Meet The Leader

More than 70% of leaders believe their organizations could become extinct within 10 years without the right transformation. Yet fewer than 30% surveyed believe they are good at making those changes happen. So what separates the successful changes from the stalled initiatives? Constantine Alexandrakis is the CEO of leadership consultancy Russell Reynolds Associates. In his book The Catalyst CEO, he compiles stories and practical lessons from real CEOs and their change stories, breaking down what's needed to make change possible, especially as leadership evolves in an AI era. He shares practical lessons from companies such as Eli Lilly, Merck and Yum Brands and organizational blindspots you can't ignore. He also shares his own his hard-won transformation story as well as the importance of 'philotimo' that can build a sense of stewardship in leaders. In this episode, you'll learn: Why driving change is challenging - and what leaders overlook How learning sharing power can strengthen empowerment and speed change What is psychological inertia and how it can slow transformation How to spot and tap 'influencers' in your team The shocking announcement that kicked off one company's leadership restructure The value satire plays after big changes - and why it's an unsung form of feedback Alexandrakis also discusses AI, distributed leadership, psychological inertia, the meetings he never skips, and gives his take on big trends shaping the future of work. Subscribe to Meet The Leader on Apple, Spotify or YouTube. About this episode Russell Reynolds Associates: https://www.russellreynolds.com/ The Catalyst CEO: https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/books/the-catalyst-ceo Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4tmd9rvk Related Episodes A CEO coach shares new leaders' biggest blindspots (and how to overcome them) Watch here - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcdNFn0BNXM Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4zwbyk8j Read here - Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4zwbyk8j AI and Jobs series: AI and Jobs Series: Upskilling's 'Messy Middle' and Fixing the Skills Mismatch Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2vddb3k3 Read here - Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2fnuacsz AI and Jobs Series: What one company stopped doing - an HR exec shares lessons shaping the future of work Read here - transcript: https://tinyurl.com/49xjtnyj Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/27fjhud8 AI 'workslop' is a leadership problem. Here's how to fix it Read here - transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2mxkzwc3 Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4evh8yk6 Watch here - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTAbIqqAf4Y How to Lead People Through AI Change: Questions to Ask from a Transformation Expert Read here - transcript: https://tinyurl.com/ykk9r7hb Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yc2azrwv Watch here - Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/yyv24pvd

How can organizations protect their data while staying nimble and competitive in an AI era? Lisa Monaco, Microsoft's President of Global Affairs, explains what digital sovereignty means for businesses, governments and other organizations navigating geopolitical uncertainty, growing cyber risks and rapid technological change. She breaks down what leaders need to understand about digital sovereignty and what's easy to overlook. She also discusses the importance of having control over data, privacy, intellectual property and critical services — all while maintaining the connections and collaboration needed to respond to changing needs and evolving threats. In this episode: What is digital sovereignty - and what leaders must prioritize Why isolation can leave organizations with less cybersecurity intelligence, not more Why AI security and cybersecurity need to be treated as one connected challenge What role digital embassies can play in an AI era Drawing on her experience as a former US Deputy Attorney General and Homeland Security advisor, Monaco also discusses the global AI divide, digital embassies and why AI should be treated as a societal and board-level risk. About this Episode: Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us Related World Economic Report: AI Infrastructure in the Age of Sovereignty: https://www.weforum.org/publications/ai-infrastructure-in-the-age-of-sovereignty-requirements-strategies-and-a-trusted-framework-for-digital-embassies Related Episodes: How to upskill for an AI Age: Workera CEO Kian Katanforoosh Read here - transcript: https://tinyurl.com/7rbsu62e Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p9zfazz Watch here - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOxIFpQcBCs How to Lead People Through AI Change: Questions to Ask from a Transformation Expert Read here - transcript: https://tinyurl.com/ykk9r7hb Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yc2azrwv Watch here - Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/yyv24pvd

