The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast

Neil Slater, CEO of Redevco, a real estate management company, explores his personal leadership journey and the pivotal moments that led him to the CEO role. He reflects on the formative experiences that shaped his approach to leadership, the challenges he faced transitioning from a global head role to CEO, and what he's had to unlearn to lead effectively in a rapidly evolving business landscape. He also discusses the importance of resilience, adaptability, and self-reflection, as well as aligning his personal values and corporate values to cultivate a leadership team that moves in harmony with his strategic vision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, Mitja Schulz, the newly appointed CEO of Debrunner Koenig, a Swiss wholesale company specializing in reinforcements, steel and metals, metal services, and technical products, describes his leadership style and shares the core leadership competencies he believes are essential for steering his organization through today's dynamic business landscape that places increasing demands on CEOs. He also discusses how he thinks about developing leaders who excel in collaboration, staying agile, and being goal oriented; strategies he has implemented to develop these competencies within his leadership teams; and some common challenges that arise when building high‑performing teams. Looking into the future, he also shares how he thinks digital tools and AI will shape the future of leadership development, and how he is preparing his teams and wider workforce to adapt to these changes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, as part of our ongoing series examining how leaders across functions are managing and incorporating AI, Heidrick & Struggles' Julian Ha spoke to Miriam Vogel the president and CEO of EqualAI, which is a nonprofit organization created to promote artificial intelligence governance.Miriam, who has extensive experience working with C-suites and boards and the government to help them establish best practices for legal regulatory compliance, as well as operationalizing those best practices, discusses the ways that leaders of all kinds have become much more AI literate with respect to potential harms and litigation risks, and how they are mitigating liability as well as avoiding those harm to companies, individuals, and communities. She also shares what she's excited about when it comes to the future of AI, what it means to her to lead in an AI-enabled world, and how she believes that leaders must balance guardrails and innovation, so that their organizations remain competitive, ensure there's trust in AI systems, and that those AI systems deserve our trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, Heidrick & Struggles' Scott Bae and Alexis Hennessy sit down with Lior Susan, the founder and managing partner of Eclipse Ventures, a venture capital firm dedicated to partnering with entrepreneurs, transforming industries that are critical to people's lives and national economies, such as manufacturing, supply chain, transportation, healthcare, and defense. Susan shares the leadership traits that he believes are uniquely critical to success in start-ups in the physical industries, as well as how leaders can seamlessly adapt between start-ups and large companies, how he thinks about investing in highly regulated industries, and his perspective on AI's evolution and impact on the space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Borzi is the executive vice president and chief supply chain officer at Baxter International, a healthcare company; he joined Heidrick & Struggles' Fabrice Lebecq to discuss how AI is helping leaders of the supply chain function across industries deliver value. Borzi shared how AI was rolled into the function at Baxter, as well as his perspective on finding the talent needed to make the most of these tools and managing the culture changes necessary to integrate the tools into ways of working. He also shared how he approaches balancing the opportunities of AI with its risks both ethical and sustainability-related; how he sees AI continuing to optimize the healthcare supply chain; and what it means to him as a leader to lead in an AI-enabled world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of our interview series exploring AI and its impacts on leaders across functions, Heidrick & Struggles' Lindsay Leach and Hugh Marshall were joined by Chris Koehler, the chief marketing officer at Twilio, a customer engagement platform that drives real-time personalized experiences for leading brands. Chris discusses the ways in which his marketing function is using AI and where they are finding it adding particular value, as well as how he uses AI tools in his day-to-day work. The three also discuss what skills and mindsets marketing leaders will need to thrive in this AI-driven world, as well as how they will continue to find talent to make the most of AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After nearly 23 years at Unite Students, the United Kingdom's largest student accommodation provider, Joe Lister moved from the role of CFO to CEO in January 2024. In this interview, he discusses how his mindset and perspectives regarding leadership have shifted, how he deals with mental health and wellness, and what it's like managing a wide range of stakeholders. He also shares how he built out his executive team, what he looks for in future-ready leaders, and his advice to someone stepping into the CEO role for the first time: get match fit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stendert Krommendam is the chief people and sustainability officer at Ecotone, a leading private equity–backed company in