The Moment

In 1999, 50,000 protesters took to the streets of Seattle, Washington. Convinced globalization would destroy humanity, they wrecked the World Trade Organization’s chances of striking new trade deals. The whole ordeal, which would become known as “The Battle of Seattle,” was one of the largest political protests in Seattle history and one of the first to be coordinated via the internet. This pivotal moment in history also happened to be a pivotal moment in the life and career of Richard Edelman. The Battle of Seattle, it turns out, marked the birth of an idea that remains relevant more than 25 years later: The Edelman Trust Barometer. In this episode, Richard unpacks not only the story of how the first Trust Barometer came to be, but also what it means to trust and be trusted as a business leader. 

The year was 1998. Andrea Jung was poised to take the corner office at Avon, the beauty and cosmetics company that had recently celebrated its centennial. But when Avon’s board appointed another CEO candidate, Andrea would face a decision that required her to rebalance her personal ambitions for leadership growth with her passion for a corporate mission she loved. It’s a moment that reflects Andrea’s loyalty, grit, and long-term vision—and ultimately what helped her become the longest-serving female chief executive in the Fortune 500. In this episode, Andrea takes us through what it means to follow your compass, not your clock.

When Charlie stepped into the role of CEO at Prudential, the company was in need of change. By his estimation, 150-year-old companies don’t remain relevant because of their long tenure, but because of their ability to adapt. The good news was that pivoting in short order was a skill he’d learned decades earlier—as a rower in the U.S. Junior Olympics. That formative experience would serve as a life lesson for finding the grit of an underdog when competitive advantage is lost. Charlie explains the connection between sport and business, what it means to have cold blood and a warm heart, and how to spot the finish line.

Gil West was met with chaos on his first day at Northwest Airlines. The executive who hired him? Fired. The facility? In uproar. His first assignment? Remove the person whose job he was taking. Many would have walked away but Gil chose to lean in. Gil and his handpicked team—some of whom he still works with today—transformed an operation on the verge of shutdown into a success story that would eventually land him a key role in Northwest’s merger with Delta Air Lines. Hear the story of his pivotal first day at Northwest, how the experience hooked him on the challenge of turnarounds, and why after all these years, he still chooses the hard jobs over the straightforward ones.

Mark’s long journey in the health care industry has been both professional and personal—highlighted by his son’s intense battle with cancer in the early 2000s. In a story spanning a fateful day on a snowy mountain, a desperate plea in an empty chapel, and an investor meeting gone wrong, it’s the kind of tale that feels straight out of a Martin Scorsese film. Mark’s journey of personal and professional redemption is a reflection of the tragedies, tradeoffs, and triumphs that have shaped him. But as he explains it, life-or-death moments provide a reminder that life isn’t easily separated into work and home—and the leaders who stand to benefit the most are the ones who embrace the mystery of it all.

In 2011, the American fast food brand Taco Bell faced an accusation that sent sales plummeting. According to a lawsuit that quickly went viral, the beef served at more than 5,600 Taco Bell restaurants in the U.S. wasn’t beef at all. The accusers deemed it was a mystery-meat recipe that the company was being deceptive about. At the center of it all was the company’s new CEO: 53-year-old Greg Creed, an Australian marketer who had made a name for himself at other fast-casual food brands such as Pizza Hut and KFC. In our conversation with Greg, he discusses how his decision to publicly fight the accusation was not just good business, but a battle to prove his own integrity. He offers his take on when to fight and when to fold, why today’s executives should be bolder, and how to win the right way.

After a 31-year stint at Accenture, Omar Abbosh eventually found himself at the helm of the educational courseware and services provider, Pearson. But his journey upward wasn’t as simple as stepping on the next rung. He shares how he found his footing with strength from his family—despite the life-changing personal challenges and rigorous professional hardships that threatened to impede his goals.From World 50, this is The Moment—where we explore the pivotal moments that changed the lives and careers of the world’s leading CEOs and defined their leadership journeys.

Now a director on the boards of Apple, IBM, and JPMorgan Chase, former Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky spent three decades at the pharmaceutical company—though he took a pivotal detour in the middle. He shares how a serendipitous encounter with his former CEO in an unlikely place opened the door for his return to J&J and how asking, “What can I learn?” drives his most important decisions.From World 50, this is The Moment—where we explore the pivotal moments that changed the lives and careers of the world’s leading CEOs and defined their leadership journeys.

No matter where his career has taken him—from working for multiple U.S. presidents to becoming CEO of EY—Mark Weinberger has been grounded by a simple concept: family. He discusses navigating personal and professional commitments, and how flying around the world for his daughter’s driving test led to culture change at the multinational firm.From World 50, this is The Moment—where we explore the pivotal moments that changed the lives and careers of the world’s leading CEOs and defined their leadership journeys.

Taking the helm of one of the largest utility companies in the United States, Patti Poppe shares what it means to lead in the face of unspeakable tragedy—and at the forefront of a global crisis. Hear why she values perseverance over perfection and what she believes brings out the best in an organization.From World 50, this is The Moment—where we explore the pivotal moments that changed the lives and careers of the world’s leading CEOs and defined their leadership journeys.

One tap on the glass. One simple phrase. One "kingmaker" job. Wanda Austin, former CEO of The Aerospace Corporation—a nonprofit organization committed to addressing the complex challenges of space—who happens to be the lead director on the board of Chevron and a director on the board of Amgen, reveals the quick hallway conversation that catapulted her into the corner office.From World 50, this is The Moment—where we explore the pivotal moments that changed the lives and careers of the world’s leading CEOs and defined their leadership journeys.

In the middle of an impressive career path that quickly brought him from consultant to C-suite executive, Hubert Joly began a surprising spiritual journey as well. In the season finale of The Moment, the former CEO of Best Buy shares how a profound revelation about purpose transformed his life and continues to drive his work in advising the next generation of CEOs.From World 50, this is The Moment—where we explore the pivotal moments that changed the lives and careers of the world’s leading CEOs and defined their leadership journeys.

Always pushing the boundaries of his own comfort zone, FedEx President and CEO Raj Subramaniam explores how a life spent on the move enabled him to take all the right risks and shaped the way he views the world. From World 50, this is The Moment—where we explore the pivotal moments that changed the lives and careers of the world’s leading CEOs and defined their leadership journeys.