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The Peering Podcast

The Peering Podcast

By: Mike Richardson
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 Peers chatting about the demand upon leaders these days, peering into the challenges of collective intelligence and agility to remain future proofed in the face of accelerating disruptive change. With your hosts Mike Richardson and colleagues, we will be peering into how the peer power fuels leaders powered by collective intelligence and wisdom. The Best Way to see the Future is to Peer into it Together.© 2025 Mike Richardson Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Navigating the AI Era: Why Technology Leaders Need Peer Forums Now More Than Ever

    Navigating the AI Era: Why Technology Leaders Need Peer Forums Now More Than Ever
    Dec 22 2025
    Technology leaders face unprecedented challenges in the AI era, caught between rapid technological advancement and the human complexities of organizational change. This episode explores why peer forums have become mission-critical for technology executives who must navigate getting a "seat at the table," managing AI implementation risks, and balancing technical expertise with leadership development.The conversation reveals that technology leaders often struggle with being seen as strategic partners rather than "technology plumbers" within their organizations. With AI democratizing powerful tools, non-technical leaders are making technology decisions without understanding security, compliance, and change management implications. This creates both opportunity and risk—technology leaders can elevate their strategic importance but must also protect their organizations from costly mistakes.Scott Krawitz introduces the concept of "conscious AI"—a two-pronged approach that combines humanistic technology leadership with personal consciousness development. The first side focuses on implementing AI responsibly through change management and communication strategies that elevate existing teams rather than simply cutting headcount. The second side emphasizes developing conscious leadership skills that AI cannot replicate, including emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and ethical decision-making.Peer forums provide the unique environment where technology leaders can process these complex challenges through three key components: educational sessions with expert speakers, roundtable discussions for sharing and self-assessment, and case processing where members bring their most pressing issues for collective problem-solving. This 2% monthly time investment helps technology leaders navigate the other 98% of their work with greater confidence, courage, and strategic clarity.HighlightsTechnology leaders must shift from being seen as "necessary evils" to strategic differentiators who can drive revenue and customer retentionEmployees are technology customers whose satisfaction directly impacts retention and organizational performanceAI implementation requires balancing democratization with security, compliance, and change management considerationsPeer forums provide the only space where technology leaders can be fully transparent about business and personal challengesConscious leadership development is becoming the human edge that AI cannot replicate in organizational contextsImportant Concepts and FrameworksConscious AI — A two-sided framework combining humanistic technology implementation with personal consciousness developmentLink: Conscious AI: Capabilities and the Future AheadPeer Forum Methodology — Structured approach combining education, roundtable sharing, and case processing for executive developmentLink: Peer Advisory Groups for Executives & CEOs | VistageAI Implementation Framework — Responsible approach balancing innovation with security and change managementLink: AI Implementation Framework for Success: CIO's 6-Step GuideTechnology Leadership Development — Systematic approach to developing both technical and human leadership capabilitiesLink: Five Emerging Technologies In Leadership DevelopmentTools & Resources MentionedREF (Renaissance Executive Forums) — Peer advisory organization providing structured forum experiences for executivesCenter for Creative Leadership — Nonprofit organization specializing in executive coaching and leadership development BHMS — Electronic medical record platform specifically designed for residential addiction treatment centersCalls to ActionAssess whether your technology leaders have a true peer forum experience where they can be fully transparent about challengesImplement opening meditations or mindfulness practices in team meetings to develop conscious leadership skillsCreate structured opportunities for technology leaders to share AI implementation experiences and lessons learnedEvaluate how your organization views technology leadership—as strategic partners or tactical implementersDevelop communication strategies that position AI as a tool for elevating human potential rather than replacing itKey Quotes"Technology can be a revenue stream, it can help with customer retention" — Scott Krawitz"Employees are technology customers as well" — Scott Krawitz"AI is a massive disruptive opportunity" — Scott Krawitz"What are you doing to grow in significance?" — Scott Krawitz"The human edge will always be our conscious selves" — Scott KrawitzChapters00:00 — Introduction to Technology Leadership Challenges in the AI Era 01:15 — Scott Krawitz's Journey: From Commodore 64 to Conscious Leadership 06:27 — The Power of Peer Forums for Technology Executives 09:13 — Getting the Technology Seat at the Executive Table 15:23 — Employees as Technology Customers: The Retention Imperative 20:45 — AI Implementation Risks: Security, Compliance ...
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    42 mins
  • Navigating Life Sciences Leadership Through Peer Advisory Forums

