Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries and around the globe are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to create extraordinary impact in today’s rapidly changing world.
In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates Leadership Advisor Hoda Tahoun and former CEO Clarke Murphy host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who share their insights and perspectives on how they lead, boldly. You’ll come away with fresh ideas and tangible takeaways on how you can redefine your own leadership trajectory – no matter where you are on your journey.
Our Hosts:
Clarke Murphy
Clarke Murphy is the former Chief Executive Officer of Russell Reynolds Associates and serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he was the Global Leader of the firm's CEO/Board Services Practice.
While at Russell Reynolds Associates, Clarke has conducted a number of significant projects in the industry, including Fortune 100 board searches and CEO successions. In addition, he has led notable searches in the private equity industry including searches for the Carlyle Group and Warburg Pincus.
Hoda Tahoun
As a leadership advisor and leader of the global Leisure & Hospitality Practice at RRA, Hoda Tahoun identifies, assesses, and develops dynamic C-suite leaders for global hospitality, travel, and leisure companies. Based in Miami, Hoda helps clients solve their most pressing leadership issues at the CEO, C-suite, and other executive-levels. She also advises clients on customer-centric, go-to-market leadership roles such as chief marketing officers and chief experience officers. Hoda is committed to reshaping the hospitality and leisure landscape to ensure it is an industry that leads with purpose, value, and wellbeing and continues to attract and retain talent across all facets of diversity.
Hoda spent more than seven years working for a boutique executive search firm, rising to the title of principal where she worked closely with hotel management companies, cruise lines and private equity firms. Previously, Hoda was an assistant vice president at SHUAA Capital in Dubai where she led the firm’s investment banking efforts. She has also worked at American Express, Bank of America and Citi.
Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries and around the globe are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to create extraordinary impact in today’s rapidly changing world.
In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates Leadership Advisor Hoda Tahoun and former CEO Clarke Murphy host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who share their insights and perspectives on how they lead, boldly. You’ll come away with fresh ideas and tangible takeaways on how you can redefine your own leadership trajectory – no matter where you are on your journey.
Our Hosts:
Clarke Murphy
Clarke Murphy is the former Chief Executive Officer of Russell Reynolds Associates and serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he was the Global Leader of the firm's CEO/Board Services Practice.
While at Russell Reynolds Associates, Clarke has conducted a number of significant projects in the industry, including Fortune 100 board searches and CEO successions. In addition, he has led notable searches in the private equity industry including searches for the Carlyle Group and Warburg Pincus.
Hoda Tahoun
As a leadership advisor and leader of the global Leisure & Hospitality Practice at RRA, Hoda Tahoun identifies, assesses, and develops dynamic C-suite leaders for global hospitality, travel, and leisure companies. Based in Miami, Hoda helps clients solve their most pressing leadership issues at the CEO, C-suite, and other executive-levels. She also advises clients on customer-centric, go-to-market leadership roles such as chief marketing officers and chief experience officers. Hoda is committed to reshaping the hospitality and leisure landscape to ensure it is an industry that leads with purpose, value, and wellbeing and continues to attract and retain talent across all facets of diversity.
Hoda spent more than seven years working for a boutique executive search firm, rising to the title of principal where she worked closely with hotel management companies, cruise lines and private equity firms. Previously, Hoda was an assistant vice president at SHUAA Capital in Dubai where she led the firm’s investment banking efforts. She has also worked at American Express, Bank of America and Citi.
C-suite executives face an unprecedented cascade of simultaneous challenges—AI transformation, regulatory upheaval, geopolitical instability, and economic turbulence. Unlike previous generations who weathered single crises, today’s leaders must navigate sustained uncertainty that many have never experienced before.
So, how can the right mentor transform leadership under pressure? And what makes mentorship relationships truly effective for senior executives?
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to three of our trusted advisors—Kurt Harrison, Amanda Foster, and Jeffrey Cheng—who share their perspectives on:
"Mentorship is not remedial. It's developmental, and it's all part of an agile, constantly learning mindset, which keeps executives fresh in how they look at the future rather than looking backwards."
