and how they can successfully navigate each stage. From shifting mindsets to embracing AI as a virtual teammate, Peter shares how organizations can move from experimentation to scaling AI for real impact. Learn about the mindset shifts necessary to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape and unlock new opportunities for business growth. Listen now!

  In this episode Peter speaks with Professor Alejandro Lozano Robledo. He is the Director of Future Mobility Design Lab at UC Digital Futures and Mobility Systems Design Professor University of Cincinnati. He's a proven innovator with a record of successful collaborations, including with Boeing, NASA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Hyundai, and MIT. During our conversation we discuss the future of cities and mobility, the shift from car ownership to a subscription-based models, the implications of autonomous vehicle technology on various industries, the potential of level 5 automation and mobility as a service by 2040. the challenges of energy paradigm shift in the mobility industry, and other topics.

Join host Rick Cheatham in this episode of Fearless Thinkers as he chats with Miguel Sequeira, an expert in sales leadership, about the five key mind traps holding back sales teams. As we kick off the new year, it's a great time to reflect on how to drive a winning mentality in your teams. From the ‘victim mindset' to the ‘lone wolf mentality', Miguel uncovers the common barriers that can prevent high sales performance and how to overcome them. Discover strategies for leaders to recognize and address these traps, empowering their teams to embrace change and drive success. Tune in now! For a transcript, click here.

Undiscovered Country - Preparing for the future now: how to lead your teams to thrive in uncertainty Join host Peter Mulford in this first episode of Undiscovered Country, a podcast about the future, and future back thinking at work. Here he speaks with Professor Rita McGrath, C-Suite advisor, professor at Columbia Business School, best-selling author of The End of Competitive Advantage, Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen, and Discovery Driven Growth, and one of the world's top experts on leading innovation and growth in times of uncertainty. Together they explore a range of future-focused topics, including strategic inflection points and how to spot them; discovery driven growth as a tool to de-risk projects; the importance of agility and adaptability and how to develop them; the digital, dematerialized future; talent in a digital world; and AI as a partner along your journey. Listen now!

Join host Rick Cheatham in this episode of Fearless Thinkers as he sits down with Zander Ross, a leader in Change and Transformation at BTS. Together, they explore why the biggest challenges leaders face often lie within—the habits, mindsets, and ways of working that no longer serve us. Zander shares five key shifts that leading organizations make to unlock growth, from customer-centric strategies to rethinking incentives and building new capabilities. Discover how small mindset changes can lead to big results and what it takes to align teams, systems, and leadership for the future. Listen now!   For a transcript, click here.

oin host Rick Cheatham in this week's episode of Fearless Thinkers as he welcomes Bowen Moody, CEO of Verity, the latest acquisition by BTS. In this insightful discussion, Bowen sheds light on Verity's innovative AI coaching tool, detailing its current applications among sales professionals and its transformative potential for the future of sales. Discover how AI is reshaping coaching strategies, empowering sales teams, and driving performance like never before. Listen now! For a transcript, click here.

In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, host Rick Cheatham sits down with Will Heard, Director at BTS, and Fredrik Schuller, Global Head of Coach at BTS, to explore their groundbreaking work in leadership and development. Learn about the unique, hands-on solution developed by BTS in partnership with the Corporate Research Forum (CRF) to address the persistent challenges L&D professionals face in delivering high-impact leadership development. Tune in to discover how this experience is reshaping the future of leadership development and offering L&D professionals a powerful platform to build capability, exchange ideas, and lead with impact. For a transcript, click here.

In this episode of the Fearless Thinkers podcast, host Rick Cheatham sits down with Jenny Dearborn, Chief People Strategy Officer & Head of Talent Insights, to discuss her journey from teaching to senior leadership. They explore the pivotal career decisions that led her to BTS, the power of aligning with stakeholder goals, and the importance of a strong support system in achieving professional success. Tune in to learn how Jenny's experiences and insights can guide leaders in navigating their own career growth and making impactful decisions. For a transcript, click here.

