Insights on staying grounded in a turbulent world from leadership expert Dave Schrader In my latest conversation with leaders about how to prioritize thriving to strengthen teams and organizations in our disruptive world, it was a delight to connect with Dave Schrader, PhD, a longtime leadership development expert with the renowned firm Leadership Circle. If you feel like a cork bobbing in an ocean of complexities, I think you’ll find his wisdom invaluable.   Beyond the Bobbing Cork “It’s going to be hard to thrive if you’re like a cork in a turbulent sea, just bobbing up and down at the behest of whatever waves come your way,” Dave told me. This metaphor captures the experience many leaders face today—being tossed around by rapid technological change, workplace transformation, and global uncertainties. When we lack a stable center, we end up reacting to every news headline, market fluctuation, or organizational challenge without coherence or clear direction. Like that cork, we expend tremendous energy but make little meaningful progress. The question becomes: How do we find stability amidst turbulence? How do we navigate effectively instead of merely staying afloat? From Staying Afloat to Finding Your Place to Stand Dave suggested that thriving…

Wisdom from Global Retail Leader Keith Cocking on Leading with Humanity and an Abundance Mindset In my ongoing work to strengthen leaders’ capacities to thrive in today’s complex world, I had the privilege of talking with Keith Cocking, a seasoned leader at a global retail giant. What emerged from our conversation was both profound and refreshingly practical: At the heart of thriving leadership is the courage to lead with love—and it delivers results. “When it comes to trying to be the best version of you and helping other people be the best version of them… those three words ‘lead with love’ are so powerful,” Keith shared. “When you have that orientation to lead with love for yourself and for others, you show up differently.” Before you dismiss this as naïve, consider: Leading with love takes more courage than leading with fear. And it isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about believing in people’s potential and creating the situations and cultures where they can produce their highest work through their highest selves. Embracing Abundance Over Scarcity According to Keith, leading with love is rooted in a fundamental shift toward an abundance mindset, rather than one of scarcity. “There’s a belief in…

Wisdom for Our Disruptive Times from Global Hospitality and Tourism Leader Aradhana Khowala I recently had one of those discussions that leaves you feeling both energized and thoughtful. You know the kind—where your soul feels nourished and your mind buzzes with possibilities. My conversation was with Aradhana Khowala, worldwide expert in the hospitality, travel, and tourism industry. I believe her insights can transform how we think about leadership. What Does It Mean to Thrive? Aradhana’s journey fascinates me—from a young girl in India with a travel addiction (her words!) to advising governments across 85 countries on tourism strategies. What strikes me most is how she carries this vast global experience with such humility. As we talked, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement when she described the current state of the world as a “perma-crisis.” Don’t we all feel it? The climate anxiety, technological disruption, deepening inequalities, and geopolitical tensions swirling around us. As Aradhana pointed out, “the old playbook does not work anymore” in this environment, yet we’re stubbornly measuring success with the same outdated metrics. I asked Aradhana what thriving means in today’s world. Her answer resonated with me: Thriving isn’t about “climbing up, but going deep.” This…

In our increasingly complex world marked by what I’ve come to call “societal inflammation,” what does it truly mean to thrive as leaders and human beings? Recently, I sat down with Nicki Sizemore, creator of Mind, Body, Spirit, FOOD, whose journey through the food industry offers profound insights for leadership in these turbulent times. The Power of Inner Connection What struck me most from our conversation was Nicki’s emphasis on leadership beginning with a deep connection to self. After experiencing burnout at the peak of her successful blogging career—when she found herself “writing for Google rather than expressing who she was”—Nicki took an unprecedented summer off to reconnect with her purpose. “Inner connection is how I find thriving,” she shared. “The beauty of that is when we’re deeply connected to ourselves, we can authentically connect not just to other people, but to the world at large.” This inner work isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for thriving, sustainable leadership. When we’re rooted in self-awareness, our ability to lead others flows naturally rather than becoming another depleting task. From Extraction to Reciprocity Perhaps the most powerful leadership paradigm Nicki described was the shift from extraction to reciprocity. In the food world, she’s…