608: Harvard Professor and former CEO of Medtronic, Bill George, on How Leaders Should Manage Challenging Times
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
Release Date: 12/08/2025
617: Inc 5000 fastest growing company on Psychology behind leadership influence and human behavior (with MichaelAaron Flicker)
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
Michael explains that people often struggle because “adding and adding must be more effective,” yet humans are “more confident when just one advantage is presented.” He shares that Five Guys succeeded because they “only do burgers and fries” and that “if you say you are best at one thing most of all, they’re more likely to believe that.” He emphasizes that “buyers…have a top force-ranked prioritization of the most important thing,” and focusing on the thing you are “best in the world at” is “more believable and more memorable.” On pricing, he notes that...
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616: NYU Stern’s Prof on How AI Is Rewriting the Future of Work (with Ben Zweig)
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
When most executives discuss AI, they focus on automation. Dr. Ben Zweig, NYU Stern professor and CEO of Revelio Labs, explains why the real disruption isn’t machines replacing people, it’s our failure to rethink how work is structured. “Labor markets are not as sophisticated as capital markets,” Ben explains. “We allocate capital efficiently, but not labor. That’s a huge weakness in how our economy operates.” In this conversation, we explore: Why every company must learn job architecture, seeing jobs not as titles, but as bundles of tasks that must constantly evolve. The...
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615: $12B Investment Firm CEO on Saving the American Dream (with Mark Matson)
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
In this conversation, Mark explains that “we often build our lives on things we are certain about that simply are not true.” He describes how “we don’t actually see the world… we see screens of how we think the world is.” He explains that these screens create “a double paradox” shaping what we think is safe, what we think is risky, and how we choose to act. Mark describes the difference between someone who sees a large employer as stability versus an entrepreneur who sees it as danger, saying “which screen is right? Well, it depends on which screen is going to give you more...
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614: Why Executive Leaders Feel Lonely
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
Adam McGraw is a Fortune 100 VP turned entrepreneur and co-founder of a leadership community. “We try and really curate it for folks that are in the VP and above through CEOs as well, founders, etc., so that they have this kind of safe white space atmosphere to really consistently plug in and build community.” “Not just transact network-wise in things that are typically narrow and niche… we really love the idea of a melting pot for leaders.” “This is kind of the new normal: constant change, constant uncertainty, constant transition.” “Being in crew keeps me grounded and...
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613: Microsoft CTO on AI, Human Agency and the Future of Work
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
Technology is reshaping the world at a pace few people, inside or outside the industry, expected. But every so often, you meet someone who has not only witnessed the major waves of technological change, but helped build them. In this conversation, Marcus Fontoura, Technical Fellow and Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, CTO for Azure Core, walks us through the story of AI, what leaders are getting wrong, and how to develop the one thing that will matter more than any model or algorithm: human agency. Marcus has lived through every major inflection point: early search, the rise of cloud...
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612: How to Have More Hope with Dr. Julia Garcia
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
In this episode, Dr. Julia Garcia explains why hope is a habit and why it is critical for us to remove what blocks hope. She describes what happens inside teams when leaders lose hope, including “the culture that creates, the burnout that leads to, the discouragement and defeat.” Julia shows how unprocessed emotions drain leaders even when they appear high-functioning. “If we emotionally feel disconnected, we’re going to start looking elsewhere or we’re going to end up in a place of hopelessness where maybe we completely shut down in our career and now we’re just a robot.” One of...
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611: Former U.S. Intelligence Officer on AI, Leadership, and Thinking Like a Spy (with Anthony Vinci)
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
In this conversation, Anthony Vinci explains that “AI is going to be able to do more and more of what people do.” He describes a future where “AI is going to get better and better at doing what people do,” and highlights that leaders must understand “how do you figure out what AI is good at and then implement it to do that” and “how do you manage your workforce so that they are able to partner with that AI.” He warns that leaders often “overestimate what AI can do and underestimate it at the same time,” and stresses the importance of “getting that balance right.” As he...
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610: Cas Holman on Play, Creativity, and the Future of Work
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
When was the last time you played, really played? For Cas Holman, founder and chief designer of Heroes Will Rise and star of Netflix’s Abstract: The Art of Design, play isn’t childish. It’s the foundation of human creativity, resilience, and connection. She worked with LEGO, Disney Imagineering, and the LEGO Foundation and on a mission to help adults rediscover what children know instinctively: that play is how we learn, adapt, and feel alive. “Play isn’t what happens after work,” Cas explains. “It’s how we manage uncertainty. It’s how we cope, experiment, and find our way...
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609: UCLA Professor and MD on How Gravity Shapes Your Health and Mind
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
Dr. Brennan Spiegel, Director of Health Services Research at Cedars-Sinai and Professor of Medicine and Public Health at UCLA, author of the book Pull, explains why illness is often a failure to manage gravity. He describes how our relationship with gravity defines strength, balance, digestion, mental stability, and emotional health. Take the Gravotype Quiz at to identify how your body manages gravity. Key Insights and Action Steps — Dr. Brennan Spiegel “Every single cell of your body evolved from this force of gravity. Physics came first, and biology came second.” Illness arises...
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608: Harvard Professor and former CEO of Medtronic, Bill George, on How Leaders Should Manage Challenging Times
The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving
Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic and Harvard Business School Executive Fellow, explains how leaders can stay grounded, principled, and effective in chaotic times. “It’s a world of chaos and it requires a very different kind of leader than in more stable times.” The skills that once mattered (process control, long-term plans) are now secondary to courage, self-awareness, and moral clarity. George says most executives still lead comfortably “inside the walls” but fear the external world (media, public scrutiny, and rapid change). “Today, if you’re a leader, you are a public...
info_outlineBill George, former CEO of Medtronic and Harvard Business School Executive Fellow, explains how leaders can stay grounded, principled, and effective in chaotic times.