In this episode of the Fearless Thinkers podcast, host Rick Cheatham is in conversation with Kathryn Clubb, CEO of BTS North America, and Alex Amsden, Vice President of Change and Transformation at BTS, to explore the evolving landscape of strategic planning for senior leaders. They dive into the importance of engaging all levels of an organization in strategy formation and execution, the challenges of adapting to rapidly changing conditions, and the critical role culture plays in bringing strategy to life. Tune in to discover how top leaders are shaping strategies that are both resilient and adaptive, setting their organizations up for long-term success. For a transcript, click here.

Welcome to another episode of the Fearless Thinkers podcast! Host Rick Cheatham is joined by Tara Castaneda, Senior Director at BTS, to explore the concept of vertical development. Tara breaks down the stages of vertical development, from the diplomat stage to the strategist stage, and explains how these stages influence leadership styles and behaviors. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and continuous growth for effective leadership. Tune in for practical insights and tips on elevating your leadership approach. For a transcript, click here.

Welcome to another episode of the Fearless Thinkers podcast! Host Rick Cheatham is joined by Teresa Yetano, Senior Director, and Emily Steigerwald, Senior Director, to explore Revenue Growth Management (RGM). In today episode, they discuss how RGM links strategic and tactical approaches to meet evolving consumer needs, emphasizing omni-channel shopping, cross-functional alignment, leadership involvement, and predictive analytics. Tune in to discover how top global brands implement effective RGM strategies and drive organizational change. For a transcript, click here.

In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, Rick welcomes Martin Rahn, Director of Talent Development at Constellium, a global leader in the development, manufacturing, and recycling of aluminum products and solutions. Martin, highly experienced in HR and Talent Management, has closely partnered with BTS to implement a comprehensive leadership development program aimed at aligning leadership, strategy, and culture. Drawing from his extensive experience with global companies, Martin discusses how Constellium's tailored programs and internal collaboration have successfully fostered company culture and empowered leaders to navigate transformation and change. Tune in to hear more about Constellium's strategic approach and significant improvements in employee engagement. For a transcript, click here.  

Join Rick Cheatham as he explores the evolving role of AI in education, learning, and leadership with Karim Hirani, Senior Director at BTS. Together, they compare AI and human coaching, discuss AI's potential to democratize education, and dive into its impact on leadership development with a focus on the balance between AI's capabilities and the importance of human relationships in coaching. Tune in for insights on the future of AI and the ethical considerations of its advancements. For a transcript, click here.

In this episode of The Growth Prescription, René Groeneveld, Global Head, Sales & Marketing Practice, is joined by Will Heard, Director, and Alan Gentry, Senior Director, to discuss aligning culture with strategy for sales success. Learn about the importance of purpose in driving strategy, the challenges of launching new therapies, and the role of sales professionals in a rapidly changing market. Discover practical approaches for engaging your organization in cultural change and using simulations for future preparedness. For a transcript, click here.

In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, Rick Cheatham, hosts Katy Young, Senior Vice President and Partner at BTS, and Emanuele Scotti, Co-founder and CEO of Yumi, a recent addition to the BTS family. Emanuele unveils the fascinating story behind Yumi's evolution into a powerhouse of HR innovation, drawing inspiration from the collaborative spirit of Waze. Discover how Yumi, their groundbreaking tool, harnesses collective intelligence to empower individuals within organizations, making change not just manageable, but thrilling. Katie shares insights on inclusive change and the thrilling challenge of scaling it across diverse organizations. For a transcript, click here.

Join Rick Cheatham as he explores the intricacies of decision-making with Emma Nyström, Associate Director and Libby MacKenzie, Director. Together, they dissect the four essential elements—authority, evidence, social dynamics, and committed action—and offer practical strategies for improving decision-making processes. From reframing authority structures to fostering psychological safety, this episode provides actionable insights for leaders navigating the complexities of decision-making in today's dynamic.   For a transcript, click here.