Europe for organic, vegetarian, healthy and fair-trade food. Krommendam, who has built a dynamic career at the intersection of people, sustainability, and business, was formerly an HR leader in Unilever and Ahold Delhaize. In this interview, he discusses his new leadership model that embeds sustainability and systems thinking as core leadership qualities, describing what healthy leadership means in the context of Ecotone's mission of biodiversity. He also shares the leadership qualities he believes are critical for balancing performance, purpose, and sustainability; how he fosters a purpose-driven culture; and his perspective on the balance between long-term sustainability commitments and the growth and profitability expectations that are typical in a PE environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Santiago Argelich Hesse, CEO of Cellnex Poland, Europe's largest digital infrastructure provider, shares his approach to leading diverse teams that are aligned with both local market needs and a unified global vision, as well as how the maturation of the digital infrastructure sector is changing talent needs, specific skills, and mindsets. He also shares the strategies he feels are most important to foster trust and alignment within the leadership teams of organizations during a merger, and what specific steps he took to minimize attrition and ensure continuity of expertise, especially for critical leadership roles within the strategy of the expanded organization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Adam Pacifico sits down with Dr. Regis Chasse, who leads leadership development solutions initiatives for Heidrick Consulting. Adam and Regis discuss the five imperatives Heidrick has identified through which leaders can focus their capabilities and, over time, become what we call connecting leaders. These imperatives are: envision the future, deliver today, act with purpose and courage, harness the power of others, orchestrate ecosystems, and cultivate a learning mindset. For more on the connecting leader, see “The connecting leader: Five imperatives for leaders today.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ludovic Gaudé, CEO of Qinshift and Avenga, discusses the challenges and opportunities of leading tech companies under private equity ownership compared to other ownership structures, including private ownership or a publicly traded company, as well as balancing value creation with fostering innovation. Having led through mergers, he also shares how he adapts his leadership approach in a merger scenario and what qualities or strategies are most critical for success, as well as how he thinks about culture shaping, fostering trust and alignment, and minimizing attrition. Finally, he discusses the key trends he sees shaping the IT services market in the Central and Eastern Europe region and globally, and how those trends will impact leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this interview, Heidrick & Struggles' Sherree Kendall sat down with Emma Delaney, executive vice president at BP, to discuss balancing growth and sustainability. Delaney, who has exposure and experience in both the upstream and the downstream verticals, shares how that has influenced her approach to leadership, emphasizing the importance of the strength and power of the team. She also talks about balancing being impactful as well as approachable and shares what skills and capabilities she believes business leaders will need to deploy in order to successfully lead an organization in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of the Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Sean McLean speaks to Theresa Roessel, the CFO of Canada Diagnostic Centres, about her 30-year career journey in finance. Theresa has led large global teams through strategic, collaborative leadership and proactive approaches to complex business issues. She has worked as CFO at the Calgary Zoo, as well as with CNOOC International. She also has served on the board of the Canadian Red Cross, among many others.In this conversation, Theresa shares her journey and discusses the leadership capabilities that have helped her succeed and navigate change, as well as how the finance function is adapting to evolving AI tools and capabilities, how her board experience has impacted how she approaches her executive mandates, and what organizations can do to build a more gender-diverse finance function. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Jarrad Roeder and Jennifer Streitwieser speak to Clint Grimes, the chief procurement officer at Capital One. Grimes shares his perspective on how the role of procurement is evolving and the implications that evolution has for the skills and capabilities needed by procurement leaders and professionals. He also shares his insights on the role of culture in broader strategic shifts and how leaders can build and maintain a healthy, high-performance organizational culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Samuel Skott is the former CEO at HiQ, a tech consulting firm. Having been a leader at publicly traded, privately held, and private equity–backed companies, he shares some of the unique challenges and opportunities he's encountered while transitioning between these ownership models, as well as how he adapted his leadership approach between them. He also shares what it means to lead in an AI-enabled world, how AI has been shaping his leadership priorities, and what organizational changes will be needed to ensure continued efficiency as new technologies and tools are utilized. