Power & Impact

  In this week's Power & Impact, I speak with John Donovan, the former CEO of AT&T Communications, about what it takes to lead when technology is changing the ground beneath your feet. John had a front-row seat to some of the most important technological shifts of the past several decades, including the rise of fiber communications, smartphones, and cloud computing.  One of his most important insights is that real innovation happens when an idea reaches customers at the right time and helps them do something better. That lesson feels especially relevant today. As AI reshapes the workplace, leaders cannot promise that every job will stay the same. What we can do is invest in people, help them learn, and build cultures where curiosity and continuous improvement are part of the daily rhythm. John offers a simple formula: Try to do your job a little better each day, do something kind for a teammate without expecting credit, and steal a little time each day to get better. Change may be unavoidable, but how we meet it is still up to us. As John says, the future will belong not only to those who understand the technology, but also those who keep learning and bringing others along.

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I speak with Sam Reese, CEO of Vistage, about a problem almost every leader eventually faces: The more responsibility you have, the fewer people you can be fully honest with. In this week's episode of _Power & Impact_ , I speak with Sam Reese, CEO of Vistage, about a problem almost every leader eventually faces: The more responsibility you have, the fewer people you can be fully honest with. That is where Vistage comes in. The organization brings CEOs and business leaders into confidential peer groups where they can wrestle with the decisions they cannot easily bring to employees, boards, or even family members. Sam knows that need personally. Early in his first CEO role, he felt so overwhelmed that he tried to quit. A board member told him he did not need to walk away. He needed help. That experience changed the course of his career. Today, Sam leads a global organization of more than 45,000 members, giving him a rare view into what leaders are struggling with right now: AI, culture, uncertainty, remote work, burnout, and the loneliness that comes with being the person expected to have the answer. Our conversation explores what separates the best leaders from everyone else: humility, the willingness to listen, and the courage to let others challenge your thinking before the stakes get too high.

In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with the Honorable Peter Beshar, whose career has spanned law, corporate leadership, and a deep commitment to public service. In our conversation, Peter looks back on his early work with former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance during the effort to bring peace to Bosnia — and how that experience shaped his belief in blending private-sector success with public service. He also shares lessons from his 18 years at Marsh McLennan, where he helped guide the company through crisis, and what he learned about leadership from CEO Dan Glaser. After a long and successful run at Marsh McLennan, Peter felt the pull to serve again. He was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate to become general counsel to the Department of the Air Force. Shaped by a journey spanning elite law firms, corporate boardrooms, global conflict zones, and the Pentagon, Peter offers a rare perspective on leadership and service. His story is a masterclass in leadership, risk-taking, and purpose — and a reminder that the most meaningful work often comes when you answer the call to serve.

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.

What does it look like when a seasoned business executive brings private-sector rigor to a mission built around human potential? In this episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with David Landsberg, President and CEO of Goodwill South Florida, to talk about a career that began at the Miami Herald during the upheaval of the early internet era and evolved into leading one of the most ambitious workforce-development organizations in the region. David reflects on what he learned while navigating the collapse of traditional media, managing change inside a legacy institution, and leading through disruption. He also explains how those lessons shaped his approach at Goodwill, where the mission is not simply to train people, but to put them to work. At Goodwill South Florida, that means creating real jobs and pathways for people with disabilities and others facing barriers to employment. This conversation is about leadership, adaptation, and the power of work to restore confidence, dignity, and a sense of belonging.

What gives life meaning once the usual markers of achievement are already in place? That's the question at the heart of my conversation with Joaquin Dulitzky on this week's Power & Impact. Joaquin advises families on the complexities that come with wealth, including legacy, identity, and responsibility. He has seen firsthand that while money can provide comfort and opportunity, it cannot supply purpose. We talk about the importance of helping the next generation find its own direction, and why the families that endure are the ones willing to have honest conversations about values, expectations, and what matters most. At its core, this is less a conversation about money but one about how people live, what holds families together, and how purpose must be cultivated, not assumed.

What if the world's greatest opportunities aren't found in polished systems, but in the messy, broken ones everyone else avoids?  In this episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Jeff Sprecher, founder and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, which is the company behind the New York Stock Exchange. Jeff's approach is simple: find what's complex and overlooked, and make it clearer, more efficient, and more trustworthy. That mindset led him to take on the New York Stock Exchange when it had fallen out of favor and rebuild it into one of the most powerful financial and data networks in the world.  We talk about how to recognize opportunity in chaos, how technology can simplify even the most complicated systems, and what that looks like across industries. We also explore the impact of AI on jobs and the shifting path from education to work. Jeff is candid about the disruption ahead, but optimistic about where it leads. This is a conversation about how to think in a changing world — and where to look when the next opportunity isn't obvious.