In the most recent episode of Fearless Thinkers, we feature Henrik Ekelund, innovative Founder and Chairman of BTS Group. He talks about his new ventures since transitioning from CEO to Chairman. Henrik shares insights of five current global macrotrends that are impacting every corporate's success and resilience. Henrik also shares from his research on national prosperity – what are the key components that underpin thriving countries. For a transcript, click here.

Effective decision-making has the power to accelerate growth and drive your organization forward, achieving key milestones and outcomes faster, while ineffective decision making can paralyze organizational progress altogether. In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, Abbey Bonham, Principal, and Libby MacKenzie, Director, sit down with Rick Cheatham, CMO, to unpack what decision-making looks like in organizations today, the impact of AI, and the key moves you can make to level-up decision-making for yourself and your teams. For a transcript, click here.

"There's a premium here on meeting the customer where they are. We can understand their buyer's journey, but if we don't adjust the resources that we need to bring at specific points, then it's a miss," says Barbara Adey, VP, in this episode of Fearless Thinkers. Barbara and Jason Davis, Senior Director, sit down with Rick Cheatham, CMO, to discuss their customer-centric approach to sales methodology and process. For a transcript, click here.

Per Ståle, René Groeneveld, and Alan Gentry share ideas for healthcare organizations' go-to-market teams to unlock beneficial revenue growth. For a transcript, please click here. Learn more about our Go-to-market services.

How can finance teams complement organizations' evolving priorities? "Be a partner in educating the rest of the business [about the] strategic trade-offs of their choices... Breaking through the complexity of finance for the rest of the organization is really powerful," says Katy Young, SVP & Partner, in this episode of Fearless Thinkers. Katy and Ignacio Vaccaro, Senior Director & Head of SABA Practice, sit down with Rick Cheatham, CMO, to discuss the evolving role of finance in strategy execution. Learn more about our Strategy Execution and Business Acumen centers of expertise. Here's a transcript.

What is executive coaching, and what makes it it a powerful development experience for leaders? In this special Fearless Thinkers episode, Jennifer Porter, Partner, and Jessica Skon, CEO, discuss how to help leaders develop, improve, and increase their effectiveness. Here's a transcript.

What makes a great go-to-market leader? “It's about that consistency that you're able to create for your team and for your clients — thinking about how you establish your operational cadence helps to reinforce those expectations when you're not there all the time,” says Kyle Dean, Senior Director, in this episode of Fearless Thinkers. Kyle and Rick Cheatham, CMO, share ideas for all salespeople to consider as they progress both professionally and collectively. Learn more about our Go-to-Market services here. Here's a transcript.  

How can you create buy-in to organizational culture transformation? "From the start, engage in optimal inclusion... Draw from a representative sample of your organization, or what we like to call a diagonal slice: [people from] across various business units, functions, tenure, roles, levels, geographies — you name it," says Mallory Meyer, Culture Transformation Lead for BTS North America, in this episode of Fearless Thinkers. Mallory, Alex Amsden, Global Lead for Culture Transformation, and Tom Gaunt, Head of Change & Transformation for BTS Europe, join Rick Cheatham, CMO, for a discussion about the six common pitfalls of organizational culture change, and also offer uncommon-sense moves to counter each of them. Learn more about our Change & Transformation center of expertise.

What kind of preparation ensures organizational change-readiness? “We can build really powerful experiences that get people to think about change differently, but if they're not thinking about it in the context of a real change, then the power is diminished… Shift a little bit from thinking about training to thinking about building capability and alignment at the same time,” says Kevin Bronk, Senior Director, in this episode of Fearless Thinkers. Kevin and Rick Cheatham, CMO, discuss leveraging near-term change initiatives to build long-term capability and alignment. For a transcript, please click here. Learn more about our Change & Transformation center of expertise.