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, Anuradha Chugh discusses leading purpose-driven brands and balancing profit, people, and planet. She also explores how businesses can create cultures of empowerment, foster continuous learning, and align governance with societal impact, offering practical tips to help organizations' leaders be a force for good and to have a positive societal impact. As the former global marketing director of ice cream at Unilever; managing director Europe at Ben & Jerry's; and CEO of Pukka Herbs, Chugh also talks about making the transition from a C-suite executive to a full-time board member, building a portfolio of board roles in businesses with different governance models. She is now a board member of Toms Group A/S, F&C Investment Trust, Routes Collective, and B Lab UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Adam Howe sits down with Shawn Bushouse. Throughout his career, Shawn has spent time on multiples sides of large and small businesses, from start-ups shipping their first order to global enterprises with market value nearing $300 billion. He has led teams of varying sizes, both scaled and sold companies as well as purchased businesses, and led venture capital and private equity–backed businesses. In this interview, Shawn shares his biggest lessons on being an effective executive in both start-up environments and inside a corporate, what the biggest differences and similarities in these environments are, and how he's adapted his own personal leadership style as he transitions between the two different types of organizations. He also discusses some of the culture trends he's seen in start-ups transitioning into larger, more established organizations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview, former CEO Caroline Farberger shares how her mindsets and behaviors changed as a leader after she transitioned and how she realized that her previous way of leading was not inclusive—and what had to change for it to become truly inclusive. She also argues that leaders make better business decisions if they can master the skills of harvesting the unique perspectives and contributions of the people around them, discusses how organizations can gauge whether or not they are inclusive, and shares three things for leaders to consider as they assess their own behaviors to adopt a more inclusive way of leading. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Carter, CEO of Intrado, the Stonepeak-backed provider of 9-1-1 critical infrastructure and technology solutions, and a board member at both JLL and NRG Energy, sits down with Heidrick & Struggles' Jessica Gentile and Francesca “Chessy” Michel, to discuss his approach to building high-performance teams, the particular leadership skills or capabilities that are most important, and creating strong organizational cultures and driving followership. He also shares how his experience as CEO of both public- and private equity–backed companies as well as a board member shapes his thinking, and discusses the trends he foresees in the digital infrastructure sector and how he thinks teams should prepare to stay ahead of challenges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special feature, three of our Heidrick & Struggles colleagues—Kathryn Bardi, Christina Cary, and Sean McLean—sit down to talk about neurodiversity: what it is and what it means for leaders, particularly CHROs and chief people officers, looking to make their organizations more inclusive. The three offer their advice to a leader or manager who wants to make a positive difference but isn't quite sure where to start; discuss what it takes to create a workplace that accommodates neurodiversity; and share their thoughts on how leaders should think about remote work when it comes to our neurodivergent colleagues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent study from Bitget Research found that countries in the Middle East saw a 166% increase year-on-year in daily crypto traders in 2024 alone, with the UAE clearly emerging as one of the fastest-growing markets for cryptocurrency adoption worldwide. Ben Grolimund, the general manager of the UAE at Rain, the first fully regulated virtual assets brokerage and custodian in the Abu Dhabi global markets, sits down with Heidrick & Struggles' Mikhail Kozlovskiy and Guy Shaul to talk about what's been driving the Middle East crypto landscape, how he is adapting his business strategy and leadership style in response, and his view on the depth of talent in that area. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ujjwal Kumar, group president of Teradyne Robotics, sits down with Heidrick & Struggles' Jerry Gorss to discuss the changing status quo of the industrial robotics sector and manufacturing generally. Kumar shares his outlook on how the next 12 months will impact the industry, particularly its leadership needs. He also shares what he believes are the key characteristics a successful robotics and automation leader of the future must have, how he thinks about the balance on his teams between specific areas of expertise versus general all-around performers, and how AI and software expertise affects his overall talent strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