What can we learn about leadership from someone as unconventional — and as consequential — as Donald Trump?  In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with a good friend of mine, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, and his colleague Steven Tian to discuss their new book, Trump's Ten Commandments: Strategic Lessons from the Trump Leadership Toolbox. Jeff leads the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute at the Yale School of Management, where Steven serves as director of research.  Jeff has spent decades studying leadership at the highest levels, and what I've long respected about his work is that it's grounded in curiosity and academic rigor. When I asked why he chose to take this on, his answer was straightforward: You can't understand leadership by studying only the leaders you admire.  In the book, Jeff and Steven draw on years of research, CEO forums, and conversations with more than 50 insiders — from family members to senior advisers — to better understand how President Trump operates. What they've identified are 10 tools in Trump's leadership toolbox. They're the patterns he returns to when making decisions, commanding attention, and exercising influence. The goal of the book is to step back and examine how power is exercised. It's particularly important given the president's impact on politics, business, and culture. Whether you agree with Trump or not, understanding how his style of leadership works can be valuable. I think you'll find my conversation with Jeff and Steven thoughtful, balanced, and worth your time

As artificial intelligence spreads across industries, entire categories of work are beginning to change — and some roles are disappearing faster than expected. In this week's Power & Impact, I spoke with Jo McKinney of the Board of Innovation, a firm that works with companies on emerging technologies. She shared a piece of advice she's been giving to people trying to navigate this uncertain moment: Instead of focusing only on which AI tools to learn, re-imagine your profession from scratch. If your field — marketing, law, finance, or something else — were created today with AI already part of the system, how would it work? What tasks would disappear? What would humans do better? What new capabilities might suddenly become possible? In other words, don't just ask how AI can help you do the same job faster. Ask how the entire job might be reimagined. That shift in thinking may turn out to be one of the most valuable skills anyone can develop in the years ahead. Jo shared several other ideas about how people and companies can prepare for what's coming next. If you're thinking about how AI might affect your own career, I hope you'll take a few minutes to listen to the full Power & Impact conversation.

In this week's Power & Impact, I sat down with venture capitalist Maria Palma. I was struck by the range of her journey — from growing up in Wisconsin to Harvard Business School, leadership training at GE, and startup work across the globe. Today, she invests in some of the most promising AI-driven companies. While many frame AI as a tool for efficiency, Maria sees a bigger opportunity: entirely new capabilities, businesses, and creative frontiers. She's already watching children use AI to launch projects — even small businesses — offering a glimpse of how dramatically the next generation may reshape the world. We also discussed what she looks for in founders: independent thinking, comfort with ambiguity, and "resource magnetism" — the ability to attract talent and momentum. The best builders, she believes, feel driven to create whether or not anyone is watching. Our conversation covered leadership, entrepreneurship, robotics, education, and the future of work. If you're curious where technology — and opportunity — are heading, this episode is worth your time.

Some of the most meaningful decisions we make are about how we give — our time, our resources, and our attention — and the example we set in the process. In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with George Corton, founder of First Philanthropy, to talk about what thoughtful generosity looks like today. We discuss why giving in America has long been rooted in personal values and family traditions, and how the most effective philanthropy begins with clarity about what matters most. George shares what he's seeing as new wealth flows into cities like Miami and how the traditions shaped by leaders such as Carnegie and Rockefeller continue to influence modern giving. We also explore practical questions: how families can organize their philanthropy, involve the next generation, and use tools like AI to support research while keeping human judgment at the center.

AI is changing how we create.  In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Elley Cheng, CEO and co-founder of Useful Arts, to examine what happens to creativity when intelligence becomes programmable. Trained as an engineer, Elley now focuses on advancing creative rights in a world where generative AI is built on the work of artists, writers, and musicians. We discuss how intelligence reflects the systems behind it, shaping whose work is elevated and how value is assigned. As AI shifts from assisting creators to generating content at scale, the stakes center on authorship, ownership, and the future of creative labor. Co-hosted by my Worth Media Group colleague Eva Crouse, this conversation looks past the tools to the larger responsibility we carry: to protect human originality and ensure creativity remains grounded in human judgment and intention in an AI-native world.

Markets move in cycles. Companies endure — or they don't — based on the decisions leaders make when conditions are uncertain. In this episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Marc Cooper, CEO of Solomon Partners, to talk about what the current M&A environment is teaching us about durability. Beneath the headlines about slower deal flow and shifting valuations, there's a more important story unfolding: private equity portfolios aging, capital waiting for clarity, and management teams deciding whether to hold, sell, or reinvest for the long term. Marc shares what he's seeing across the market — from renewed activity in larger transactions to the early "green shoots" in the middle market. We discuss the pressure facing funds that expanded during the zero-interest-rate years, the reality of price discovery, and why 2026 may bring a steady return of movement rather than a dramatic surge. After five decades in business, I've learned that lasting firms are built on discipline, perspective, and the willingness to act when the moment calls for it — even when the answers aren't perfectly clear.  

