Whether it’s your first leadership role or one you’ve entered after decades of leading people, one thing is sure: your first 90 days in a new position can make or break your tenure.

In today’s conversation, Daniel and Peter look at what leaders should and shouldn’t do during their first 90 days. “It’s not a standard checklist for everybody,” says Peter, “and not everybody’s going to come in and do it the exact same way.”

Tune in to learn:

• Why you shouldn’t spend your entire 90 days listening
• The danger of focusing on your favorite aspects of your role
• How to cultivate a good working relationship with your boss

Plus, a fun conversation about the origins of some of the most iconic American companies–and the lessons a huge pivot can offer leaders.

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

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Listen to The Leadership Growth Podcast New episodes every other Tuesday!

https://open.spotify.com/show/6tYdz1gQAxHIQMeNXtkA3z?si=5cf424f1e2954749

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-growth-podcast/id1726606341

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Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/

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Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

https://stewartleadership.com/ten-ways-to-successfully-launch-into-your-first-90-days/

https://stewartleadership.com/10-tips-to-maximize-your-impact-in-your-first-90-days/

https://stewartleadership.com/what-c-level-executives-need-for-their-first-100-days/

https://stewartleadership.com/how-to-win-over-the-team-when-replacing-a-beloved-manager-2/

https://stewartleadership.com/10-questions-to-help-you-manage-up/

https://stewartleadership.com/changing-your-approach-leading-different-processing-styles/

https://stewartleadership.com/the-power-of-imagination-in-planning/

https://stewartleadership.com/manage-your-energy-not-your-time/

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#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcast #first90days

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

When it comes to AI, just about everyone is experiencing some “fear of missing out” right now, says Melissa Reeve. “It’s not just executives. It’s not just your average individual. It’s even people who are writing the code.”

Humans are “not equipped to absorb these changes so quickly,” she says.

Melissa is the creator of the Hyperadaptive Model and author of Hyperadaptive: Rewiring the Enterprise to Become AI-Native. She spent 25 years as an executive and Agile thought leader, which led to pioneering work in Agile marketing and her role as the first VP of Marketing at Scaled Agile. She also co-founded the Agile Marketing Alliance.

In this conversation with Daniel and Peter, Melissa discusses how organizations can shift into a 21st Century model with AI integration.

Tune in to learn:

• What an AI-native organization looks like
• What most organizations are missing when it comes to AI integration
• What precedence can teach us about how to integrate AI

Using examples like McDonald’s, Unilever, and Moderna, Melissa shows that AI isn’t just for programmers–it’s a leap forward that can improve organizational operations and work environments for everyone.

Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

—

Listen to The Leadership Growth Podcast!

https://open.spotify.com/show/6tYdz1gQAxHIQMeNXtkA3z?si=5cf424f1e2954749

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-growth-podcast/id1726606341

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Resources and Links

Hyperadaptive: Rewiring the Enterprise to Become AI-Native (IT Revolution link) (Amazon link)

“The Five Stages of Becoming AI-Native: The Hyperadaptive Model” (article)

Hyperadaptive Solutions website

Melissa Reeve LinkedIn

“The Overlooked Key to Leading Through Chaos,” MIT Sloan Management Review “Sensemaking” Article

#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Do you have 27 years of experience or one year repeated 27 times?

Too many people find themselves stuck on repeat in their careers–doing the same thing over and over without new challenges or opportunities. While it’s true that everyone bears some responsibility for personal career development, organizations should be part of that process as well.

In part two of their conversation about connecting strategy with talent development, Daniel and Peter look at how organizations can use the “3D” process to develop future-ready talent. This episode focuses on parts two and three of the process–Discuss and Develop.

Tune in to learn:

• The key steps in Discussion and Development of talent
• The vital question leaders often forget to ask when considering individuals for development
• The reason work quality isn’t always the most important consideration in a talent discussion

As organizations look ahead to development conversations in 2026 and beyond, the 3D process can be an important tool to put into use. “We’ve seen this process work across organizations,” says Peter. “It makes a difference in both the short- and the long-term.”