José Perdomo Lorenzo, chief strategy officer of Deutsche Telekom Group, sits down with Heidrick & Struggles' Lukasz Kiniewicz to discuss Lorenzo's primary strategic goals for Deutsche Telekom Group over the next five years, particularly in the context of fiber optic network expansion. Lorenzo also shares how he thinks about balancing AI with data privacy concerns, the role ESG concerns are playing in Deutsche Telekom's overall strategic plan, what he feels leaders in the field need to be aware of right now, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avik Dey, the CEO of Capital Power, sits down with Heidrick & Struggles' Sean McLean to discuss Dey's journey leading the company in its growth and expansion plans across Canada and the United States as well as accelerating its current strategic drive to net zero. Dey, who has seen the energy industry from multiple viewpoints, including in board, executive, operational, investing, and senior advisory roles, shares what he thinks are Canadian leaders' areas of expertise as well as areas of growth, and offers advice for other Canadian leaders looking to compete internationally for the best talent against that backdrop. Finally, he discusses how he and his team prioritize where to focus, what to learn, and which expertise to bring onto the team regarding the drive to net zero. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Charlie Moore speaks to Kabir Nath, the CEO of Compass Pathways. Compass Pathways is a company dedicated to studying investigational psilocybin treatment in treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anorexia. Kabir Nath, whose career has spanned approximately 30 years in the biopharmaceutical and medical device industry, was previously the senior managing director of the global pharmaceutical company Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. In this conversation, Nath shares what attracted him to the biotech space and what it's like to take over the helm of a company from founders, and how he's collaborated with them during the transition. He also discusses his perspective on healthcare accessibility, evolving an organizational culture as the business grows, what new skill sets or capabilities he is looking for in talent, and how he manages investor relations. Finally, he shares how he is preparing the leadership team for the organization's continued transformation over the next few years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Lee Hanson speaks to Cynthia Lo Bessette, the head of Fidelity Digital Asset Management, about her journey from starting as a young lawyer to leading digital asset investments and solutions at Fidelity. Lo Bessette shares the skills and capabilities that helped her make the transition, as well as her insights into people management, building and managing diverse teams and fostering innovation and engagement. Finally, she shares her advice to other legal leaders who might have aspirations to move into a business role Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Carlos Gómez-Arnau speaks to Inaki Berenguer, managing partner at LifeX Ventures, a global fund investing at the intersection of AI and science, and the co-founder and former CEO of CoverWallet, an insurance tech start-up. Berenguer discusses the leadership challenges he's encountered managing a fund focused on AI and science, highlighting the importance of competitive salaries and growth opportunities to retain top tech talent as well as the significant impact of AI on healthcare. He also explores the implications of AI on career longevity and productivity and how leaders should balance scientific innovation with business scalability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Christina Cary speaks to Mita Mallick, the head of inclusion, equity, and impact at Carta, a California-based software company that provides ownership and equity management. In this conversation, Mallick, who has also had a long career as a multicultural marketer in the beauty and consumer goods space, discusses her new book, Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace. She explains how leaders can develop an understanding of inclusion by reflecting on what it feels like to be excluded, the importance of sponsorship, how companies' commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion are evolving, and how leaders should think about inclusion in a hybrid world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Dr. Laryssa Topolnytsky speaks to Dr. Ardeshir Mehran, a psychologist, behavioral researcher, business leader, leadership coach, and founder of the Human Work Studio, about mental health and well-being at the leadership level. In the conversation, Dr. Mehran explores some of the science around the links between emotional well-being and peak performance as well as the neuroscience for feeling better, living better, and leading better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Federico Guerreschi speaks to José Pedro Almeida, a top health AI and chief AI strategist and advisory board member at Intelligence Ventures, an emerging venture capital firm dedicated to cultivating innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare within the United States. In this interview, Almeida discusses the potential of generative AI and its impact on businesses and healthcare organizations worldwide, explaining how AI-driven digital workforce models can revolutionize patient care and operational efficiency. He also emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts among technology companies, healthcare leaders, and stakeholders to navigate the complexities of AI integration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' David Hui and Grace Gu speak to Peter Attfield, the former chief talent and learning officer at Jardine Matheson. Attfield shares how the Jardine Group has met the challenges of the last few years, how the company, the group, and the subsidiaries are preparing for the future, and what leadership skills or capabilities the group is focusing on in terms of both development and talent attraction. He also discusses the shifting of both employer and employee expectations, sharing his insights on the most effective way to communicate about those shifting expectations from both sides of the table, and what he sees are typical mindsets, attitudes, or reactions people should work on changing. Finally, Attfield