This week's episode of Power & Impact is a wide-ranging conversation with Perry Ellis International CEO Oscar Feldenkreis about immigration, entrepreneurship, family legacy, and how businesses adapt across generations.  During our conversation, Oscar draws on his Cuban-American roots and a family history shaped by displacement and resilience to reflect on how that background continues to inform his definition of success, leadership, and responsibility. He traces the evolution of his business — from early efforts to serve the Hispanic consumer with culturally specific shirts like guayaberas, to building and re-positioning globally recognized brands such as Perry Ellis. Along the way, Oscar shares candid lessons from navigating public markets, activist investors, the decision to take the company private, and the importance of long-term institutional knowledge at the board level. Our conversation also explores how technology and AI are reshaping the apparel industry and why philanthropy remains inseparable from the Feldenkreis family's values. Woven throughout is a clear message about humility, hard work, and stewardship: building something that lasts means honoring the past while staying willing to change.

In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with Kelly Williamson, a senior leader at the global advisory firm APCO to talk about what actually sustains a career and a company when the world keeps rewriting the rules. Kelly shares her path from intern to executive at APCO, and why trust and relationships have mattered more than any five-year plan. We talk about leading through uncertainty, navigating AI and geopolitical change, and why empathy, values, and critical thinking are no longer soft now essential leadership skills but soft ones. The discussion spans the future of work, the disappearance of traditional entry-level roles, and what young people need to learn now for jobs that don't yet exist. Kelly explains how organizations make decisions under pressure, why trust has to be built before a crisis hits, and how leaders who stay grounded in values are better equipped to guide teams through disruption. If you're leading a team, hiring talent, or rethinking what a "career path" even looks like today, this conversation offers clarity and a reminder that in a fast-moving world, relationships still matter most.  

In this week's Power & Impact, I spoke with entrepreneur and investor Slava Rubin — founder of Indiegogo and a leading voice in alternative investments — about how big changes take shape, and how to recognize them early. Throughout his career, Slava has developed a habit of paying attention, looking for early signals rather than waiting for change to become obvious. We talked about how new technologies may gradually open access to assets that once felt out of reach, and why shifts like these tend to unfold without many people noticing. As Slava put it, big changes and opportunities rarely announce themselves. Our conversation also touched on AI and robotics, which he sees lowering the cost of experimentation and taking on repetitive, difficult work behind the scenes. We ended by talking about young people entering the workforce at an uncertain moment. Slava's advice was straightforward: Don't wait for the perfect job. Get your foot in the door, keep learning, and keep moving. As I've said before, treat your resume like a verb. If you're curious about where money, technology, and opportunity are headed—and how to stay ahead of the curve—this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

Crypto and blockchain come up everywhere these days — at work, in the news, in conversations that seem to assume everyone else already understands what's going on. If you don't, you're not alone. In this episode of Power & Impact, I sat down with two people I trust and learn from: Agnes Budzyn, founder of Bluedge Ventures, and David Schamis, co-founder and CIO of Atlas Merchant Capital. Both have spent years inside the world of crypto, and both are unusually good at explaining it without hype or jargon. What struck me most is how practical the conversation became. This isn't about get-rich-quick stories. It's about how money moves, how trust is created, and how new financial "rails" are being built outside the systems we've relied on for decades. We talked about why stablecoins matter, the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum, and how blockchain works as a shared, transparent record. We also touch on why banks and governments that once dismissed crypto are now taking it seriously. If you're curious about crypto but don't quite understand it, you're exactly who this episode is for. Think of it as a thoughtful walk through a complicated subject, with an eye toward what's real, what's noise, and what might shape the future of finance in the years ahead.

In this episode of Power & Impact , I sit down with business leader Nigel Travis, whose career spans some of America's most iconic brands, including Dunkin', Burger King, Jersey Mike's, and others from Blackstone's global portfolio. From his British roots to leading quintessentially American companies, Nigel reflects on how perspective, people, and disciplined execution shape enduring leadership. Nigel shares what it takes to turn even struggling brands into growth engines, including the lessons he learned rebuilding Dunkin' during the financial crisis. Together, we explore why great leadership is less about control and more about listening. The conversation also looks inside the boardroom, touching on private equity, effective CEO–chair relationships, and what makes Blackstone's culture distinctive. Looking ahead, Nigel offers candid views on AI, data security, and the future of work — along with advice for leaders navigating uncertainty and rapid change. This episode is a masterclass in leadership and brand stewardship that's filled with stories and practical wisdom from one of the most respected operators in modern business. Please share your thoughts here.