Amanda Foster, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates
Four things you'll learn from this episode:
In this episode, we will cover:
(00:01:56) How sustained uncertainty differs from episodic crises and why this changes mentorship needs
(00:04:02) Why cross-industry mentor-mentee pairings are often the most successful
(00:10:07) The importance of building authentic mentorship relationships
(00:14:18) How external mentors provide objective perspectives often impossible internally
(00:15:48) Strategies for maximizing value from mentor relationships through preparation and goal-setting
A closer look at the research from this episode:
Transformation is no longer a project with a distinct beginning, middle, and end—it's the water leaders swim in. For leaders, the ability to lead through perpetual transformation has become mission critical.
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to four of our trusted advisors—Bob Marcus, Hetty Pye, Sean Dineen, and Alain Ishak—who share their perspectives on:
"Organizations change when people change, and people change when leaders change. Leaders need to role model and project the changes they want to see in the world."
Bob Marcus, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates
Four things you'll learn from this episode:
In this episode, we will cover:
(00:00:08) Why traditional five-year roadmaps no longer work in today's accelerated business environment
(00:03:03) What perpetual transformation means and why it's become critical for survival
(00:06:52) Why leaders must view C-suite colleagues as their first team.
(00:08:36) The importance of productive conflict and unified decision-making
(00:11:30) Why culture change is 70% of transformation success
(00:13:18) What AI-ready leadership looks like in practice
(00:15:42) How to move beyond the AI pilot phase
(00:17:27) Strategic disruptors and their role in challenging the status quo
A closer look at the research from this episode:
While the terms “uncertainty” and “volatility” get thrown around a lot, they certainly describe what’s going on now in global markets, especially when it comes to private equity. In this episode of Redefiners, Clarke Murphy and Marla Oates talk with Bain Capital Co-Managing Partner John Connaughton to get his take on leading through change.
As someone who has successfully managed through several periods of volatility during his more than 36-year career with Bain Capital, John takes us through how he’s been able to look past current unpredictability with an eye towards the long term. He shares tips and key learnings on how to increase adaptability and agility across the firm, including AI adoption and transformation. He talks about recruiting and retaining top talent, and the top traits he looks for in leaders. Plus, he shares his thoughts on how universities can help redefine the skills needed for next generation leaders to excel in a rapidly changing world.
We'll also hear from Chris Davis, a leadership advisor in our New York City office, who will discuss the critical leadership traits financial services CEOs need to master AI transformation.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
The world has gone through several technology transformations in the past 30+ years. From the launch of the Internet to the rise of mobile, cloud computing, digital transformation, and now AI transformation. In our second live recording of Redefiners, Clarke Murphy goes in-studio at Goldman Sachs to talk with someone who’s been through it all and continues to lead through change.
As CIO at Goldman Sachs, Marco Argenti is redefining how business is done with the help of AI at one of the world’s leading financial services firms. Marco takes us through his career in tech leadership roles at AWS, Nokia, and now Goldman Sachs, and shares his key lesson of focusing on the “why” before figuring out the “what” and the “how” when it comes to creating IT solutions. He discusses the three leadership skills that are critical when it comes to AI and how to balance the pace of AI business adoption with employee demands for faster change. He also talks about his commitment to cancer research and how AI will be a game changer when it comes to accelerating both research and new treatments.
We'll also hear from Jennifer Flock, a leadership advisor in our Paris office, who explores what it takes for leaders to build transformation capabilities that last.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
Today, leaders are working side-by-side with up to five different generations. This creates both significant challenges and unique opportunities for building cohesive, high-performing teams.
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to three of our trusted advisors—Kat Armstrong, Paco Ruiz-Maza, and Michelle Mion—who share their perspectives on:
"It's managing conflict, not avoiding conflict. An adequately managed conflict, dispute, or conversation can be highly productive and enlightening for both sides." - Paco Ruiz-Maza Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates
Four things you'll learn from this episode
Born in France almost 50 years ago, Decathlon has grown into the world’s largest sporting goods retailer with over 1,700 stores in more than 70 countries. On today’s episode of Redefiners, Simon Kingston is joined by our new co-host, Marla Oates, as they sit down with former CEO of Decathlon Barbara Martin Coppola.
Barbara takes us through her globe-hopping journey in leadership roles across several industries, including technology, home furnishings, food delivery, and consumer electronics before she came to the CEO role at Decathlon. She talks about the need for a clear North Star to enable transformation, creating a culture of innovation, driving a circular product strategy, and redefining Decathlon’s customer experience in-store and online. Plus, as a member of the board of directors at INSEAD, she shares her insights on how educational institutions’ next generation leaders need to redefine what skills will be needed in a rapidly changing world.