shares the two or three things from a people strategy perspective he believes there needs to be absolute focus on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Will Krents speaks to Dr. Bob Maughon, the executive vice president, sustainability, technology & innovation and chief technology and sustainability officer at SABIC, the global Saudi Arabia–based chemical manufacturing company, to talk about how Maughon has seen the greater chemicals industry evolve over the last five years, particularly in regard to sustainability and digital transformation. He shares what SABIC is currently prioritizing, some big achievements and goals, and also how he is thinking about continuing to build teams to deliver on those goals. Finally, Maughon discusses the benefits of the duality of his sustainability and technology role, and what skills and experiences he believes will be most important for the next generation of sustainability leaders in the chemical industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Ina Sood speaks to Maggie FitzPatrick, the founder of FitzPatrick & Co and former global chief communications officer and head of public affairs at Johnson & Johnson. FitzPatrick discusses how she has seen the chief communications officer role evolve, particularly given the higher societal expectations for corporations to take a stand on public issues in recent years as well as the growing range of contentious social and geopolitical issues. She shares the leadership capabilities that have been most important to her success navigating these complexities, highlighting the importance of being able to influence others and create followership. She also discusses the blurring of the lines between leadership roles in the communications, marketing, and digital functions, the benefits of having someone on a company board with a communications background, and what skill sets communications leaders should focus on if they are looking to join a board in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Martin Holm speaks to Thomas Holm Pedersen, the CEO of NMD Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech company with novel treatments for neuromuscular disease. Pedersen shares how he founded the biotech company and became CEO, sharing the capabilities he needed to learn right away. He discusses the foundational strengths that technically experienced CEOs have that nontechnical CEOs may struggle with in leading a biotech, as well as how he keeps up with different aspects of the growth of the organization including fundraising, hiring key talent, and fostering that culture of growth. Finally, he shares his advice for other biotech founders coming from academia and how he sees the future of the biotechnology industry unfolding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Victoria Reese speaks to Dr. Larry Richard, the leading expert on the psychology of lawyer behavior and the founder of LawyerBrain, a management consulting firm that exclusively serves the legal profession. Richard, who over his career has analyzed over 25,000 lawyers, shares what he thinks makes lawyers different and how they can best create relationships and environments for collaboration. He also discusses the biggest difference between a successful law firm partner and a successful general counsel and, for those in legal who may want to move into different roles—for example, general counsel or chief legal officer roles—what specific leadership skill sets and capabilities they should focus on developing the most. Finally, he offers advice to organizational leaders for how to best engage and communicate to ensure they are getting the best outcome out of the lawyers they work with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Scott Bae speaks to Angella Alexander, CHRO at ATS Corporation, a leading industrial automation solutions provider listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and member of the board of CCL Industries, a global specialty packaging pioneer and the largest label company in the world. Alexander begins by sharing her journey to becoming a public company CHRO and board member, and then turns to the biggest challenges facing leaders responsible for attracting, developing, and retaining leaders, focusing on the balance between hiring externally and developing leaders internally—particularly in a decentralized business—and culture's role in talent strategy and management. Finally, she discusses the most important areas of expertise that a CHRO can bring to a board of directors and offers advice to other HR leaders who want to serve on boards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Sean McLean speaks to Jana Mosley, the president of ENMAX Power and a board member of the Western Energy Institute. Mosley, who has seen the electrical industry from multiple viewpoints, shares what she believes Canada's leaders are doing well and where she believes they can improve, as well as how she and her team prioritize where to focus, what to learn, and which expertise to bring onto the team versus expertise to seek out form external experts. As an executive and board member, she shares what she sees as culture's role in an organization, what practices are most impactful in getting to or staying at a high level of board performance, and both what she believes leaders are doing well right now to accelerate progress on DE&I within their organizations and what more she believes must be done. Finally, she offers advice to emerging leaders on how to develop in their careers as well as advice to senior executives on maintaining their health and wellness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Josh Clarke speaks to Caitlin Donovan, global head of Uber Health. Donovan shares