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Azeem Azhar, a leading expert on the rapid growth of technology, to explore how acceleration itself is shaping the way we work and make decisions. As AI becomes part of everyday life, its influence now extends well beyond business, reaching into education, family life, and the expectations we place on institutions. Azeem's perspective is shaped by an education at Oxford and years spent studying how technological progress compounds over time. He explains why change often feels sudden, even when it's been building for years, and why the pace we're experiencing today is closer to exponential than linear. We discuss what this shift means in practical terms, from AI-native companies redefining work to the growing importance of adaptability and judgment for young people entering the workforce. This episode offers a clear-eyed look at how to stay oriented in a world that keeps speeding up, and how to lead with intention when the future refuses to move in a straight line.

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Armando Pantoja, an investor, technologist, and thought leader who has spent his career spotting inflection points before they become obvious. Armando's story is a study in reinvention. He went from playing professional basketball in Puerto Rico to returning to software engineering, and eventually to building businesses at the center of the crypto economy. Along the way, he learned the value of starting early, learning quickly from failure, and staying flexible when the path forward isn't always clear. We talk about the realities behind cryptocurrency hype: Why market cycles repeat, what most people misunderstand about Bitcoin and blockchain technology, and where real opportunity tends to hide. Armando shares lessons from selling Bitcoin too soon, from building and selling a multi-million-dollar crypto company, and from recognizing that the "build phase" of innovation is often where lasting value is created. Our conversation also takes a look at the future of work. As AI reshapes careers and erases familiar entry points, Armando offers clear advice: don't panic, don't retreat, and don't wait. Learn the tools, think strategically, and position yourself ahead of change. In a world moving this fast, adaptability isn't just an advantage but the difference between keeping up and being left behind.

Recorded live at Techonomy 25, this week's episode of Power & Impact brings together two voices thinking deeply about where creativity and leadership are headed: Sergio Lopez Ferrero, CEO of Omnicom Production and a global leader in AI-driven brand storytelling, and Dr. Bobbi Wegner, a Harvard lecturer focused on team health, connection, and performance. Their conversation cuts through the noise around artificial intelligence to focus on what actually matters. Sergio and Bobbi talk about how AI is changing the way we create and lead, the role of craft in an era of rapid automation, and why human connection remains the foundation of great teams and great work. Along the way, we explore creativity as a source of exponential impact and the future of work as something shaped by entirely new capabilities we're just beginning to understand. It's a candid, forward-looking discussion about change, responsibility, and opportunity. If you're thinking about how to lead, create, and build meaningful connections in a fast-moving world, this episode offers both clarity and optimism about what comes next.

In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with Dr. Gary King, one of Harvard University's most distinguished professors and a leading voice in social science research, for a wide-ranging conversation about learning, leadership, and the power of community. Joined by my co-host and friend Dr. Bobbi Wegner, we explore why relationships sit at the heart of meaningful education and how community fuels innovation (Dr. Wegner is a psychologist, entrepreneur, and herself a Harvard educator.) During the conversation, Gary reflects on his work at Harvard, tracing the path from academic insight to its impact in the real world. He also shares what human behavior can teach us about change and why data and AI must be guided by judgment and care. At its core, this is a conversation about curiosity, collaboration, and the responsibility we all share to build environments where people feel connected, challenged — and inspired.

In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with the remarkable thinker, Dr. Barbara Oakley, for a deep look at the science of how we learn, adapt, and tap into abilities we never knew we had. Barbara shares her extraordinary path from "hating math" to becoming one of the world's leading engineering educators, Together, we reveal what modern neuroscience now proves: the brain can change, heal, and grow at any age. From Army barracks to the South Pole, from breakthroughs in brain science to lessons from global education reform, this conversation offers a hopeful message for parents, teachers, leaders, and lifelong learners alike: We aren't stuck with the brain we started with — we can shape it, strengthen it, and use it to thrive.

What does it take to lead under the brightest spotlight in the world? In this episode of Power & Impact , I sit down with my friend Sally Susman, who recently wrapped up an extraordinary run as chief corporate affairs officer at Pfizer. Few people have been tested the way Sally was during the COVID years, and even fewer managed to lead with the clarity, steadiness, and optimism she brought to every moment. Sally talks with me about what it was like to help guide Pfizer through a global crisis, how she built trust in a divided media landscape, and what she learned from working alongside some of the most influential leaders in business and government. She also opens up about reinventing herself at 64 and the values that carried her from Capitol Hill to the boardrooms of iconic companies. We cover a lot: public trust, polarization, healthcare's future, and why the best communicators often shine when things get tough. It's a rare look into a remarkable career — and a thoughtful conversation about leadership, integrity, and what comes next.