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

Listen to The Leadership Growth Podcast New episodes drop every other Tuesday!

https://www.youtube.com/@stewartleadershipvideos/featured

https://open.spotify.com/show/6tYdz1gQAxHIQMeNXtkA3z?si=5cf424f1e2954749

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-growth-podcast/id1726606341

Resources and Links

Nine-Box Performance Grid Template (Indeed): https://www.indeed.com/hire/c/info/nine-box-performance-grid

Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

• How to Create an Effective Action Plan for Development: https://stewartleadership.com/how-to-create-an-effective-action-plan-for-development/
• Connecting Strategy with Talent Development, Part 1: https://stewartleadership.com/six-tips-for-productive-career-conversations-with-your-team/
• 4 Suggestions for Giving Brain-Friendly Feedback: https://stewartleadership.com/4-suggestions-for-giving-brain-friendly-feedback/

#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #talentstrategy #talentdevelopment #successionplanning #leadershipcoaching #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcast

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

What does it mean to be a “flawless” leader?

And is “flawless” leadership even possible?

Today’s guest believes it is. Christian “Boo” Boucousis is an author, keynote speaker, and CEO of Afterburner, an organization dedicated to building flawless leaders by applying principles and systems fighter pilots use to perform to their exacting standards.

In this conversation with Daniel and Peter, Boo outlines what flawless leadership looks like, how systems can relieve the pressures of leading an organization, and the power of a few small mindset shifts.

Tune in to learn:

• The definition of iterative leadership
• The power of setting objectives and focusing on outcomes
• The right question to ask when it comes to AI

“If a leader can shift from saving the day into designing the wins, then all of a sudden we start to feel good,” says Boucousis. “My work is actually delivering results. This makes me feel good; it feels less like work now. It feels more like action.”

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stewartleadership/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stewartleadership/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewartleadership

Website: https://www.stewartleadership.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tYdz1gQAxHIQMeNXtkA3z?si=5cf424f1e2954749

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leadership-growth-podcast/id1726606341

Resources and Links

Afterburner, Inc. Website

Christian “Boo” Boucousis LinkedIn Page

The Afterburner Advantage Amazon Page

Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

• Leadership Growth Podcast Episode #51: Leading in the Age of AI

https://stewartleadership.com/leading-in-the-age-of-ai/

• The Difference Between Important and Urgent

https://stewartleadership.com/the-difference-between-important-and-urgent/

#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcast

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Complicated. Difficult. Overwhelming.

These are some of the most common words leaders use when facing talent development and succession planning. What positions are most critical, important, or essential? Who are the best candidates for development? And how can you connect it all to an overall strategy?

In today’s episode, Daniel and Peter break it down into a three-step process designed to give organizations a talent development framework that supports an overall strategy.

Tune in to learn:

• How to define a critical position
• How to identify the skills you need to develop
• What a talent profile is and why it’s important

Plus, two tips to help you start your talent development journey, and a few insights about what to do–and what not to do–at a big offsite meeting.

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

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Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

7 Ways Executives can Champion Learning and Development

5 Benefits of Investing in Leadership Development

6 Steps to Design a Leadership Development Strategy

Why HR Needs to Be Included in Strategic Planning

Elevating Your Role in Talent Strategy Planning

How Offsites can Jumpstart Leadership Development

11 Tips for Successful Team Offsite Meetings

Examples of Talent Philosophy Statements:

• "We believe in fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, empowering our employees to reach their full potential."
• "Our talent philosophy emphasizes the importance of open communication, transparency, and a collaborative environment where everyone's contributions are valued."
• "We are committed to identifying and developing high-potential employees, providing them with opportunities for growth and advancement within the company."

Typically, you can use the following as sentence starters:

• We are committed to ___________.
• We strive to_________.
• We believe in _________.

Consider building statements on any or all of these talent topics:

• Performance
• Development
• Accountability
• Transparency

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#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #talentstrategy #talentdevelopment #successionplanning #leadershipcoaching #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcast

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

Moving into a leadership role involves a lot more than just updating your e-mail signature with your new title.

It requires shifting your mindset from the things that made you a successful individual contributor to things that will make you a successful leader.

In today’s episode of The Leadership Growth Podcast, Daniel Stewart and Peter Stewart take a deep dive into what makes a successful leadership mindset–and how you can develop one.