what attracted her to an operational role and the healthcare ecosystem, what kept her engaged in the sector, and how she believes a strong operational focus has benefited her as a business leader. Speaking from her experience having worked with both early-stage start-ups and large-scale organizations, she also shares what leadership capabilities have helped her thrive in all these different environments as well as what new things she had to learn when starting out in each; her perspective on building thriving teams and striking a balance between functional expertise and general best athletes; and her approach to recruiting, engaging, and retaining talent in different market environments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Roberto Hall speaks to Angela Hurtado, JPMorgan Chase & Co's managing director and senior country officer for Colombia and independent director at Bolsa de Valores de Colombia, the Colombian stock exchange. Hurtado, also the chairperson of Women in Connection, discusses the state of diversity, equity and inclusion in Colombian businesses, the challenges and opportunities of managing both executive and non-executive roles at once, and how leaders can foster a culture of allyship and inclusion at their companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Shaloo Kulkarni speaks to Nabil Almessabi, the CHRO at TAQA, a high-growth, international clean energy publicly listed company headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Almessabi shares his thoughts on the disruption in the energy sector and what he believes are the most important trends to watch out for in terms of the future of work and the skills and capabilities needed, including how he is approaching the changing needs of the workforce. He also discusses the differences he sees between the Middle East and other regions regarding the future workforce, and highlighting how TAQA is working to attract, develop, and retain future-ready leaders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Laila Coffey and Marianne Hill speak to Warren Hero, the CIO and CDO of Webber Wentzel, a leading law firm on the African continent. Hero recounts how he created the first digital law firm in Africa and shares the benefits to clients that the digitization of legal work can bring, what leadership capabilities he believes were most useful in this process, and how has adapted his leadership style for success. He also discusses technology in the legal sector more broadly, sharing how he keeps up with emerging technologies, what impact he believes AI specifically will have on the sector, and how the blurring lines between the physical and digital have changed Webber Wentzel's hiring and retention strategy. Finally, he shares his advice for other IT leaders already in the legal sector or those considering a move. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Josh Clarke speaks to Kaushik Bhaumik, EY Americas health technology leader. Bhaumik, who earned your PhD in electrical engineering and then became a consultant at McKinsey before moving into healthcare, shares what attracted him to the support of healthcare clients and offers advice to other executives who are looking to transition their careers. He also shares what leadership skills are most transferable across large multinationals and early-stage start-ups, as well as both public companies and private investor-backed companies. Bhaumik then discusses his approach to building teams, balancing the needs for industry expertise and functional best athletes and building and leading diverse teams inclusively. Finally, he shares his thoughts about collaboration within healthcare and health tech specifically and how he sees partnership between tech companies, healthcare payers, providers, and researchers driving innovation, as well as his perspective on the future of health tech—the most exciting possibilities on the horizon, as well as the most significant hurdles for the sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Peter Behncke speaks to Guido Kerkhoff, the CEO of Klöckner SE, a German producer-independent steel and metal distributor. The conversation revolves around AI: how it has changed the ways of working in the industrial sector, how it is being used and who is responsible for deciding how to deploy it, and how to manage the risks and opportunities it presents. Kerkhoff also discusses how to assess the performance of AI initiatives and how organizations can make sure they have the leaders they need to progress with AI and other emerging technologies, and finally shares some advice for other leaders about how their organizations can implement AI tools. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Adam Howe speaks to Sophia Velastegui, chief product officer at Aptiv and member of the AI Advisory Committee for National Science Foundation NSF. Velastegui discusses the leadership capabilities most important to her success and the challenges of digital transformations, sharing what she has seen some of the world's most acclaimed technology organizations get right from organization, culture, talent, and leadership perspectives. She also offers her advice to executives looking to create a culture where people can lean in, regardless of their experience or level in the organization; how to start building new technologies into both current operations and new business models and propositions; and how to accelerate the organizational leadership's role in understanding and cultivating curiosity about emerging technologies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Martin Xiang speaks to Eileen Burnett-Kant, the CHRO at CLP Group, an investor-owned power company in Asia Pacific. Burnett-Kant discusses the transformation