What would you do if you hit financial independence at 30… and realized the life you built was slowly destroying you? In this week's episode of Power & Impact , Paul Stamoulis and I sat down with Ryan Renteria, a Stanford grad who rocketed through Goldman Sachs, became a rising star in the hedge fund world, and walked away right as he reached the top. His body was failing, his spirit was exhausted, and he knew he had to choose a different future. Ryan opened up about work-life integration, emotional health, culture building, the power of service, and what matters beyond the paycheck. We also dove into generational expectations, leadership, purpose, burnout, and the courage it takes to rewrite your story. Ryan opened up about the journey that shaped his new book, Lead Without Burnout, a guide for high performers and leaders who want sustainable success that doesn't cost them their health or humanity. If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next step, this episode will change how you think about success, ambition, burnout, and what it really means to live a meaningful life. Share your thoughts at [email protected].

What can business leaders learn from the mindset of a world-class athlete? In this episode of Power & Impact , I sit down with Austin Ramos, an entrepreneur whose path from All-American long-distance runner at UCLA to private equity leader is filled with lessons on building winning teams.  Austin shares how his years as a competitive athlete shaped his approach to leadership and navigating high-pressure environments. We explore his decision to forge his own path outside his third-generation family business, the creation of Brand Velocity Group, and why he believes people, culture, and storytelling are just as important as capital when building great companies.  We also dig into his experience collaborating with iconic figures like Eli and Peyton Manning and crafting authentic narratives that create real momentum in the market. Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or just curious about how high performers think, this conversation is full of insights on building resilient companies and playing the long game in business.

AI tools are powerful, but misusing them can lead to poor results. How can business leaders avoid "AI slop" and maintain quality as they scale this technology across their organizations? In this episode, I sit down with Andreas Welsch, an AI strategist, educator, and author of The AI Leadership Handbook We talk about why 85% of AI projects fail and what practical steps businesses and individuals can take to embrace this transformative technology responsibly. We also dive into the future of work, the impact of generative AI on creativity, and what skills students and professionals need to thrive in an AI-driven world. Andreas shares insights from is teaching experience at West Chester University, and his work advising companies globally. If you're wondering how to prepare your business or your career for the AI era, this conversation is for you.

Some people chart a course and stick to it. Others let curiosity lead the way. In this week's Power & Impact, I talk with Marc Hodosh, the entrepreneur who revived TEDMED and later co-founded Life Itself with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Marc's path has been anything but predictable — from medical school to inventing a laundry backpack, building breakthrough tech companies, and creating platforms that bring the world's most inspiring minds together.  Along the way, he's worked with visionaries like Dean Kamen, Steve Wozniak, and Norman Lear — all united by a desire to use creativity and technology to improve human life. We spoke about how curiosity fuels innovation, ranging from AI-driven healthcare to noninvasive medical breakthroughs. We also discussed why Marc believes we should

Are we on the brink of the end of traditional surgery? In this episode, I sit down with Bill Peine, Ph.D., VP of Surgical Research & Technology at Medtronic — one of the world's leading innovators in medical technology. Bill and his team are reimagining the future of healthcare at the intersection of robotics, AI, and human ingenuity — where the idea of cutting into patients may soon feel as outdated as the rotary phone. We dive into: • How Medtronic began with the invention of the first battery-powered pacemaker • How engineers and doctors are working together to make surgery safer, faster, and more precise through robotics and artificial intelligence • How medical procedures are moving out of big hospitals and into more accessible, lower-cost environments • And the exciting possibilities of longevity, preventative medicine, and what it really means to live well for a hundred years or more Bill believes the future of healthcare is built on three key ideas: precision, predictability, and personalization — and after hearing him explain it, I think he's right.  

What if chasing money isn't the path to happiness — but understanding why we chase it is?  In this episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Jeff Kreisler, a Princeton-educated lawyer-turned-comedian who is now head of behavioral science at JPMorgan Chase. From the courtroom to the comedy stage, Jeff has built a career that bridges insight and laughter, showing us that understanding people is far more valuable than understanding numbers.  During our conversation, we discussed why behavioral science reveals how emotions drive financial choices, the role of relationships and connection in lasting fulfillment, and why "forgetting money" might just be the smartest financial move you should remember.  Jeff's story is a reminder that the real currency of life isn't cash but connection, curiosity, and courage.   