How should commercial teams react to today's marketplace realities? "Selling into tech requires us to be much more intentional about how we describe value," says Barbara Adey, Vice President and Head of North America Sales and Marketing Center of Expertise, in this episode of Fearless Thinkers. Barbara and Rick Cheatham, CMO, offer practical tips for sellers and customers maneuvering high interest rates, stagnating growth, and more. Here's a transcript. Learn more about our Go to Market services.

How do you channel your distinctive strengths, values, and life experiences in support of your organization? "[That] my leadership purpose aligned with the organization's purpose [...] created an energy and enthusiasm within me," says Ravi Bhusate, Partner, in this episode of Fearless Thinkers. Ravi and Rick Cheatham, CMO, explore the personal motivations that underpin exceptional leadership. Here's a transcript. Learn more about our Leadership Development area of expertise.

What are the key components of a healthy organizational learning culture? "Driving continuous engagement is not a one-and-done initiative... If you want people to continuously learn, you have to look for ways to continuously engage them,"  says Andrew Burns, VP, in this episode of Fearless Thinkers. Andrew and Rick Cheatham, CMO, discuss systems that facilitate the flow of organizational knowledge. For a transcript, please click here. Learn more about our Change & Transformation practice.  

It's more important than ever that leaders invest in bringing their commercial teams together in person. But what makes a solid commercial kick-off? "The environment and the experience that we create shows them... that we do care about them as people," says Rick Cheatham, CMO, in this episode of Fearless Thinkers. Rick, Principal Ed Umanzor, Ph.D., and East Area Sales and Marketing Leader Jason Davis provide practical tips for facilitating energizing commercial kickoffs at every stage of the planning process. Learn more about our Go to Market and large-scale event services.

René Groeneveld and Alan Gentry host Obi Ochu, Senior Director, in a discussion that highlights how customer-centric digital learning can drive revenue growth, performance, and retention for healthcare sales professionals. Learn more about our digital learning services here. For a transcript, please click here.

In the next episode of The Growth Prescription, René Groeneveld and Alan Gentry host Becky Thomas, Head of 1:1 Leadership Coaching for North America, in a discussion about what makes the difference between rote feedback and genuinely inspiring sales coaching. Learn more about our go-to-market and leadership coaching services. For a transcript, please click here.

In this special episode of Fearless Thinkers, Kathryn Clubb, CEO of BTS North America, shares her perspective on the history, challenges, and future significance of Pride month both within and out of the workplace. For a transcript, please click here.

In this first episode of a new podcast series called The Growth Prescription, René Groeneveld and Alan Gentry host Brad Chambers, Head of Talent Acquisition Solutions at BTS, in a discussion about finding the people who are likely to engage with their organizations in the long term. Read about our Sales and Marketing services here. For a transcript, please click here.

In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, Kelsey Raymond and Kendra Okposo, Directors, delve into the 6 "next practices" that ensure organizations maintain their relevance over time: planning and pivoting, leading with others, creating shared accountability, collaborating in the ecosystem, accelerating talent, and simplifying systems. Read about our Change & Transformation services here. Here's the infographic that Kendra mentions: "From Best Practices to Next Practices – what it takes to be Future Relevant." For a transcript, please click here.

In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, Beth Bush, Senior Director of Philanthropy at Rainforest Trust, and Xenia Roman Korobochkina, Senior Director at BTS, share about everything from the origins and ongoing fruits of the partnership (including the preservation of 35 million trees), to recent encounters with bromelias and tamarins, to ways that you, too, can help nature sustain itself. Show notes To donate directly to the Rainforest Trust, please click here. For a transcript, please click here.

In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, Corey Jacobs, Senior Director, makes the case for delivering business impact at scale and with momentum. For a transcript, please click here. Learn about our Go-to-Market service area here, and our large-scale events offering here.

In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, Barbara Adey, Head of the North America GTM for Sales and Marketing, offers techniques for engaging with executives, such as showing up as a peer, challenging their thinking with respect, and creating both personal and business value. Learn about our Go-to-Market service area here. For a transcript, please click here.