CLP's HR function has been undergoing, sharing what their needs have been and what approaches she adopted for the transformation. She also shares what she believes are the most important trends to watch out for in terms of the future of work; the skills and capabilities leaders will need in the energy industry, especially the power and utility sector; and how she is navigating the needs of a changing workforce, touching on the particular challenges of remote working, the gig economy, and a multi-generational hybrid workforce. And finally, she shares how she is working to shape a thriving culture across the different markets CLP is in and what she sees as the biggest challenges for talent management over the next three to five years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this next episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Frédéric Groussolles speaks to Sebastien Rozanes, group chief data officer of Carrefour, a French multinational retail and wholesaling corporation. Rozanes discusses the role of chief data officer and how he is managing the growing role of AI at his organization: how and where he is implementing it, how he is measuring its impact, and who he is involving in the decision-making process around tools. He also discusses AI's impact on the talent landscape and recruiting process, what sort of leadership skills or capabilities he sees as most difficult to find or develop, and how he is making sure Carrefour has the leaders it needs to navigate the use of AI and other emerging technologies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Laryssa Topolnytsky speaks to Maura O'Neill, a faculty member at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and the first chief innovation officer at the US Agency for International Development. O'Neill, who does research on new ventures, innovation, and executive leadership, discusses narrow-mindedness: why humans have it and what we can do to mitigate some of its harms. She also shares her top three tips for leaders: be a voracious learner, question the status quo, andembrace diversity and dissent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Laila Coffey speaks to Caroline Firstbrook, an award-winning people leader and former COO at Clifford Chance, an international law firm. Firstbrook shares a bit about her leadership journey, focusing on the skills and capabilities she needed to develop or add to her team at Clifford Chance. Regarding searching for talent, she shares her perspective on bringing talent in from outside the professional services industry and how she helped those individuals adapt. She also shares what changes she is proudest of during her time at Clifford Chance, and offers her insights on the long- and short-term impacts of AI and ChatGPT on the traditional law firm model, as well as what new skills and capabilities or ways of working together law firms will need to work effectively as AI influence grows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Roman Wecker speaks to Steffen Metzger, member of the group management committee at The Heraeus Group, a Fortune 500, family-owned technology company. Metzger discusses the importance of empathy and inclusion in fostering a culture optimal for innovation and shares some methods for combatting unconscious biases, emphasizing how important it is as a leader to be self-aware and authentic. He also discusses how to develop new leaders and encourage younger talent, as well as some trends and activities he is seeing in the industrial tech space and what leadership and talent implications come with them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Josh Clarke speaks to John Shagoury, president and CEO at IntelyCare, a leading healthcare workforce management platform. Shagoury shares insights drawn from his extensive career in both operating and investor roles, explaining how these differentiated experiences helped him develop as a leader and what ways he's found effective to engage teams. He also shares what it was like joining IntelyCare as the COO, which was a new position and an expansion of the executive team, and shares what leadership skill sets and capabilities he found critical to being in a new environment and a new role, and what it was like joining a founder-led business. Turning to healthcare, he discusses culture and its critical role in driving recruitment and retention, and what challenges he anticipates facing the health tech talent market. Finally, he shares how and why it is so important to find the right balance between the people-first side of the organization and encouraging and enabling innovation and disruption mindsets to thrive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Heidrick & Struggles' Martin Holm speaks to Lise Kingo, an independent board director at Danone, Sanofi, and Covestro. Kingo, who served as chief of staff, executive vice president, and a member of the executive management team at Novo Nordisk and then held a five-year tenure as CEO and executive director of the United Nations Global Compact, implementing its Sustainable Development Goals, shares her insights on the private sector's role in addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges and explains the competitive advantages, economic and social, that companies can gain by purposefully implementing sustainability initiatives. She also shares ways to keep sustainability consistently at the top of the board's agenda, discusses driving impactful sustainability strategies in the life sciences sector in particular, and offers advice to CEOs and leaders who are looking for a clear path for themselves and their companies on sustainability on how they can start. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.