It's not every day you get to revisit a conversation that could change lives — but this one just might. In this week's Power & Impact, I had the privilege of catching up with Dr. Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein , a scientist who's on the frontlines of Parkinson's disease research. In our first talk, we explored his early challenges and the uphill fight to push new ideas forward. This time, he shares the incredible progress being made — from groundbreaking discoveries about dopamine's role to the development of a new drug formulation that's moving toward global trials. We delve into the changes in science, the resistances that still exist, and the human drive behind innovation. Dr. Sackner-Bernstein's journey is a powerful reminder that progress happens when passionate people refuse to stop asking "what if?" If you're inspired by stories of resilience, science, and hope, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Like, Subscribe, Share.  

In this inspiring conversation, entrepreneur and author Chip Conley shares his journey from founding a boutique hotel chain at age 26 to becoming a transformative mentor at Airbnb. He reflects on the importance of "right-sizing" ego, embracing intergenerational learning, and finding purpose in midlife. Chip introduces the concept of being "useful" rather than "used up," a theme central to his book Midlife Manifesto, and discusses the creation of the Modern Elder Academy a wisdom school for midlife transformation. The dialogue explores how aging can be a time of growth.  This is how AI interacts with human wisdom, and how community and connection are essential to longevity. Chip also reveals his latest passion, disrupting senior living through regenerative communities. Packed with insights, humor, and heartfelt stories, this conversation is a must-watch for anyone curious about living a deeper, more meaningful life at any age.

In this thought-provoking episode, Reid Blackman, Ph.D. joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about technology, ethics, education, and the ways rapid change is reshaping everything from Fortune 500 companies to family dinner tables.  Reid reminds us that while AI and social technologies offer incredible opportunities, they also raise difficult questions: Who benefits? Who is left behind? What values do we encode into the systems we build? His answers push us to think not only about efficiency and innovation but also about responsibility, fairness, and the human side of progress.

In this episode, I sit down with Howard Stevenson, often called the Father of Entrepreneurship. Over 40+ years at Harvard Business School, Howard reshaped how the world understands entrepreneurship — defining it as "the pursuit of opportunity beyond the resources you currently control." We dive deep into why entrepreneurship is not about taking risk.  Howard's journey shaping the field of entrepreneurship at Harvard. The Lessons from decades of mentoring leaders and innovators.  What are the 4 dimensions of success: Achievement, Significance, Happiness & Legacy. How growth and impact don't stop at retirement and the importance of variety, curiosity, and learning by doing.  

Today, we sit down with Dan Buettner, the explorer, journalist, and longevity expert who introduced the world to Blue Zones — the regions where people consistently live longer, healthier lives. Dan reveals:  The secrets of Blue Zones like Okinawa, Sardinia, Costa Rica, and Greece.  Why beans, whole grains, and plant-based meals are the real longevity foods.  His new book Blue Zones One Pot and the science behind simple, delicious recipes.  The dangers of processed foods and flaws in our healthcare system.  How community, social circles, and environment shape our health more than willpower.  Why retirement doesn't exist in Blue Zones — and why purpose fuels long life From diet tips and cooking insights to the importance of connection and movement

Can chronic diseases like Alzheimer's, heart disease, diabetes, and even early-stage cancer actually be reversed — not just slowed down? In this inspiring conversation, world-renowned physician and researcher Dr. Dean Ornish shares groundbreaking insights from nearly four decades of scientific studies. From presenting new Alzheimer's research to showing how lifestyle medicine can outperform drugs and surgery, Dr. Ornish reveals the simple but powerful choices that can transform health and extend life. What you'll learn in this video: ·       Why lifestyle medicine is proving more effective than costly drugs ·       How diet, exercise, stress management, and love can heal the body ·       The link between chronic inflammation, stress, and disease ·       Why plant-based nutrition and mindfulness are key to prevention ·       How authentic connection and intimacy are as healing as medicine Dr. Ornish also shares his personal journey, the science behind his bestselling book Undo It, and why love, community, and purpose are just as important as nutrition and exercise in creating lasting health.  Learn more about Dr. Ornish's programs: ornish.com    

From the early days of Y2K disaster-recovery planning to helping launch Amazon Alexa, this conversation traces the remarkable career of a leader who has shaped how we think about technology, business strategy, and the future of AI. In this episode with tech leader Noelle dives into the energy, angst, and opportunity of today's AI moment. From Y2K war rooms to Alexa's early days, Noelle's journey shows how "minimum remarkable product" (MRP) beats MVP—and why becoming a producer (not just a consumer) of AI will define your career.  This is a masterclass for founders, operators, and builders who want to understand not just where AI is headed, but how to lead through it.

