What can the former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster teach us about AI, leadership, education, and resilience?

In this wide-ranging conversation, James Keyes shares untold stories from the front lines of corporate transformation. He reveals how perception, not technology, doomed Blockbuster... why 7-Eleven Japan's secret weapon wasn't AI, but human insight... and how his bold vision for an education operating system could unlock opportunity for millions.

From growing up in poverty to leading iconic global brands, Jim reflects on the power of mindset, curiosity, and lifelong learning. He challenges common assumptions about failure, innovation, and the future of work, and makes a passionate case for why education is freedom.

He also asks (and answers!) the provocative question: "What if education worked more like an operating system?"

Topics we cover include:

• AI and the future of decision-making
• Lessons from Blockbuster’s misunderstood collapse
• Empowering frontline workers with tech (not replacing them)
• The cultural pressures that keep people from standing out
• Why the U.S. needs a national education operating system
• How astronauts and CEOs experience the “overview effect”

If you're a tech leader, educator, innovator, or lifelong learner, this episode will change how you think about leadership and what it means to build a better future.

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Connect with Fanny Dunagan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fannydunagan/

Connect with Jim Keyes on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-keyes-a0947215/

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Why They Call Him the “Corporate Yoda” of Leadership and Innovation

04:15 How Curiosity Became the Secret Weapon Behind Every Great Leader

06:43 From Poverty to CEO: The Power of Education to Change a Life

10:36 Teachers, Mentorship & the Unsung Heroes Who Shape the Future

16:06 What he's learned About Leadership, Grit & Excellence

18:45 The Hard Truth: Why Standing Out at Work Makes People Uncomfortable

23:05 Change = Opportunity: The Mindset Every CEO Needs in Times of Disruption

25:51 How 7-Eleven Japan Used Data & Technology to Revolutionize Retail