The Code Behind Greatness And Why Most People Miss It | With Alan Guarino

What does it really take to achieve greatness—not just in title or success, but in how you lead, live, and show up every day? In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with Alan Guarino, vice chairman at Korn Ferry and author of The Greatness Code, to explore what it takes to build a meaningful and lasting career. Alan draws on a life shaped by an immigrant family, his time at West Point, and decades advising CEOs and serving at senior levels of government. At the center of the conversation is Alan's framework for greatness. He defines it through stamina, courage, resilience, persistence, and passion — what he calls "SCRPP" — and connects it to the importance of social capital. Progress, in his view, comes from both personal effort and the relationships that provide honest feedback and support along the way. We also explore how these ideas apply across different stages of life and work. The conversation covers balancing career and family, building trust, and developing the self-awareness to learn from setbacks. Alan emphasizes that growth comes from understanding your role in both success and failure, and from surrounding yourself with people who will challenge and support you. If you don't have a code — a combination of grit, self-awareness, and strong relationships — you're navigating without a map. This episode helps you start building one.