In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Dr. Natalie Nixon — globally recognized creativity strategist, keynote speaker, teacher, and author of the award-winning book The Creativity Leap and her upcoming book Move, Think, Rest. With a background that spans fashion, cultural anthropology, global business, and 16 years in academia, Dr. Nixon shares her personal journey of leaving a "dream job" as a professor to build her own company, Figure 8 Thinking. Along the way, she reveals powerful insights into why creativity is not just a nice-to-have skill but an essential competency for innovation, leadership, and sustainable success. Dr. Nixon's story is not just about creativity in the abstract — it's about practical, actionable strategies to help you and your team consistently innovate, work with meaning, and avoid burnout. Whether you're an executive, entrepreneur, educator, or lifelong learner, her wisdom offers a roadmap for leading with curiosity, embracing change, and unlocking your fullest potential.  

What does it take to be the true "CEO Whisperer"? In this powerful conversation, Jeff Sonnenfeld — Senior Associate Dean at Yale School of Management, bestselling author, and trusted advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs — shares leadership insights from decades of experience guiding business leaders through crises, transitions, and reinvention. From his early career as a professor at Harvard and Emory to founding the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, Jeff has counseled top executives, shaped corporate accountability, and spoken out on urgent issues — from immigration and populism to technology, AI, and global geopolitics.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Power and Impact, host Jim McCann is joined by the brilliant Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman — economist, activist, and author of The Double Tax. What follows is a dynamic and inspiring conversation about gender, race, economics, and purpose. Anna shares her remarkable journey: from being born in Ghana and winning the U.S. visa lottery, to growing up in Maryland, falling in love with mathematics, switching from pre-med to economics, and eventually pursuing a PhD at Harvard. Along the way, she became a voice for equity and inclusion, co-founding the Sadie Collective to bring more Black women into economics and related fields. In this interview, Anna opens up about the hidden cost of being a woman — particularly a Black woman — in America. She explains the concept of the "double tax," the systemic pink tax that's embedded in our economy, and how structural inequalities are often normalized. From overpriced products to underpaid labor and overlooked data, Anna pulls back the curtain on how everyday economics disproportionately affects women.        

On this episode of Power and Impact we sit down with Venk Varadan, co-founder and CEO of Nanowear, to uncover the inspiring journey behind one of the most innovative startups in digital health. From his academic roots in biomedical engineering and chemistry to working on Wall Street. You'll learn how Nanowear's flagship product, Simple Sense, evolved from a concept to an FDA-cleared wearable that captures millions of biometric data points — from EKGs and lung sounds to continuous, cuffless blood pressure. Venk discusses how the company strategically chose the clinical route over consumer wearables, the rigorous FDA process, and why early diagnosis of conditions like hypertension and sleep apnea could save lives and billions in healthcare costs.

Why is burnout not just tolerated—but praised? On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Dr. Judith Joseph, psychiatrist, researcher, and author of High Functioning, to unpack the hidden costs of high achievement. From the psychological fallout of workplace trauma to the emotional toll of always saying "yes," Dr. Joseph reveals how our drive to perform can mask unhealed wounds. Drawing on years of clinical research and her own immigrant journey, Judith shares powerful frameworks for resetting our mental health, challenging imposter syndrome, and building emotional resilience—especially for high performers, working moms, and anyone trying to do it all. We also dive into the neuroscience behind screen time, how technology impacts joy and connection, and why psychedelics could revolutionize mental health care. If you've ever felt burned out, overlooked, or unsure how to slow down without losing your edge, this conversation will reframe what it means to function and feel at your best.

What if surviving AI disruption isn't about tech skills but human ones? On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Simon Freakley, Executive Chair and former CEO of AlixPartners, to explore the disruptive fusion of AI, robotics, and human potential. From reshaping the global workforce to redefining how we think about healthcare, education, and productivity, Simon makes the case for bold leadership in a time of nonstop transformation. With decades of experience guiding companies through crisis and change, Simon explains why we're only at the beginning of the AI revolution and why the most successful organizations won't just adopt new technologies but completely rethink how they operate. Plus, we unpack the importance of upskilling and what Special Forces training can teach us about thriving in times of uncertainty. If you've ever wondered how to lead or stay relevant in an era of rapid disruption, this conversation will shift your perspective on the future of business, work, and what it truly means to grow.

Can we reverse aging...or at least slow it down? One entrepreneur is betting on it. On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Artūras Samulis, founder and CEO of Number Longevity, to explore the intersection of personal transformation, cutting-edge science, and holistic health. From quitting coffee and alcohol to tracking biological age through advanced diagnostics, Artūras is on a mission to redefine how we age. After years of global travel, retreats in Mexico and Costa Rica, and volunteering at international longevity summits, Artūras has gone all-in on building a new kind of health clinic in Lithuania. He shares how stress, sleep, cold exposure, and even blue-light-blocking glasses radically changed his biological age backward. Plus, he opens up about karate, resilience, and what 40 full-contact fights taught him about getting back up on the mat and in life. If you've ever wondered how far lifestyle alone can go in shaping your future, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about aging and what's actually within your control.