    Navigating Life Sciences Leadership Through Peer Advisory Forums
    Dec 15 2025
    Life sciences CEOs face a unique paradox: they're leading companies at the forefront of medical innovation while navigating extreme uncertainty, complex regulatory environments, and intense pressure from investors. The higher they climb in their organizations, the fewer people they can turn to for honest, unbiased advice. This isolation isn't just emotionally draining—it directly impacts decision quality, company trajectory, and ultimately patient outcomes.David Crean, a seasoned investor, advisor, and mentor to life sciences CEOs, reveals how peer advisory forums provide the missing support system these leaders desperately need. With over 140 CEOs mentored and extensive experience across investment banking, venture capital, and peer facilitation, Crean understands the distinct challenges at different stages of a life sciences company's evolution.The fundamental problem for life sciences CEOs is the transition from existential risk to executional risk. Early-stage CEOs (pre-seed to Series A) face survival-level questions: Can we prove the biology? Will we secure funding? Their company's value hinges on one or two binary milestones. In contrast, more mature CEOs (Series B and beyond) confront executional challenges: How do we deliver consistently at scale? How do we maintain investor trust through predictable performance? This shift requires a complete leadership transformation—one that doesn't happen by accident but must be designed intentionally.Peer advisory forums address this leadership gap through what host Mike Richardson calls the "hall of mirrors" effect. When CEOs bring their biggest challenges to a confidential, non-competitive group of peers, every clarifying question and shared experience reverberates throughout the room. The member receiving advice benefits directly, but so does every other CEO who recognizes similar patterns in their own leadership. This collective intelligence becomes particularly powerful in life sciences, where leaders face specialized challenges like navigating FDA regulations, managing complex biologics manufacturing, and communicating with scientifically sophisticated investors.Crean identifies five consistent themes facing life sciences CEOs in 2026: rigorous capital prioritization, balanced investor communication, operational overwhelm with advanced modalities, talent and culture pressures, and profound leadership loneliness. The last challenge—loneliness—is the most underestimated. A Korn Ferry study reveals that 71% of U.S. CEOs experience imposter syndrome, validating the common phrase "it's lonely at the top." This isolation creates decision-making blind spots that can prove costly in an industry where missteps compound quickly.The solution lies in structured peer support systems like the REF Life Sciences CEO Forum that Crean is launching. These forums provide what he calls "CEO therapy"—a safe space to unpack everything from board conflicts and C-suite challenges to personal crises that impact professional performance. The value extends beyond tactical advice to what one CEO described as "inner growth": increased confidence, composure, and the realization that they're not alone in their struggles.The time investment paradox—"I'm too busy to attend a half-day monthly meeting"—is precisely why CEOs need peer forums. As Richardson illustrates with the story of Mark Nielsen, who initially thought he didn't have time but later led the acquisition of REF San Diego after 12 years of membership, the 2% time investment transforms the remaining 98% through better decision-making, clearer priorities, and reduced isolation.For life sciences CEOs carrying the dual burden of business success and patient impact, peer advisory forums offer more than strategic insights—they provide the psychological support system that makes sustainable leadership possible in an industry where the stakes couldn't be higher.HighlightsTransition leadership mindset from survival-focused to execution excellence as your company matures beyond Series A fundingLeverage pattern recognition from experienced peers who've already navigated the terrain you're enteringCreate psychological safety to admit "I don't know" and improve decision quality through collective intelligenceAddress the 71% imposter syndrome rate among CEOs by normalizing uncertainty and leadership challengesInvest 2% of your time in peer forums to transform the remaining 98% through better strategic clarityBuild a confidential support system for navigating board conflicts, investor relations, and personal crisesDevelop the inner composure needed to lead through the unique pressures of life sciences innovationImportant Concepts and FrameworksExistential vs. Executional Risk — The fundamental shift from survival-focused leadership (can we raise money, prove the biology?) to scale-focused leadership (can we deliver consistently and predictably?)Pattern Recognition — The advantage gained from learning with peers who ...
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    52 mins
  • Overcoming Executive Isolation Through Global Peer Advisory

