Meet The Leader at 200: 20 Leaders Share Their Best Tips, Aha Moments and Advice

Learn when you listen. Know your strengths can be weaknesses. Take your space before someone takes it for you. This 200th 'Best of' episode collects hard-won lessons learned and one-of-a-kind moments from this podcast's past 6 years. Listen to the late Jane Goodall recall a transformative run-in with a grumpy cabbie or hear the critical question that helped AWS teams get future-ready. It's a hit parade of top names, from IKEA to Microsoft, from Misty Copeland to Matt Damon, drawing insights and turning points that have shaped CEOs, startup founders, actors, activists, fashion designers, AI pioneers, best-selling authors and more find solutions and drive meaningful change. 

In this episode:

Unexpected turning points

• Jane Goodall, Jane Goodall Institute, on connecting with people you disagree with (Recorded 2021)

• Al Gore, Former US Vice President and founder of the Climate Reality Project, on his climate  communication turning point (Recorded 2021)
  
  An AI Powered Future

• Swami Sivasubramanian, AWS, on the question that got teams future-ready (Recorded 2024)

• Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and Wharton professor, on how to practice the soft skills an AI era will need most (Recorded 2025)

• Suleika Jaouad, best-selling author, on thinking beyond our 'resume virtues' (Recorded 2026)
  
  Bringing people together:

• Diane von Fürstenberg, fashion designer, on a habit she swears by (Recorded 2024)

• Misty Copeland, ballerina and activist, on unlocking potential (Recorded 2025)

• Jagan Chapagain, IFRC, on why effective listeners are learners (Recorded 2024)

• Brad Smith, Microsoft, on having a personal sounding board (Recorded 2024)
  
  Seeking innovation

• Matt Damon and Gary White, founders - Water.org, on the value of experimentation and failure (Recorded 2026)

• Nela Richardson, Chief Economist - ADP, on thinking outside the box (Recorded 2024)

• Gail Whiteman, Rainn Wilson, Arctic Basecamp on rethinking communication (Recorded 2023)
  
  Advice they swear by

• Daphne Koller, AI pioneer and insitro founder, on how strengths can become weaknesses (Recorded 2024)

• Fidelma Russo, CTO - Hewlett Packard Enterprise, on knowing yourself (Recorded 2024)

• Ulrika Biesèrt, CHRO - Inkga Group / IKEA, on taking your space (Recorded 2024)
  
  Meeting the moment

• Jonathan Reckford, Habitat for Humanity, on how serving others to bridge division (Recorded 2024)

• John Amaechi, psychologist, leadership expert and author, on finding your inner giant (Recorded 2021)

• David Miliband, IRC, on how leaders can navigate an increasingly disordered world, and the change that will be needed next (Recorded 2025)

Related episodes: 
Meet The Leader - Adam Grant: Future leaders won't succeed without this key trait
Watch here - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buVVIpttzUA

Meet The Leader - Ballerina Misty Copeland: Unlocking potential and a leader's most 'vital' role
Watch here - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNwmJJMRt4o&t=1s

IRC's David Miliband: How leaders can meet the moment in an increasingly disordered world
Watch here - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABadygYvsZ0&t=16s
Listen here - Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/42hzpvvm
Read here - Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3vk4723b

Matt Damon and Gary White: Why the Global Water Crisis Is Really a Finance Problem
Watch here - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d95kccQuFUk
Listen here - Spotify:  https://tinyurl.com/ybwhf395
Read here - Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/b8a2sr34