Tune in to learn:

• How to define work differently as a leader
• What “leader work” looks like
• The “missing piece” that often makes leaders feel they aren’t being strategic
• What leaders can learn from Beyoncé
• The one thing leaders can do to adopt a leader mindset

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

Resources and Links

Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

• 7 Mindset Shifts that will Make You a Great Manager https://stewartleadership.com/7-mindset-shifts-that-will-make-you-a-great-manager/
• Leadership: It’s Not About You Anymore https://stewartleadership.com/leadership-its-not-about-you-anymore/
• Leadership Growth Podcast Episode 43: All Things Delegation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FkUxoYFu1c&list=PLyG0JrhEGeyz-x0jkaNIJtK4kRRiJEH8C&index=43
• How to Hit Your Leadership Recharge Button https://stewartleadership.com/how-to-hit-your-leadership-recharge-button/
• Leadership Growth Podcast Episode 48: Managing Generational Differences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ2TxmTQeCY&list=PLyG0JrhEGeyz-x0jkaNIJtK4kRRiJEH8C&index=48
• 6 Tips for Improving Your Active Listening Skills https://stewartleadership.com/6-tips-for-improving-your-active-listening-skills/
• 4 Ways to Encourage a Growth Mindset Culture https://stewartleadership.com/4-ways-to-encourage-a-growth-mindset-culture/
• 4 Ways to Encourage a Healthy Failure Culture https://stewartleadership.com/4-ways-to-encourage-a-healthy-failure-culture/

👍Like, Share, and Subscribe to help more leaders make the leap from individual contributor to manager and leader.

#LeadershipPodcast #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcast #ManagerDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

“AI might know more than you, but it doesn’t know better than you,” says Dr. Gena Hoxha in today’s episode.

Gena is the Chief People Officer and Chief AI Officer at Ignitium, a provider of world-class Account-Based Marketing (ABM) programs for enterprise organizations. She holds a PhD in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University and seeks to help leaders pursue AI integration with foresight, not fear.

In this conversation with Daniel and Peter, Gena shares her insights, predictions, and warnings about the current and future state of AI in the workplace.

Tune in to learn:

• Why AI will democratize leadership
• The biggest blind spot leaders have around AI
• How to address AI adoption pressure from senior leaders

“AI is not going to transform anything,” Gena says. “You as a leader–you are going to be the transformation catalyst.”

Learn more in this timely and lively conversation.

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

In this episode:

:29 – Introduction: Dr. Gena Hoxha

2:00 – Connecting AI and People

8:54 – Identity as a Leader in the AI Era

13:26 – AI as Mirror and Magnifier

18:08 – Is AI Your New Team Member?

23:16 – Using AI to Improve Leadership

27:24 – Addressing AI Pressure from Senior Leaders

33:22 – Embracing and Managing AI Adoption

Resources:

Dr. Gena Hoxha LinkedIn

Ignitium

Gartner Hype Cycle

Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

3 Human Needs to Retain Every Employee

6 Trends in Leadership and HR for 2025

10 Ways Our New AI Coach Can Grow Your Career

10 Cool Things Leaders Can Do With An AI Coach

AI-Powered Talent Retention

The AI-Integration Roadmap

Strategic Planning for Unpredictable Times

3 Tips for Leading Through Uncertainty

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

“It’s not about kind of handing away our decision-making rights,” says Dr. Reece Akhtar. “It’s about using AI as a tool–emphasis on a tool–to help us become smarter humans, not the other way around.”

Dr. Akhtar is the CEO of Deeper Signals, an end-to-end Soft Skills Intelligence platform designed to help organizations make smarter and fairer talent decisions. He is a contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes and co-author of the book, The Future of Recruitment: Using the New Science of Talent Analytics to Get Your Hiring Right.

In today’s episode, Reece joins Daniel and Peter for a look at the current landscape of AI-powered talent management and a discussion about the best balance and approach for integrating AI into an overall talent strategy.

Tune in to learn:

• The three things to get right about using AI in the hiring process
• Why good interviews are still vital to the hiring process
• The one thing to remember when introducing AI into the hiring process

Listeners who want to dip into the AI for HR waters can try the Deeper Signals assessment tool here.

Questions, comments, or topic ideas? Drop us an e-mail at podcast@stewartleadership.com.

In this episode:

1:07 – Introduction: Dr. Reece Akhtar

1:49 – The State of AI in Hiring

7:34 – Early Adoption to the Next Level

13:53 – Improving the Applicant Experience

23:02 – The Elements of Successful AI Adoption

27:18 – AI and the Interview Process

34:00 – Lightning Round

Resources:

Dr. Reece Akhtar LinkedIn

Deeper Signals

Deeper Signals Candidate Assessment Tool

The Future of Recruitment: Using the New Science of Talent Analytics to Get Your Hiring Right, Amazon

Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources:

3 Human Needs to Retain Every Employee

Developing Employee Personas: A Practical How-To Guide

The 7 Elements of Employee Experience

6 Trends in Leadership and HR for 2025

10 Ways Our New AI Coach Can Grow Your Career

10 Cool Things Leaders Can Do With An AI Coach

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.