FranklinCovey On Leadership

Why do so many smart organizations still feel slow, rigid, and stuck in the past? In this episode, Phil Le-Brun—former McDonald’s executive who helped modernize operations across 38,000 restaurants, and now an executive in residence at Amazon Web Services—joins Jennifer Colosimo to introduce ideas from his new book, The Octopus Organization. Phil explains why the “silent killer” of performance isn...

What if the biggest barrier to your goals lives inside your own head? In this episode, Dr. Henry Cloud—renowned clinical psychologist, executive coach, bestselling author, and co-founder of a large healthcare organization—joins Jennifer Colosimo to unpack the ideas behind his new book, Your Desired Future: The 5 Essential Steps That Take You Where You Want to Go. Drawing on neuroscience, psycholog...

In a world flooded with information, the greatest leadership challenge may be managing how we respond to ideas that challenge our assumptions. Philosopher and cognitive immunology researcher Andy Norman introduces the concept of “mental immunity”—the mind’s ability to resist misinformation, rigid thinking, and reactive decision-making. Drawing parallels to the body’s immune system, he explains why...

Today’s CEOs face constant distractions that consume time and attention. Dan Bigman, editor-in-chief and chief content officer of Chief Executive Group, shares what he’s hearing from top executives about the realities of modern leadership. He explains why clarity becomes a leader’s most important responsibility during uncertainty and why many organizations are approaching AI the wrong way. Bigman...

Most organizations are approaching AI the wrong way. Conor Grennan, founder and CEO of AI Mindset, argues that AI adoption is not primarily a technology challenge—it’s a behavioral and leadership challenge. Drawing on his work with organizations like Google, Walmart, and Microsoft, Grennan explains why employees instinctively treat AI like a search engine instead of a collaborative teammate, limit...

UPS CEO Carol Tomé believes leadership comes down to three things: head, heart, and hands. In this On Leadership conversation with Jennifer Colosimo, Tomé shares how she guided UPS through the disruption of 2020 while transforming the company into a customer-first, innovation-driven logistics leader. She explains the strategic shift toward “better, not bigger,” the expansion into complex healthcar...

Most change efforts fail not because people resist change, but because leaders misunderstand how change actually works. Julia Dhar, behavioral scientist and BCG managing director, explains why 75% of transformations fall short—and what leaders can do differently. She introduces the concept of “change distance,” the gap between executive optimism and employee reality, and outlines practical ways to...

AI transformation is moving faster than any prior technology shift, but Joe Atkinson argues the real challenge isn’t technical—it’s human. Drawing on his experience leading AI strategy at PwC, Atkinson explains why empathy, listening, and clarity are now core leadership capabilities, not soft skills. He outlines how leaders must balance speed with trust, avoid over-reliance on consensus, and inves...

When teams fail to innovate, leaders often blame execution, alignment, or talent. Eric Ries argues the real issue is leadership itself. Drawing on ideas from The Lean Startup and his latest work on building “incorruptible” organizations, Ries explains why companies unintentionally suppress creativity through rigid systems, misaligned incentives, and a fear of failure. He outlines a practical path...

Leadership is a constant tension between driving results and genuinely caring for people. Jennifer Colosimo, former president of FranklinCovey's enterprise division, shares how great leaders navigate that balance. Drawing on decades of experience across consulting, sales, and executive leadership, she explains why performance and people leadership cannot be separated—and why expecting more from te...

Ashley Herd, author of The Manager Method, breaks down why most leadership mistakes happen in the gap between reaction and response. Her simple framework—pause, consider, act—helps managers handle difficult conversations, re-engage struggling employees, and lead with clarity instead of impulse. Drawing on experience in law, HR, and executive leadership, Herd challenges common advice, emphasizing f...

Sustained success requires more than optimizing today’s business—it demands building what’s next before it’s urgent. Howard Yu, LEGO Professor of Management at IMD, explains why the most resilient organizations “perform and transform” simultaneously, scaling new capabilities while strengthening their core. He unpacks the costly knowing–doing gap that derails companies, why innovation often becomes...