On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Dr. Chloe Carmichael, licensed clinical psychologist and author of the upcoming book Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly. Together, we explore how fear, censorship, and cancel culture are reshaping how we communicate, and how we can reclaim authentic dialogue in a divided world. From writing a viral blog about child masking that prompted her move to Florida, to speaking at Fortune 500 companies and global law firms about "cancellation anxiety," Dr. Chloe shares her personal journey and professional insights on the psychology of free expression, self-censorship, and the loneliness epidemic. We unpack the difference between healthy self-restraint and harmful repression, the risks of avoiding "real talk" in workplaces and friendships, and how groupthink and fear of disagreement can quietly erode mental health. Dr. Chloe also shares the surprising ways homeschooling and open dialogue have deepened her own thinking and her family's life. If you've ever felt unsure whether you're allowed to speak your mind, this episode is your permission slip to ask the bigger questions.

Aging isn't a decline, it's an opportunity. One of Fortune's top health reporters is here to prove it. On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Alexa Mikhail, health and wellness reporter at Fortune, to explore how longevity, connection, and conscious living are transforming not just how we age, but how we thinkabout aging. From growing up in a health-focused family in Ann Arbor to leading global health coverage alongside the Gates Foundation, Alexa shares her journey from theater dreams to bylines at one of the world's most respected business publications. We unpack the rise of the longevity economy, why social connection might matter more than supplements, and how media narratives are finally embracing a more empowering view of aging. Alexa also shares her own wellness routines, including running, boxing, and navigating balance, as well as the deeper reasons behind today's wellness movement. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to live a longer, fuller life, this episode is your starting line.

On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Harriette Cole, journalist, bestselling author, coach, and professor to talk about how to live with purpose, grace, and vision. From modeling runways at 13 to shaping Essence magazine's editorial voice, Harriette has spent her life crafting a message of excellence rooted in her family's legacy of service, style, and strength. We unpack the power of upbringing, the value of historically Black institutions like Howard University, and how legacy, discipline, and dreaming big can shape a remarkable life. Harriette opens up about her parents' influence, her journey to entrepreneurship, and what it means to manifest your vision, whether through a syndicated advice column, coaching music icons, or her transformative 100 Day Plan. If you're looking to unlock your next chapter, this episode is your first step.

On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Dr. Uma Naidoo, Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, and author of This Is Your Brain on Food and Calm Your Mind with Food, to talk about how what we eat profoundly shapes how we feel. From growing up in South Africa with a garden-tending grandmother to founding the first hospital-based nutritional psychiatry clinic at Harvard, Dr. Uma shares her journey and the science behind why food truly is medicine. We break down the gut-brain connection, explore the rise of anxiety and what foods help soothe it, and examine how ultra-processed diets are silently sabotaging our mental health. Dr. Uma reveals what it really means to "eat whole, be whole," why sugar-laced foods are marketed as healthy, and how something as simple as drinking water can shift your emotional state. Plus, hear how one reader overcame lifelong anxiety using her protocol, what foods she would order at dinner, and why gut testing might soon become a routine part of your check-up. If you have ever wondered how to eat for better focus, calmer moods, or fewer prescriptions, this is the conversation for you.

On today's Power & Impact episode, I sit down with Greg Licciardi, professor, marketer, and now author of Holy Grail of Marketing, to talk about what it really takes to connect with consumers in a fast-evolving digital world. From his classroom at Fordham and Seton Hall to the frontlines of martech consulting, Greg shares how a decade of teaching inspired a framework that simplifies marketing without losing its soul. Greg walks us through the five-part formula he's coined as the "Holy Grail," covering how the right person, message, time, environment, and outcome must align for modern marketing to resonate, emotionally and measurably. We dive into how AI is reshaping personalization, why brand purpose still matters more than ever, and what Wendy's taught him about timing, targeting, and temptation. Plus, hear how a conversation with his wife sparked the launch of the book, why CMOs need to think more like CROs, and what career advice he's giving the next generation of marketers in a world where AI is the new creative partner.

What does it take to make someone feel like royalty every time they walk through your doors? On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, to talk all things global luxury. From his roots in Istanbul to leading two of the most iconic hotel brands in the world, Omer shares the values that drive his leadership: deep cultural curiosity, emotional intelligence in service, and the power of small gestures to create unforgettable guest experiences. Omer opens up about balancing global travel with family life, how he instills a people-first culture across continents, and why creating a "home away from home" is more than just a tagline, it's a mission. Plus, a surprise Diet Coke moment that perfectly captures what luxury hospitality is all about.