“It’s a world of chaos and it requires a very different kind of leader than in more stable times.” The skills that once mattered (process control, long-term plans) are now secondary to courage, self-awareness, and moral clarity.
George says most executives still lead comfortably “inside the walls” but fear the external world (media, public scrutiny, and rapid change). “Today, if you’re a leader, you are a public figure. You have to face that reality.”
Leadership now starts with knowing your True North, your values and principles. “When everything’s going your way, you start to think you’re better than you are. When you lose, you learn your weaknesses.”
He warns: “The people who will struggle are those faking it to make it. They’re trying to impress the outside world but aren’t grounded inside.”
Purpose, not position, defines identity. “A CEO once said, ‘Without a title, I’m nothing.’ You won’t hold that title forever. Who are you then?”
True fulfillment comes from alignment between personal purpose and work. “Every business has a deep sense of purpose if it’s well run. The ones that only make money, like GE, go away.”
He lists five traits of leaders who thrive in crisis:
- Face reality.
- Stay true to values.
- Adapt strategies fast.
- Engage your team.
- Go on offense when others retreat.
Each requires courage. “You can’t teach courage in a classroom. It has to come from within.”
He urges humility: “Leadership is all about relationships, it’s a two-way street.” His turning point came when he stopped “building a résumé” and started building people.
He defines authentic leadership as growth through feedback: “I never walk into a classroom unless I’m going to learn from everyone there.”
And he closes with the core message: “You don’t have to be CEO. If you can do great work and help others, you’ll feel fulfilled. Leaders make the difference between success and failure.”
Key Insights (Verbatim Quotes)
1. Chaos demands a new kind of leader.
“It’s a world of chaos and it requires a very different kind of leader than in more stable times.”
2. Authenticity starts with grounding.
“Our true north is our principles, our beliefs, and our values all rolled into one.”
3. Titles are temporary.
“I am not the CEO of Best Buy. …That’s the title I hold. I won’t hold that forever.”
4. Courage separates real leaders.
“You can’t teach courage in a classroom. It has to come from within.”
5. Purpose drives resilience.
“Every business has a deep sense of purpose if it’s well run.”
6. Leadership is relational.
“I was building a résumé, not relationships. Leadership is all about relationships.”
7. Fear destroys authenticity.
“A lot of people are living in fear. That’s no way to live your life.”
8. Great leaders empower others.
“You want everyone on your team to be better than you are at what they do.”
9. Growth never ends.
“Anyone who’s authentic knows they have to continue to grow as a human being.”
10. True success is internal.
“You’ll never have enough power, fame, or money. You find fulfillment within.”
Action Items
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“Face reality, starting with yourself.” Look in the mirror and ask, “Maybe I’m creating this negative culture. What did I do wrong?”
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“Stay true to your purpose and your values.” Never abandon principles when pressure rises.
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“Adapt your strategies and tactics.” What worked yesterday may not work today.
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“Get your team involved.” Say, “Hey guys, we’ve got a real problem. What ideas do you have to keep it going?”
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“Go on offense when everyone else is pulling back.” Make bold moves when others retreat.
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“Have the courage to look yourself in the mirror.” Courage starts with self-reflection.
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Ask, “What’s the worst case? What do I have to lose?” and move forward without fear.
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“If one door closes, maybe another one’s going to open that I never even saw.”
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“Know who you are.” Reflect on your life story, relationships, and crucibles that shaped you.
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“Don’t get caught up in titles or money.” Remember, “Without a title I’m nothing” leads nowhere.
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“Find a congruence between your purpose and the organization’s purpose.”
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“Every business has a deep sense of purpose if it’s well run.” Identify how yours helps people.
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“Get away from toxic leaders.” If they drive you down, take credit for your work, or never support you, move on.
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“Work for people you feel really good about working with.”
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“Learn all aspects of the business and how to integrate them creatively.”
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“Pull together a cross-disciplinary team” and act as the integrator.
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“Have everyone on your team be better than you are at what they do.”
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“Be the glue.” Integrate experts to solve tough problems.
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“Care about your people first.” They must know you care before they’ll perform.
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“Get everyone into their sweet spot” — where they use all their skills and are highly motivated.
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“Align everyone around purpose and goals.”
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“Challenge people to reach their full potential.” Say, “I know you can do better. Let’s take your game to the next level.”
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“Get out there and be with the people.” Don’t hide behind PowerPoints.
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“Help your people do better.” Work beside them.
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“Believe in someone who doesn’t believe in themselves.” Tell them, “You have this potential. Go for it.”
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“Find someone who believes in you.” A mentor, boss, or spouse who sees your potential.
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“As a leader, be that person who believes in others.”
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“Face your blind spots.” Ask people who care about you for honest feedback.
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“If you get feedback from people that care about you, take it in.”
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“Stop building a résumé and start building relationships.”
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“Take time for people. Ask, ‘How are you doing today? What challenges are you facing?’”
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“Leadership is all about relationships — it’s a two-way street.”
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“Tell the truth — the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
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“Stay away from blame.” Take responsibility instead of pointing fingers.
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“Be transparent.” Don’t hide problems; fix them.
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“Never fake it to make it.”
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“Keep growing as a human being.”
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“Take feedback and adapt.” Growth requires awareness of impact on others.
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“Believe in yourself even if you fail.” Failure is learning.
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“Spend time reflecting on your purpose and the person you are becoming.”
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“Help other people reach their full potential.”
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“Measure success by how many people you help every day.”
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“Remember: leadership is about who you are, not what title you hold.”
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