How can technology solutions expand access, equity and opportunity? Barbadian tech entrepreneur and technology expert Donnya Piggot speaks to moderator Doone Roisin of podcast 'Imagine If' about AI and the future of equitable innovation. It's a conversation that explores implicit bias, diverse product teams, reverse mentorship, and the leadership challenge of asking who is missing from the room. Young Global Leaders: https://www.younggloballeaders.org/home Key takeaways: Build around real user behavior, not a founder's ego or a product that only impresses investors. Design for inclusion intentionally by bringing people from the margins into the room. Stay focused in the early market, while making accessibility and belonging part of how the technology works. This session is part of the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders theme: AI, technology and human agency and was recorded live in Dubai, 13 October, 2026. To learn more: https://events.weforum.org/en/events/annual-meeting-of-global-future-leaders-2026/home Related Episodes: Be less reactive. A buddhist monk shares practical strategies for mindful leadership Read here - Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4t6a5pz6 Listen here- Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bdfkc76p This company launched with $600. How it's using data and AI today to boost yields for millions of small-scale farmers Watch here - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkOu9As6J60 Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bcmj6572 Read here - Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/bdz69j65

A conversation on the relationship between sport and leadership, from teamwork and resilience to ambition and responsibility. The session explores how sporting environments shape leaders and what wider society can learn from them — and how sport, at its best, becomes a vehicle for human flourishing, unlocking potential and wellbeing far beyond the field of play. Moderator: Mayowa Kuyoro, Partner, McKinsey Nigeria Guest: Sana Mir, former professional cricket player (and first woman cricketer from Pakistan to be named to the sports hall of fame) and current sports analyst Recorded at the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders in Dubai, 12 October, 2026. To learn more, read here: https://events.weforum.org/en/events/annual-meeting-of-global-future-leaders-2026/home Related Episodes: Be less reactive. A buddhist monk shares practical strategies for mindful leadership Read here - Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4t6a5pz6 Listen here- Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bdfkc76p This company launched with $600. How it's using data and AI today to boost yields for millions of small-scale farmers Watch here - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkOu9As6J60 Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bcmj6572 Read here - Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/bdz69j65

Hiring managers are struggling to find the talent they need, while job seekers face one of the toughest markets in recent memory. Jonas Prising, Chair and CEO of ManpowerGroup, explains what is driving these pressures—from the economic cycle and geopolitical shifts to major demographic changes. He also examines AI's growing role in hiring and recruiting. While technology can make the process faster, it does not necessarily make it more accurate. For Prising, human judgment remains essential to recognizing potential, assessing fit and making better hiring decisions. How cyclical economic shifts, not structural AI-driven changes, are shaping employer confidence How big demographic shifts could push employers to tap underutilized parts of the global workforce How AI can increase speed of hiring but not always its accuracy How Manpower uses AI in hiring and recruiting and what leaders can learn Prising also discusses ManpowerGroup's recent research on employment trends, the early boss that changed how he leads and his take on whether big predictions for the future will become a reality. Subscribe to Meet The Leader for more conversations on AI, hiring, leadership and the future of work. About this episode: ManpowerGroup Manpower: https://www.manpowergroup.com/en Report: Great Talent Shortage: https://www.manpowergroup.com/de/news-releases/news/global-talent-shortage-reaches-turning-point-as-ai-skills-claim-top-spot Report: Q3 2026 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey: https://www.manpowergroup.com/en/insights/report/q3-2026-manpowergroup-employment-outlook-survey Book recommendation - True North by Bill George: https://billgeorge.org/book/true-north/ World Economic Forum: Report: Chief People Officer Outlook report: https://www.weforum.org/publications/chief-people-officers-outlook-may-2026/ Related episodes: AI and Jobs series: AI and Jobs Series: Upskilling's 'Messy Middle' and Fixing the Skills Mismatch Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2vddb3k3 Read here - Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2fnuacsz AI and Jobs Series: What one company stopped doing - an HR exec shares lessons shaping the future of work Read here - transcript: https://tinyurl.com/49xjtnyj Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/27fjhud8 AI 'workslop' is a leadership problem. Here's how to fix it Read here - transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2mxkzwc3 Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4evh8yk6 Watch here - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTAbIqqAf4Y How to Lead People Through AI Change: Questions to Ask from a Transformation Expert Read here - transcript: https://tinyurl.com/ykk9r7hb Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yc2azrwv Watch here - Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/yyv24pvd