We'll also hear from Pam Fitzpatrick, Global Head of Sustainability at Russell Reynolds Associates. Pam will discuss key insights from our 2024 Sustainability Report and the commitments we’ve made as a firm.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
Identifying and developing the next generation of leadership talent is critically important. No decision will have a bigger impact on the performance of an organization and its enduring legacy. Yet, many leaders struggle with effective succession planning.
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to three of our trusted advisors—James Diggines, Rebecca Slan Jerusalim, and Stacey Shapiro—who share their perspectives on:
"Too often succession is really a check the box exercise at a critical point in time, as opposed to having a long-term focus."
Rebecca Slan Jerusalim, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates
Four things you'll learn from this episode:
A closer look at the research from this episode:
Many of us have heard the expression “doing good is good for business.” In this episode, Simon Kingston sits down with former MTV International Chairman and CEO Bill Roedy about how he put this concept into practice on a truly global scale.
Bill takes us on his journey of how he redefined broadcast television, launching the most channels in television history with more than 200 global channels and 20 brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and numerous others. He discusses how and why he started MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation, Suga, and other social responsibility initiatives to realize the ethos of “doing good is good for business.” And Bill shares his journey from West Point to MTV to GAVI and beyond.
We'll also hear from Andrew White, a leadership advisor who specializes in executive assessment and development, who will discuss why curiosity and adaptability are essential leadership traits in today's business environment.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
Today's senior executives operate in an environment where trust has never been more critical, or more fragile. According to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer, trust in business leaders is at an all-time low, with people's fear that business leaders are dishonest increasing by 12% in the last year.
So, as a leader, how can you cultivate trust within your team and organization?
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to three of our trusted advisors—Henryk Krajewski, Emmy Melville, and Ilana Abramowicz—who share their perspectives on:
“Don’t take somebody else’s credit. If you make a mistake, you own it. You don’t bury somebody else.”
Ilana Abramowicz, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates
Four things you'll learn from this episode:
In this episode, we will cover:
A closer look at the research from this episode:
How CEOs Can Build and Maintain a High-Performing C-suite | Russell Reynolds Associates
When it comes to global financial markets, the only certainty is the likelihood of uncertainty and change. The world is in a period of transformation on multiple levels fueled by AI and technology innovation, shifting economic policies, and infrastructure modernization. At the foundation of all of this transformation is the unrelenting need for long-term capital.
In today’s special in-studio episode, Clarke Murphy sits down with a leader who’s not only deftly navigating her organization through change in her role as Nasdaq CEO, but she’s doing it all at the speed of global capital. Adena Friedman talks about Nasdaq’s evolution from the world’s first electronic stock exchange to its current role as a global technology company serving the broader financial system and capital markets. She digs into her career journey from intern to CEO at Nasdaq, how Nasdaq stays on the leading edge of technology and innovation, and how to compete for and keep top tech talent. And she discusses the $80 trillion investment opportunity to bring every society in every economy forward to face the realities of the world that we're living in today.
We'll also hear from Tristan Jervis, a leadership advisor specializing in AI transformation, who will discuss the four critical steps CEOs can take to build AI-powered organizations.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
Today's board directors operate in a complex business landscape, balancing strategic guidance, technological innovation, and heightened governance expectations. They must provide critical leadership while navigating rapid change and increasing stakeholder scrutiny.
So, as an executive, do you have what it takes to thrive in a board role? And how can you maximize your impact once you're there?
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to some of our trusted advisors—Maggie Benkert, Edward Mason, and Rusty O'Kelley—who share their perspectives on:
"I advise clients and candidates to be really selective about taking a board role. You want to find an opportunity where you can add considerable value, but it's also developmental or stretching for you, and helps support you in your career."
Ed Mason, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates.
Four things you'll learn from this episode:
In this episode, we will cover:
A closer look at the research from this episode:
2025 Board Culture and Director Behavior Study, Russell Reynolds Associates
The global pet industry is expected to grow from $320 billion today to nearly $500 billion by 2030, as more pet parents treat their pets like their own children, often sparing no expense on their pets’ nutrition, health, and wellness.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, today’s episode features a conversation with Simon, Hoda and Lyssa McGowan, CEO of Pets at Home, the UK’s leading pet care business. Lyssa will “shed” some light on how she’s “grooming” Pets at Home for growth by creating an omnichannel pet care platform in the UK. She talks about how she balances keeping what works in a purpose-driven organization while adding new capacity in data and technology. She’ll also share her insights on how and when she uses customer feedback to develop new products and services.