A compelling idea means little if it fails to move people. Chris Anderson, head of TED, explains what separates ideas that spread from those that stall—and how leaders can communicate in ways that drive real impact. Drawing on years of curating and coaching some of the world’s most influential talks, Anderson breaks down the structure of persuasive communication, the importance of clarity over com...

Playing it safe is often the riskiest career move. Sukhinder Singh Cassidy—current CEO of Xero, former president of StubHub, and founder of theBoardlist—shares why growth comes from taking calculated risks and building a personal “risk muscle” over time. Drawing on her leadership across Google, Amazon, and multiple startups, she explains how to evaluate opportunities not just by stability, but by...

AI is reshaping organizations faster than most leaders expect. Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, explains why the future will favor companies—and professionals—who become dexterous with AI tools. He shares how Cisco transformed from a collection of acquired product “fiefdoms” into an integrated platform company, opened its ecosystem to partners, and embedded an AI-first mi...

Loneliness is more than a personal struggle—it’s a measurable threat to creativity, productivity, and health. Dr. Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General, explains why disconnection erodes workplace performance and why leaders must treat social connection as a strategic priority. Drawing on research and his own experience in public service, Murthy outlines practical ways organizations can foster...

Kara Nortman built her career in traditional venture capital—then stepped away from the classic Silicon Valley model to co-found Angel City FC and later launch Monarch Collective, a $250 million fund investing in women’s sports. Her journey reveals what happens when curiosity, conviction, and community intersect. Nortman explains how applying a venture mindset to sports unlocked overlooked demand,...

As AI drives the cost of cognition toward zero, competing on intelligence alone will no longer be enough. Former OpenAI go-to-market leader Zack Kass argues we are entering a “next Renaissance,” where intelligence becomes abundant and leaders must rethink strategy, talent, and purpose. He distinguishes between incremental AI gains and exponential reinvention, challenges organizations to clarify mi...

Robert Sanchez, chairman and CEO of Ryder System, explains how a 90-year-old company stays relevant by deliberately embracing disruption. He walks through Ryder’s shift from a truck rental brand to a diversified transportation and logistics partner, detailing the strategic choices behind narrowing geographic focus, expanding asset-light services, and investing in technology. Sanchez also shares ho...

Serial airline founder David Neeleman shares what it really takes to build—and rebuild—extraordinary companies as they scale. From being fired at Southwest to founding JetBlue, Azul, and Breeze, Neeleman reflects on the crucible moments that shaped his leadership philosophy. He explains why culture decays without relentless communication, how servant leadership shows up in high-stakes, operational...

Julie Zhuo, former VP of Product Design at Facebook and author of The Making of a Manager, reflects on the leadership lessons she learned while scaling with one of the world’s fastest-growing companies. She explains why great managers must hold high standards without becoming taskmasters—and how trust, feedback, and clarity determine whether teams merely comply or truly commit. Zhuo shares a defin...

Bestselling author of The Speed of Trust and Trust & Inspire, Stephen M. R. Covey, joins us to share lessons from growing up with Stephen R. Covey as a father, the early career experiences that taught him to trust himself, and the origins of his groundbreaking work on trust. He explains how trust transforms organizations, backed by research showing employees are 14x more engaged when they trus...

Real behavior change rarely comes from willpower, motivation, or sudden insight. According to behavioral scientist BJ Fogg, it comes from design. In this conversation, Fogg explains why habits form when behaviors are made easy, anchored to existing routines, and reinforced through emotion—not repetition alone. Drawing on the Fogg Behavior Model (B=MAP), he challenges common leadership assumptions...

As leaders reset priorities for a new year, Todd Davis argues that progress doesn’t come from chasing trends—it comes from applying timeless principles with discipline. Drawing on three decades at FranklinCovey, Davis explains why Begin with the End in Mind and Put First Things First remain foundational for leaders navigating silos, hybrid work, and rising employee expectations. He challenges the...

Conflict is unavoidable at work—but avoiding it is often the bigger risk. Amy Gallo, bestselling author and Harvard Business Review expert, reframes conflict as a leadership advantage rather than a failure. She explains why resolving tension at the lowest level builds trust, how leaders accidentally undermine team culture by stepping in too soon, and why “feeling good” is the wrong metric for a su...