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Redefiners

Redefiners

By: Russell Reynolds Associates
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 Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries and around the globe are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to create extraordinary impact in today’s rapidly changing world. In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates former CEO Clarke Murphy, Leadership Advisor Marla Oates, and Chief Science Officer Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who share their insights and perspectives on how they lead, boldly. You’ll come away with fresh ideas and tangible takeaways on how you can redefine your own leadership trajectory—no matter where you are on your journey. Leadership Lounge A sister mini-series to the Redefiners podcast, Leadership Lounge gives listeners unfettered access to our global team of leadership experts, who share real-world answers to your most-pressing leadership questions—from how you can give and receive feedback to the benefits of having a mentor. Hosted by RRA leadership advisor Emma Combe, each 15-20-minute episode lifts the curtain on how great leaders think, act, and lead, helping you build your own leadership muscles, whether you’re just starting out or already at the top. Our Hosts: Clarke Murphy, Marla Oates, Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, and Emma Combe : Clarke Murphy leverages 30 years of experience in the executive recruiting industry to advise on critical leadership mandates across sectors—including Fortune 100 board searches and CEO successions. Based in New York, he has provided leadership advisory services to corporations such as Duke Energy, Deutsche Bank and Siemens, as well as private equity firms including the Carlyle Group. Since joining the firm in 1988, Clarke has held several senior level roles at the firm, working both in Europe and the US. Clarke was the CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates from 2011-2021, where he led the firm through unprecedented growth. Previously, he led the CEO & Board Advisory Practice, served as Head of the Americas region, and was a member of the firm’s board of directors and Executive Committee. Marla Oates is a leadership advisor at RRA who is passionate about connecting organizations with influential leaders and trailblazers who can inspire and drive change in a rapidly evolving world. With a focus on identifying and recruiting exceptional talent for Chief Financial Officer, Chief People Officer, and board searches, Marla has successfully partnered with hundreds of Fortune 500 organizations and private equity firms throughout the technology, industrial, and consumer sectors to identify and recruit top talent.Based in Austin, she has the privilege of fostering community and curating meaningful connections for C-suite executives and board members. Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the Chief Science Officer at RRA and is an international authority in people analytics, talent management, leadership development, and the human-AI interface. His commercial work has focused on the creation of science-based tools that improve organizations' ability to predict performance, and people's ability to understand themselves. He was recently the Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup, and is a co-founder of DeeperSignals and MyTrudy, as well as Professor of Business Psychology at University College London and Columbia University. He has previously held academic positions at New York University and the London School of Economics, and lectured at Harvard Business School, Stanford Business School, London Business School, Johns Hopkins, IMD, and INSEAD, as well as being the CEO at Hogan Assessment Systems. As the host of Leadership Lounge, Redefiners’ sister podcast, Emma Combe leads the UK Board Practice for Russell Reynolds Associates. She excels at identifying board chairs, CEOs, and executive and non-executive directors for listed, private equity, and family-owned enterprises. She also has extensive experience advising clients on board composition and development, as well as CEO succession planning. Based in London, she brings deep expertise in the industrial, infrastructure, and services sectors, both in the UK and internationally. Since 2023, Emma has hosted Leadership Lounge, a podcast mini-series where she asks Russell Reynolds Associates’ leadership advisors to answer some of the most pressing questions facing leaders today. Emma joined Russell Reynolds Associates when The Zygos Partnership became part of the firm in 2017. Previously, Emma worked for a specialist headhunting firm advising private equity funds on the leadership of their portfolio companies. She began her career as an associate for a boutique executive search firm based in New York.Copyright 2024 Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • All in the Family: Leadership Lessons from the World’s Biggest Family Offices with Stephan Roche

    All in the Family: Leadership Lessons from the World’s Biggest Family Offices with Stephan Roche
    Mar 25 2026

    Since the establishment of the first family offices in the 19th century, there are now more than 8,000 single family offices globally. These offices hold over $5 trillion in total estimated wealth today, an amount expected to grow to over $9 trillion by 2030.

    In today’s Redefiners episode, Marla Oates and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic talk with Stephan Roche, a Partner with BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors. His previous roles included CEO of Walton Enterprises – the philanthropic and private investment group for the Walton family – and COO of Cascade Asset Management – the private investment office for Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation. Stephan talks about the importance of purpose in a family office and how he navigates decision making with family members who may have a different perspective when it comes to the family wealth strategy. He shares his thoughts on the role of philanthropy and impact in a family office. And he talks about the importance of developing next generation leaders to ensure they’re ready to take on the leadership and governance roles of a family office.

    We’ll also hear from Jeff Warren, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates, who will share what truly distinguishes today’s most effective family office leaders—and why the role is more complex than ever.