We'll also hear from Hetty Pye, leadership advisor and co-founder of RRA Artemis, a movement designed to accelerate the development of women from the world’s most influential organizations into the CEO seat. Hetty will discuss our latest research on the media’s representation of women CEOs.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
The world needs more metals, minerals, and natural resources to fuel the global economy, power the energy transition, and feed a growing population. As the CEO of the world’s largest mining company, BHP’s Mike Henry is redefining his business in a competitive industry which is projected to grow to $2.8 trillion by 2028.
In today’s episode, Clarke digs into Mike’s leadership lessons and insights, including his career journey, his CEO transition in the midst of two major crises, and the advantages of being a global citizen living and working in multiple countries. Mike shares how he balances growth alongside risk, safety, and respecting communities in the company’s mining efforts. He also talks about the BHP Operating System, which serves as the foundation for how BHP’s 90,000 employees continuously improve and make decisions in the face of uncertainty on a day-to-day basis.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
We explore how family enterprise leaders can strike the right balance between preserving their organization's legacy and adapting to an evolving business landscape.
How can family enterprise leaders stay ahead in a fast-changing world?
Family enterprises are the backbone of economies worldwide, but their leaders face an increasingly critical challenge: how to preserve their organizations' legacies in a fast-changing world.
What makes some family enterprises thrive across generations while others struggle to adapt? How can leaders maintain what made their organization successful while meeting the demands of a new business landscape? And what skills will the next generation of family enterprise leaders need to navigate an increasingly complex future?
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to some of our trusted advisors—Justus O'Brien, Anupama Puranik, Diego Esteban, and Peter Gramkov—who share their perspectives on:
"One key skill that leaders need is emotional intelligence. You need to understand what is going on in the family. You need to understand the values. But it's super important not only to understand potentially one generation, but several generations.”
Peter Gramkov, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates.
Four things you'll learn from this episode
In this 17-minute episode, we will cover:
(00:01:31) How successful family enterprises balance preservation and progress
(00:06:06) The role of independent board directors in driving change
(00:09:23) How to create personalized development paths for future leaders
(00:12:20) Why active listening skills are critical for transformation
(00:13:47) What the future holds for family enterprises globally
A closer look at the research from this episode:
Global Leadership Monitor H1 2024
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key topic in C-suite and board room discussions these days; one with the potential to redefine or at least impact every aspect of business and society. Leaders around the world and across industries are racing to figure out how to best implement the technology to gain efficiencies, increase productivity, and ultimately grow their business.
Today, Hoda and Simon talk with serial entrepreneur and Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu to help shed some light on how leaders can harness the power of AI in their business. With more than 25 years in the tech industry, Louis shares his perspectives on how leaders can take advantage of AI transformation and what mistakes to look out for. He’ll talk about the importance of AI ethics, and how leaders can navigate the culture change that AI brings to an organization. He’ll also share how AI and GenAI can create better experiences for their customers and employees. And as someone who’s worked with and served on several boards, he’ll talk about what goes into building a successful board and the power of optimism.
We'll also hear from Harpreet Khurana, Chief Digital and Data Analytics Officer at RRA. Harpreet will outline the risk when organizations don’t use AI ethically and sets out RRA’s people-first approach to responsible AI. Read more about our RRA’s Responsible AI Principles.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
In today’s fast-paced, competitive business landscape, hiring and developing future-ready, transformational C-suite leaders is critical to organizational success. Making the wrong hiring decision can often lead to higher costs, damage to workplace culture, or worse. So what are the key things to keep in mind as you think about the leaders who can help take your organization to the next level?
In our first episode of Season 5, Simon sits down with Russell Reynolds Associates’ own CEO, Constantine Alexandrakis, to talk about what to look for in transformational C-suite leaders and how to use leadership assessment tools – like RRA’s Leadership Portrait – to find them. He’ll reveal how to take the next step in building transformational teams and what makes them successful. He’ll also share tips from his own CEO journey and the steps he took to prepare for that transition to nail his first year in the role.
We'll also hear from Erin Zolna, a leadership advisor in our New York office, who will outline our latest research on the skills that leaders need in a fast-changing world.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
Leaders have to make tough decisions and overcome adversity, often navigating through uncertainty and challenges along their leadership journeys. In this final episode of 2024, we’ll take a look back at the conversations we’ve had with the incredible leaders who joined us on Redefiners this past season to share their leadership stories and insights.