    Overcoming Executive Isolation Through Global Peer Advisory
    Nov 24 2025
    Global executives face unique challenges that traditional leadership development programs fail to address. Operating across multiple time zones, navigating diverse cultural contexts, and managing accelerated business cycles creates a perfect storm of isolation and decision-making pressure. The velocity of change in today's global economy, amplified by AI and geopolitical uncertainty, demands new support systems for leaders who can't commit to local in-person peer forums due to their demanding travel schedules.Philip Guarino, a seasoned global executive with experience across 140+ countries, shares how his multicultural upbringing and extensive international career revealed the critical need for specialized peer support. The Global Executive Forum addresses this gap through monthly virtual meetings that combine expert speakers with structured case method discussions. This approach creates a confidential space where leaders can bring real business challenges—from hiring decisions to personal crises—and benefit from collective intelligence across diverse industries and geographies.The forum's power comes from its "hall of mirrors" effect, where every question and insight benefits all participants, not just the case presenter. This structure helps combat the 71% of CEOs who report experiencing imposter syndrome, providing a trusted network that understands the unique pressures of global leadership. The format includes educational components, case presentations, and access to a network of international ambassadors who extend the forum's value through specialized expertise and connections.HighlightsOvercome executive isolation through confidential peer-to-peer problem solvingNavigate cultural differences in decision-making styles and urgency definitionsLeverage collective intelligence across diverse industries and geographiesAccess structured case method discussions for real business challengesCombat imposter syndrome with trusted peer validation and supportAccelerate adaptation to AI-driven business velocity and disruptionBuild global networks that understand cross-border leadership pressuresImportant Concepts and FrameworksPeer Advisory Groups — Structured forums for confidential peer-to-peer problem solvingLink: https://performanceleadershipintl.com/what-is-a-peer-advisory-group-and-why-do-business-leaders-need-oneCollective Intelligence — Group problem-solving that exceeds individual capabilitiesLink: https://www.undp.org/acceleratorlabs/smarter-together/what-collective-intelligenceCase Method — Harvard-developed approach to learning through real-world scenariosLink: https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/casesImposter Syndrome in Leadership — Psychological pattern affecting 71% of CEOsLink: https://www.kornferry.com/about-us/press/71percent-of-us-ceos-experience-imposter-syndrome-new-korn-ferry-research-findsTools & Resources MentionedVirtual Advisory Board — Organization for improving board governance skills and networkingLink: https://www.virtualadvisoryboard.co.uk/Harvard Data Science Review — Interdisciplinary publication democratizing AI and data scienceLink: https://hdsr.mitpress.mit.edu/Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs — University's largest alumni association with 22,000 membersLink: https://harvardae.org/Calls to ActionSchedule an exploratory conversation about joining the Global Executive ForumIdentify current business challenges that would benefit from peer inputAssess your organization's approach to supporting global executive developmentResearch how peer advisory groups can complement existing leadership developmentEvaluate the impact of isolation on your decision-making effectivenessKey Quotes"When leaders have to make decisions in rapidly shifting dynamics" — Philip Guarino"71% of American CEOs self-report that they experience imposter syndrome" — Mike Richardson"The real magic happens in the collective sharing" — Philip Guarino"It's lonely at the top isn't just a cliche, it's a reality" — Mike Richardson"You have to be intellectually and culturally nimble" — Philip GuarinoChapters00:00 — Introducing the Global Executive Forum Solution02:33 — Philip Guarino's Multicultural Leadership Journey08:01 — Navigating 140+ Countries of Business Experience11:26 — AI and Data Science in Global Leadership14:54 — Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Network Impact17:33 — Addressing Executive Isolation Through Peer Support21:25 — The Reality of Imposter Syndrome in Leadership27:42 — Global Executive Forum Structure and Methodology32:06 — The Power of Collective Intelligence Across Industries35:34 — Creating Safe Spaces for Business and Personal Challenges39:42 — Launching the Virtual Global Leadership Community=====This Episode's GuestPhilip GuarinoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-guarino/=====About the Host Mike Richardson – Agility, Peer Power & Collective IntelligenceWebsite: https://mikerichardson.live/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/...
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    41 mins
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