    Four things you’ll learn from this episode:

    1. The key traits needed to be a successful family office leader, including navigating decision making with family members
    2. The roles of leadership, power, philanthropy and impact in family offices
    3. The critical need to develop next generation leaders in a family office
    4. How family office leaders can avoid falling into the Tradition Trap to ensure success and longevity

    If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:

    • Sweet Success: How Mars Blends Family, Values, and Growth with former Mars SVP & Head of Corporate Development Valerie Mars
    • Leadership Lounge: How can family enterprise leaders stay ahead in a fast-changing world?
    • Leading with a North Star: Former Decathlon CEO Barbara Martin Coppola's Blueprint for Bold Change
    • Leadership Lounge | Ep. 27 - How to Create and Maintain Impact as a Leader
    • Private Investment Guru David Rubenstein Goes Public on How to Be a Successful Leader & Investor
    • Leadership Lounge: Generation Collaboration: How Leaders Can Harness the Power of Multi-Generational Teams

    Learn more with the latest research from Russell Reynolds Associates:

    • Inside the Mind of the Family Office Leader
    • Tomorrow’s Too Late: Why Family Enterprises Must Transform Today 


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    36 mins
  • Leadership Lounge: How GenAI Can Elevate—And Expose—Today’s Leaders

    Leadership Lounge: How GenAI Can Elevate—And Expose—Today’s Leaders
    Mar 11 2026
    Generative AI is reshaping how leaders think, decide, and communicate. Used thoughtfully, it can sharpen strategic thinking and accelerate decision-making. But when GenAI output replaces genuine insight, it can expose leaders who can't defend their thinking under pressure. In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe sits down with Amy Scissons, Sean Dineen, and Fawad Bajwa to explore how senior leaders can harness GenAI's potential while avoiding its pitfalls. They discuss: How C-suite leaders are using GenAI in their work The growing concern about "workslop"—GenAI-generated output that lacks real insight The critical skills needed to pressure-test GenAI output and avoid shallow thinking Why transparency and accountability matter more as GenAI becomes embedded in workflows “Leaders carry a lot of wisdom. They need to feed that wisdom into AI and educate it. Context is king.” Sean Dineen, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates Four things you'll learn from this episode: 1. GenAI can elevate strategic thinking: senior leaders are using GenAI as a sparring partner to pressure-test decisions, create board personas, and refine their perspectives before high-stakes moments. 2. Polish doesn't equal depth: GenAI-generated output can look impressive, but it can also lack substance. Leaders who can't defend their thinking under scrutiny will be exposed. 3. Critical thinking is your competitive advantage: the ability to interrogate GenAI output, provide context, and apply wisdom separates leaders who use GenAI effectively from those who outsource their judgment. 4. Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable: leaders must own their outputs, regardless of how much GenAI contributed to the process. In this episode, we will cover: (02:00) Using GenAI as a sparring partner and creating board personas to pressure-test strategic thinking. (04:39) Why senior leaders should experiment with GenAI tools to build confidence before trusting them with critical decisions. (09:05) The personal risk for leaders who rely on seemingly polished GenAI output without developing their own point of view. (09:50) How GenAI can create false flattery and why leaders need to ask it to be critical. (10:50) Why credibility is a leader's currency—and how shallow GenAI-generated thinking can erode trust. (13.13) Why critical thinking—built through struggle and learning from mistakes—is the most essential leadership skill in a GenAI world. (16:20) The importance of transparency and accountability when using GenAI tools. (17:45) How GenAI output reflects your approach: clear and thoughtful inputs amplify clarity; rushed inputs amplify shallowness. A closer look at the research from this episode: Boston Consulting Group, AI at Work 2025: Momentum Builds, but Gaps Remain | BCG Russell Reynolds Associates, Season 5 - Ep. 2 | AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu | Redefiners - Podcast Series | Russell Reynolds Associates Harvard Business Review, AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity Russell Reynolds Associates, Global Leadership Monitor | Russell Reynolds Associates Russell Reynolds Associates, Season 3 - Ep. 18 | A Front Row Seat to the AI Revolution with Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith – Part 2 | Redefiners - Podcast Series | Russell Reynolds Associates
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    19 mins
  • Transformation in Turbulent Times with Former Telstra CEO Andy Penn

    Transformation in Turbulent Times with Former Telstra CEO Andy Penn
    Feb 25 2026

    Transformation continues to be the word at the top of leaders’ minds. Whether it’s due to changes in technology with AI, market shifts, the regulatory landscape, or unexpected global events, leaders are looking to transform their organization’s operations and culture to be more agile, innovative, and resilient.

    In today’s Redefiners, Marla Oates and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic talk with former Telstra CEO and managing Director, Andy Penn, about how he led the transformation of Australia’s largest telecommunications company. Andy shares what it was like stepping into the CEO role at Telstra at a turbulent time for the company, its customers, and the board. He talks about the key lessons he learned leading a multi-year company-wide transformation effort, and how he put the right team and culture together to get it done. He also talks about his current roles in cybersecurity, providing critical insights on how to prepare for and deter cyber-attacks.

    We’ll also hear from Tuck Rickards, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates, who will discuss what he believes is the leadership formula for effective AI transformation.

    Four things you’ll learn from this episode:

    1. The key steps and KPIs when implementing a transformation project
    2. Tips on putting together the right leadership team and organizational culture to help make reinvention happen
    3. How to prepare for cyber-security risks while balance the productivity benefits of AI projects
    4. How to successfully transition from CEO to board and advisory roles

    If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:

    • Talking Transformational Leadership with RRA’s CEO Constantine Alexandrakis
    • Leadership Lounge: How to Build a Top-Performing C-suite: The Leadership Blueprint for Sustained High Performance
    • Trust Your Gut: AXA’s Thomas Buberl Talks Transformation and Reinvention
    • Leadership Lounge: From Firefighting to Future-Building: How Leaders Can Master Perpetual Transformation
    • Driving Transformation with Volvo Cars President and CEO Jim Rowan
    • Leadership Lounge: Unleashing AI’s potential: Are you ready to lead the charge?

    Learn more with the latest research from Russell Reynolds Associates:

    • Adapt or Die in the Age of Perpetual Transformation
    • Why Most AI Transformations Fail Before They Start


    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
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