Hoda and Simon dig into the Season 4 archives to highlight how guests have led, and in some cases redefined, their organizations in an unprecedented year of change. Topics include AI and tech transformation, CEO transitions, geopolitical uncertainty and national elections, boards, climate change and sustainability, and more. And continuing our end of year holiday tradition, Hoda and Simon put themselves in our guests’ shoes to answer some fun end of year rapid fire questions.
Redefiners will return with more conversations with global leaders in January 2025, so be sure to follow and subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode!
In the meantime, you can listen to and watch all Redefiners episodes at https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/redefiners or wherever you get your podcasts.
Happy holidays!
Change is something all leaders deal with at various points in their careers. Whether it’s technological change, organizational change, or perhaps even changing careers or industries. Our guest today has managed through all of that change and more.
In today’s episode, Clarke and Hoda talk with Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer at Alphabet and Google. Ruth shares her story of career change, transitioning from her long-time role as CFO at both Morgan Stanley and Google to leading investments and philanthropic efforts at Google. Through it all, she talks about how she’s led through both business and personal change and uncertainty – including the financial meltdown in 2007-2008 when she was with Morgan Stanley, the fast-paced change that comes with technology transformation at Google, as well as her own personal battle with cancer. She’ll also talk about the promise of AI, especially in science, healthcare, education, climate, and other key areas.
We'll also hear from Robert Voth, a Managing Director in our Chicago office, who will discuss the critical challenge of CEO succession facing banking leadership today.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
We share how leaders can master the art of giving and receiving regular, effective feedback—and the benefits when they get it right.
As the end of the year draws closer, you’re likely reflecting on your team’s performance—and how to give feedback that helps your leaders develop and improve. But, these types of conversations aren’t always easy to navigate.
So, what skills are important to hone when giving feedback? And what are some of the common pitfalls you may encounter when having these honest conversations?
But it’s not just about giving feedback. It’s also important that you’re getting the feedback you need to develop. So, how can you encourage honest, upward feedback? And what benefits will you see when you act on it? In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to some of our trusted advisors—Dee Fitzgerald, David Lange, and Silvia Lago—who share their perspectives on:
“If the direct report feels like there's an environment of psychological safety…upward feedback actually becomes something that a direct report will offer regularly and proactively to their leaders.”
David Lange, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates.
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode
In this 17 minute episode, we will cover:
(1:32) How leaders can frame their feedback to ensure it’s delivered effectively.
(3:09) Why it’s critical feedback is a two-way conversation.
(5:06) What’s at the root of all effective upward feedback.
(7:18) The two key ways CEOs can generate constructive, unfiltered feedback.
(9:53) Why nothing should come as a surprise at an end-of-year review.
(10:33) Why active listening is such an important trait for leaders receiving feedback.
A closer look at the research from this episode:
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
It’s never been more important to get your personal leadership brand right as a leader. But, it isn’t easy to concisely articulate what you want to be known for and what your unique value proposition is.
So, what is a personal leadership brand and how can you begin crafting it? How can you activate your leadership brand in the market? And, what are some of the common mistakes leaders make when cultivating their personal leadership brand?
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to some of our trusted advisors—Jenna Fisher, Rafael Martinez Gallardo, Shoon Lim, and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and Executive Producer of Redefiners Amy Scissons—who share their perspectives on:
“I think earlier in one's career, there’s a tendency to want to be well-rounded and to try to hone things that perhaps you're not as naturally good with, and that's great. But I also think what's really important is to do the self-reflection, to figure out what is it that I am uniquely good at? What can I opine on to others? What can I be an expert at?”
Jenna Fisher, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates.
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode
In this 16-minute episode, we will cover:
(3.00) How a well-crafted personal leadership brand can differentiate you in a crowded marketplace.
(3.47) The importance of clarity, congruence, and consistency when building your brand.
(7.51) How much of what a leader shares should be personal.
(8.12) How to identify what topics you should speak on.
(11.17) One common mistake leaders make when creating their personal leadership brand.
(14.04) Why there are no quick fixes to establishing your brand.
A closer look at the research from this episode:
Global Leadership Monitor 2022, Russell Reynolds Associates
The New Leadership Portrait, Russell Reynolds Associates
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
