In this episode, Azeez and Ziika dive into Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching journey, uncovering practical lessons that business managers and team leaders can apply to their own leadership approach.

Carlo Ancelotti - the current coach of the Brazilian national team has won league titles in all five of Europe’s major football leagues. He’s lifted five Champions League trophies. But none of his success has come from showmanship. Ancelotti leads through what can only be called “Quiet Leadership”. Quiet Leadership is defined as the ability to lead from the shadows, offering steady guidance and fostering a supportive team environment while allowing team members to take center stage. Carlo doesn’t dominate the spotlight rather he builds trust, fosters autonomy, and leads with calm conviction.

In a time where brashness is often celebrated, his success is proof that we don’t need to lose our humanity to lead effectively. You can be excellent and still be kind. You can win and still be gentle – the “Carlo Ancelotti Way”.

In this episode, Azeez and Ziika explore the broader societal impact of AI, beyond just workplace productivity. They focus on three critical areas:

- Mental Health
- Income Inequality
- Governance and Democracy

While AI offers incredible potential across sectors like education, healthcare, and energy, it would be short-sighted to ignore the complex challenges it brings. This episode explores the uncomfortable but necessary questions about how AI might reshape humanity itself.

Tune in. Let’s think deeper, together.

Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Collavare Work Series podcast — your go-to space for rich conversations about the evolving world of work. We are excited to kick off this timely two-part series exploring one of the most pressing topics of our time: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work.

AI is everywhere — shaping industries, transforming how we live, and challenging our assumptions about the future. But beyond the buzzwords and headlines, what does AI really mean for individuals, our jobs, and society at large? Over the course of this two-part episode, we’ll unpack these questions and more.

Part one of the series sees Azeez and Ziika exploring the individual impact of AI on workers, skills, and the evolving nature of jobs. What is AI, really? How does it work? Why does it matter? And how do we prepare for a future that’s already knocking?

We were joined by two incredible guests to unpack these questions:

- Dani Johnson, Co-founder and Principal Analyst at RedThread Research. RedThread Research seeks to provide the most relevant, unbiased research and insights on people practices by using new research methods and engaging a broader community. Before RedThread, Dani led the Learning and Career research practice at Bersin, Deloitte, and previously led research at the Ross School, University of Michigan. Dani holds an MBA and a MS and BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from BYU. Before Kid, her favorite vacations involved a backpack, a map, and Google Translate.

- Olaolu Ajose, Head of Engineering at Ceviant Finance, with leadership experience across the UK, Romania, and Nigeria. Olaolu is a systems thinker, known for building smart solutions and mentoring the next generation through robotics and software development. Olaolu has a Bachelor's Degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification.

This episode is special — recorded over three years, reflecting the evolution of Azeez’s perspective. Whether you're a business leader, tech enthusiast, HR professional, or just curious about what’s next, this episode will challenge your thinking and broaden your perspective.

Tune in to Collavare Work Series wherever you get your podcasts.
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Because the future of work isn't coming — it's already here

Welcome to the concluding episode of the Collavare Work Series, where we delve into the intriguing connections between football and the workplace. In this final episode, we explore a profound insight: true success can remain elusive, even when individuals possess exceptional talent, if they lack opportunities to learn, develop, and showcase their abilities.

Drawing inspiration from the Premiership's history since its inception in 1992, where no English coach has won the title, we draw parallels to organizations' preferences for hiring ready-made, external candidates with proven track records instead of nurturing talent from within. Azeez and Ziika engage in a thoughtful discussion about the significance of opportunities as the true building blocks of success.

Join us in this episode to gain valuable insights into why opportunities play a pivotal role in achieving success, both in the world of football and the workplace. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion!

In this episode, Azeez and Ziika go over two interesting issues from the Interview with Paul Axtell:

1. The flawed concept of the ideal employee;
2. Following your passion.

In part 1 of this episode, Azeez and Ziika share excerpts of their interview with Tunji Andrews – CEO and Co-founder of Awabah. Tunji has spent years in research, financial literacy and advancing financial inclusion to the informal sector. Awabah’s mission is to help people outside of the regular 9-5 work model plan towards a financially safe and secure future.

Innovators and Entrepreneurs usually find themselves falling in love with their ideas. This can be a stumbling block as it prevents the continuous iterative process that refines the initial idea into something of value.

The discussion with Tunji allows us to see why it’s important to stay focused on the problem we are trying to address rather than falling in love with our ideas.