In this electrifying episode, we sat down with legendary management thought-leader, Gary Hamel, Author of Leading the Revolution, to explore what it truly takes for organizations to create their own future. Hamel delivers a powerful message: if companies want to stay relevant, they must learn to identify, embrace, and unleash their Catalysts - the changemakers, corporate rebels, and internal revolutionaries who challenge the status quo to drive meaningful transformation.
Gary outlines the four essential qualities that Catalysts must embody—and that must be embedded across the broader organization if it’s to thrive in an era of constant disruption:
- Courage – The bravery to push against legacy systems and entrenched thinking.
- Contrarian Mindset – The ability to see and say what others overlook or avoid.
- Compassion – Leading change with empathy and humanity.
- Community Building – Forging networks of support to scale impact sustainably.
Gary delved into the emotional toll of being a Catalyst. Burnout, frustration, and resistance are all part of the terrain — but as Gary so powerfully puts it, “Life is too short to work on trivial problems.”
Whether you’re a Catalyst yourself or a leader striving to empower change agents in your organization, this is a must-listen episode that will leave you inspired and equipped to create a future-ready organization.
For show notes please include:
If you’d like to connect with Gary, you can find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyhamel/
Follow him on X: @profhamel
Check out Gary’s other award winning books.
Original music by Lynz Floren.