In this special episode of Fearless Thinkers, guest hostess Anne Wilson (VP, Principal, and Head of the Change & Transformation Center of Expertise for North America) and Kathryn Clubb (CEO of BTS North America) discuss why organizations should expect more from consultants and when not to hire them. Read about our Change & Transformation services here.

In this episode of the Fearless Thinkers podcast, Fredrik Schuller, Head of BTS Coach and Executive Vice President, shares how artificial intelligence can augment the leadership coaching process by increasing consistency, accessibility, and scalability. Read about our Leadership Coaching services here. Learn about our Innovation services here. For a transcript, please click here.  

In the first episode of Fearless Thinkers, Season 2, Thomas Natkowski and Cliff Pfefferkorn, Partners at eStrategy Consulting, and René Groeneveld, Partner and Global Sales and Marketing Practice Leader at BTS, vivify omnichannel and multichannel marketing concepts with concrete examples. Learn how eStrategy Consulting guides clients through digital opportunities and challenges here. Read about our Go to Market services here. For a transcript, please click here.

In Episode 16 of Fearless Thinkers, Peter Mulford, Global Partner and Chief Innovation Officer, explores reasons and solutions for our reluctance to shift from intuition-led to computation-augmented decision making. Learn more about our Innovation and Digital Transformation Center of Expertise here. For a transcript, please click here. Peter refers to: "Overcoming Algorithm Aversion: People will Use Imperfect Algorithms If They Can (Even Slightly) Modify Them" by Berkeley J. Dietvorst, Joseph P. Simmons, and Cade Massey Inner Mastery, Outer Impact: How Your Five Core Energies Hold the Key to Success, by Hitendra Wadhwa

In Episode 15 of Fearless Thinkers, Christie Obiaya, CFO of Heliogen, and Teal Reamer, VP and Head of BTS Central, discuss how Heliogen's leadership team, made up of individuals with far-ranging experience and ways of working, found common ground in their shared ambition. Learn more about our Strategy Execution & Business Transformation services here. For a transcript, please click here.new    

In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, Kelsey Raymond, Associate Director, discusses organizational culture, or our deeply-held mindsets and ways of working, and its critical impact on performance. Check out a blog post on the topic, "Is your culture past its sell-by date?", by Alex Amsden, Andy Atkins, and Mallory Meyer. Learn more about our Strategy Execution and Business Transformation services here. Find the transcript here.

In this episode of Fearless Thinkers, hear from Barbara Adey, Vice President, Head of Sales and Marketing for BTS North America, on how to drive go-to-market profitability by supporting your commercial leaders. Check out Barbara's blog on the topic, "Developing next gen sales leaders." Learn more about our Go to Market services here. Find the transcript here.

In Pt. 2 of this interview with Suzanne Bates, SVP and Global Head of Executives & Teams, on the Fearless Thinkers podcast, learn how to leverage mindsets to sell to the C-suite. Show notes Check out Suzanne's books, All the Leader You Can Be: The Science of Achieving Extraordinary Executive Presence, Speak Like a CEO: Secrets for Communicating Attention and Getting Results, and others on her Amazon author page. Learn more about our Executives & Teams services here. Find the transcript here.

In Episode 12 of Fearless Thinkers, Suzanne Bates, SVP and Global Head of Executives & Teams, draws on decades of experience engaging with C-level leaders to share how you can establish executive presence. Show notes Check out Suzanne's books, All the Leader You Can Be: The Science of Achieving Extraordinary Executive Presence, Speak Like a CEO: Secrets for Communicating Attention and Getting Results, and others on her Amazon author page. Learn more about our Executives & Teams services here. Find the transcript here.

In Episode 11 of Fearless Thinkers, Brad Chambers, PhD, Head of Talent Acquisition Solutions, takes us through the hiring process from a candidate's perspective, highlighting the moments organizations can leverage to ensure a better fit for both parties. Show notes Learn more about our Talent Acquisition & Succession services here. Find the transcript here.