Leading through an Organizational Transformation with Takuya Hirano
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
Release Date: 11/24/2025
Leading Digital Transformation at IKEA with Parag Parekh
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
In this conversation, Parag Parekh, Chief Digital Officer at IKEA, shares insights into the evolution of retail, the importance of omni-channel strategies, and the challenges faced by leaders in adapting to rapid changes in the market. He discusses IKEA's journey from a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer to a digital-first organization, emphasizing the need for agility, collaboration, and a customer-centric approach. Parag also highlights the significance of fostering an entrepreneurial culture wi
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Leading through an Organizational Transformation with Takuya Hirano
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
Back in 2014, one of the biggest transformations in modern business history kicked off at Microsoft when Satya Nadella took over the reins as CEO from Steve Balmer. Today, Satya is largely credited with changing the business of Microsoft from a traditional software company into a cloud-first, mobile-first powerhouse—with a current market cap of more than $3.6 trillion.
In this episode, Tom Athenour sits down with Takuya Hirano, the former president and CEO of Microsoft Japan. Tak
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Thriving Leaders: Creating Rhythms that Prevent Burnout with Mitch Harrison
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
In this episode, Tom Athenour and Mitch Harrison delve into the pressing issue of burnout, exploring its symptoms, personal experiences, and effective strategies for recovery. Mitch shares his journey through burnout and the development of a framework that emphasizes the importance of balancing stress with replenishment.
The discussion highlights the five key areas—Rest, Release, Receive, Recreation, and Relationships—that are essential for maintaining mental health and productivity. They als
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People First: The Secret to M&A Success with Tony Garver
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
In this episode, Tom Athenour sits down with Tony Garver, Chief Administration Officer at First Onsite, to unpack how the company pulled off 25 acquisitions in just 2½ years—and what it really takes to make that kind of growth stick.
Tony takes us behind the scenes of their bold M&A strategy, revealing the leadership moves that fueled their success. From aligning cultures and integrating leaders to keeping people front and center, he shares the lessons learned in navigating
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Scaling Your Leadership: Building Organizational Capacity with Bob Anderson
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
In this conversation, Tom Athenour and Bob Anderson discuss the evolving landscape of leadership amidst unprecedented uncertainty. They explore the developmental challenges leaders face, the importance of mindset shifts, and the necessity of integrating intuition and creativity into leadership practices. Bob emphasizes the need for courageous conversations, the management of polarities, and the significance of shadow work in unlocking potential. The discussion culminates in the idea that leaders must cre
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Personal Side of Leadership: Powering Up Your #1 Relationship with Shawn McBride
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
In this episode, host Tom Athenour sits down with Shawn McBride, a seasoned couples therapist and counselor, to explore the importance of investing in your personal relationships (couples, marriage, dating) as part of being an effective leader. Shawn shares his journey from a childhood mediator within his family to being a professional counselor, emphasizing the importance of communication and emotional intelligence in both personal and professional realms. Discover practical strategies for leaders to fo
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The Heart of Leadership with Barry Posner, PhD
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
In this conversation, Barry Posner dives into the heart of what makes great leadership tick—championing trust, sparking empowerment, and inspiring others through genuine encouragement. He shares the personal journey that led him into the world of leadership and academia, offering powerful lessons shaped by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. With passion and clarity, Posner explores the vital role of curiosity and human connection in today’s ever-changing landscape, especially among rising gener
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Unlocking Creativity: Improv in the Workplace with Michael Flusche and Austin Hines
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
In this conversation, Tom Athenour discusses the integration of improvisational skills into leadership practices with improv actors Michael Flusche and Austin Hines. They explore how improv can enhance teamwork, creativity, and communication in the workplace. The discussion covers fundamental improv principles, the importance of trust and support in teams, and how to create a safe space for ideas. They also demonstrate improv techniques and share insights on navigating challenges and embracing failure as
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The Art and Science of Leading Teams with Gordy Curphy
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
In this episode, Tom Athenour speaks with Gordy Curphy about his work and research on how we as leaders can more effectively build high performing teams. During the discussion, Gordy shared the eight interrelated components that need to be addressed to create the conditions for team success. Those eight components include:
- Context – What’s the situation in which the team must operate?
- Mission – Why is our team together, and what’s the what and how of our mission?
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Agility and Courage: Non-Negotiables for the Modern Leader with Jess Kindler
Leader2Leader with Tom Athenour
In this episode, Tom Athenour speaks with Jess Kindler about his extensive career in leadership within the mining industry and beyond. They discuss the evolving landscape of global business, the importance of customer-centric leadership, and the need for agility in response to rapid changes in technology and market dynamics.
Jess shares insights on how leaders can effectively navigate challenges, meet their teams where they are, and foster a culture of curiosity and accountability. The
info_outlineBack in 2014, one of the biggest transformations in modern business history kicked off at Microsoft when Satya Nadella took over the reins as CEO from Steve Balmer. Today, Satya is largely credited with changing the business of Microsoft from a traditional software company into a cloud-first, mobile-first powerhouse—with a current market cap of more than $3.6 trillion.
In this episode, Tom Athenour sits down with Takuya Hirano, the former president and CEO of Microsoft Japan. Takuya was a member of the executive team and had a front-row seat to how Nadella and the executive team reshaped Microsoft’s vision, culture and strategy.
Takuya left Microsoft in 2023 after 17 years, and today he is on several boards including Fujitsu, and is also an executive advisor to KKR & Co. and Honda Motor Company. He is also the co-founder of Three Fields Advisors, a consulting firm that helps businesses scale internationally by providing expert advice on market expansion, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), partnerships, and market analysis.
Following are several takeaways from our conversation.
- Microsoft's transformation was driven by a new worldview.
- True organizational transformation requires a shift in organizational culture.
- Courage and self-awareness are crucial for leaders to execute on a culture change.
- Operationalizing culture change is essential for success.
- Revenue models must adapt during transformation.
- Defining success goes beyond traditional metrics.
- Engaging with customers is key to business strategy.
- Leaders must embrace continuous learning and curiosity.
- Cultural change can be intentional and achievable.
Contact Information:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/takuya-hirano/
Three Fields Advisors: https://www.threefieldsadvisors.com/
Podcast Sponsor: www.starquestgroup.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/starquest-group/?viewAsMember=true
Tom Athenour: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomathenour/