Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership

From Tesla’s Model 3 era to Waymo to founding LightSource, Spencer Penn has built at the frontier of transformation. In this episode, Sal Silvester and Spencer unpack what leaders can learn from radically different cultures (Tesla’s “flat org, vertical power” vs. Waymo’s “layered org, grassroots power”), the values he’s building inside LightSource, and the real leadership challenge of pushing aggr...

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Sal sits down with Udo Erasmus - renowned health pioneer, author, and creator of Udo’s Choice - to explore transformation from the inside out. Udo shares the remarkable story of his early life as a war refugee, his journey through trauma and distrust, and how those experiences ultimately shaped his path toward science, spirituality, and a lifetime of...

What happens when the people who are supposed to have all the answers are struggling themselves?   We treat our leaders like they're bulletproof, but the pressure they're under is immense - and it has a ripple effect we rarely talk about. This week, Sal sits down with Organizational Psychologist Melissa Doman to have a refreshingly honest conversation about the mental health of leaders. Drawing fr...

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, sports psychologist Dr. Bobby Low joins Sal to explore how elite performers rewire their minds for success. From his journey as a “mediocre” athlete to becoming an NCAA All-American and professional pole vaulter, Dr. Bobby shares how intentional thinking, visualization, and mental discipline transformed his performance. We discuss why s...

Welcome to Season 8 of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership - The Transformation Season. The pace of change is accelerating. AI. Technological disruption. Shifting workplace expectations. Entire business models evolving in real time. The question for leaders is no longer whether change is happening — it’s: How do I scale my leadership at the same pace as the world around me… and stay grounded...

In this special “Best Of” episode closing out Season 7, Sal shares standout moments and bonus clips from every guest of the season, all focused on one theme: performing like a corporate athlete. From sleep and emotional intelligence to resilience, wellness, decision-making, and recovery, you’ll hear powerful insights from world-class experts, leaders, and high performers. Whether you’re leading a...

You’ve been promoted, you’ve built new habits, you’ve shifted your style. But here’s the challenge: the people around you may still see the “old” you. In this episode, Sal Silvester unpacks why behavior change alone isn’t enough - and why leaders also need to shift the way others perceive them. With stories from executive coaching, practical examples, and a proven three-step approach, you’ll learn...

Artificial intelligence isn’t just changing how we work - it’s transforming how we learn. In this episode, I sit down with Josh Bersin, one of the world’s leading HR and workplace analysts, to explore the intersection of AI, learning and development (L&D), and the evolving role of HR. Josh shares how AI is shifting the learning landscape and how organizations can harness AI to personalize lear...

What does it take to become the fastest woman to run around the world - and what can leaders learn from that journey? In this powerful episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, we’re joined by Marie “Lootie” Léautéy, a record-setting endurance athlete who ran over 28,000 kilometers across four continents in just under 700 days. Lootie shares the mental frameworks, disciplined routines,...

What can corporate leaders learn from elite athletes? In this episode, former NFL offensive lineman Cory Procter joins Sal Silvester to explore how the habits of high-performance athletes translate into the workplace. Cory shares lessons from his football career - including how he trained individually and with a team, the mental routines that prepared him for game day, and the critical role of rec...

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Dr. Gavriel (Gav) Schneider takes us inside the core of his Presilience framework by focusing on three foundational enablers of high performance: the mind, brain, and body. We explore how leaders can build psychological readiness, harness neuroscience for better decision-making, and optimize physical wellbeing to sustain performance und...

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, we dive into the critical yet often overlooked topic of executive wellness. Our guest, Jan Jenkins, shares insights into how leaders can prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being to enhance their performance and the culture of their organizations. We explore what executive wellness really means, the challenges of menta...

What if the key to peak leadership performance wasn’t just strategy and execution, but optimizing your health? In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Dr. Tracy Gapin, a physician and expert in high-performance health, reveals how executives often overlook critical blind spots in their well-being—impacting their energy, decision-making, and overall effectiveness. Dr. Gapin sh...

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, we dive into the high-stakes world of Big Bet Leadership with John Rossman, former Amazon executive and acclaimed author. Discover the secrets behind bold, game-changing decisions and learn how to navigate the complexities of transformation in the Hyper-Digital Era. From tackling wicked problems to creating clarity, velocity, and focus,...

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Nicholas shares his harrowing personal experience with severe insomnia that began in 2018, which spanned 17 sleepless days and transformed his understanding of sleep's critical role in human performance. Together, we explore how sleep issues, like rebound insomnia, can severely impact both personal and professional life, and why there's...

The New Year is time for reflection and intention - not resolutions. This episode is about charting the course for the year ahead. Being the architect of your life. Making intentional and on purpose choices, in every aspect of your life. Join Sal Silvester as he guides you through the key steps in his goal setting process. You can also download his Ultimate Goal Setting Guide on the episode page a...

Host Sal Silvester sits down with Robin Hills, director of Ei4Change and an expert in emotional intelligence, to explore how leaders can harness emotional intelligence to enhance human performance at work. Robin offers a simple yet profound definition of emotional intelligence: being smart with your feelings, and using emotional data to guide decision-making, build authentic relationships, and dri...

In this episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Willie Pietersen, leadership expert and former CEO of companies like Seagram USA and Tropicana, shares valuable insights on what it takes to lead effectively in today’s world. Willie talks about the importance of continuous learning, addressing hidden biases, and maintaining focus in an increasingly complex environment. We discuss how l...

In this solo episode of Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership, Sal dives deep into one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of leadership—how you start, manage, and end your day with intention. Inspired by personal experience after becoming a parent, Sal explores the challenges many of us face in our morning routines and offers practical strategies for overcoming them. In this ep...

In this episode of "Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership," we dive deep into the dynamics of change and its impact on human performance at work. As part of Season 7's focus on elevating performance, Sal Silvester sits down with John M. Fisher, a renowned chartered constructivist psychologist, coach, and expert in change management, leadership, influence, and personal development. John brings...

In this season opener, host Sal Silvester sets the stage for a dynamic new season focused on improving human performance at work. Drawing inspiration from the world of sports, this season will explore how leaders can apply tried and tested training methods to enhance their own performance. He shares personal insights on the importance of optimizing health and fitness, both at work and in life, esp...

In our Season 6 Closer, we present a special "Best Of" episode, highlighting some of the most insightful moments from this season. Tune in as we delve into a variety of compelling topics, including executive loneliness, intercultural competence, the impact of AI on teams, and productive conflict on teams. You'll also hear some bonus questions that host Sal Silvester asked our guests, which were no...

How teams engage in conflict matters. Some let it fester, avoiding what matters most to the business. Others fight aggressively. The way in which executive teams engage in conflict will directly impact how effectively they innovate and make decisions. In this episode, Sal Silvester connects with Dr. Aftab Erfan, the Executive Director of the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser Unive...

In this solo episode of "Sal Silvester on the Future of Leadership," Sal Silvester, seasoned executive coach and leadership expert, delves into the pressing challenges and evolving trends impacting leadership teams across various sectors. From the shifting dynamics in large tech companies to the resilience strategies of growth-stage tech firms, Sal shares insights gathered from his extensive work...

In this captivating episode of the Future of Leadership Podcast, host Sal Silvester welcomes Karen Eber, a leading voice in the world of storytelling and leadership. Karen, an esteemed author and CEO of Eber Leadership Group, shares invaluable insights from her recently published book, "The Perfect Story," released by HarperCollins in October 2023. Throughout the discussion, Karen delves into the...