Redefiners

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

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: The key traits needed to be a successful family office leader, including navigating decision making with family members The roles of leadership, power, philanthropy and impact in family offices The critical need to develop next generation leaders in a family office 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 

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

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

Transformation in Turbulent Times with Former Telstra CEO Andy Penn

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: The key steps and KPIs when implementing a transformation project Tips on putting together the right leadership team and organizational culture to help make reinvention happen How to prepare for cyber-security risks while balance the productivity benefits of AI projects 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

Leadership Lounge: How New CEOs Build Productive Relationships With Their Board

For new CEOs, few relationships matter more—and few are more complex—than the relationship with their board. The tone set in the first year can either establish the board as a powerful ally or create friction that slows progress. In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe is joined by three of our trusted leadership advisors Rusty O’Kelley, Anita Wingrove, and Ty Wiggins, to explore how new CEOs can build trust, alignment, and effective ways of working with their boards—and how that relationship evolves over time. They discuss: Why the CEO–board relationship is so critical in the first year of leadership What new CEOs should seek to understand about their board before and during the transition How transparency and candor build credibility and trust Where conflict most often arises between CEOs and boards—and how to navigate it constructively “You ultimately want their perspective on key matters. And for that, they need to have the unvarnished truth.” Ty Wiggins Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates Four things you’ll learn from this episode: Early engagement with board members helps new CEOs understand individual perspectives, priorities, and expectations—reducing the risk of misalignment later on. Clear priorities, timelines, and metrics give boards confidence and prevent anxiety from filling information gaps. Candor builds trust—boards are most effective when CEOs share the full picture, including challenges, alongside a clear plan forward. The CEO–board relationship must evolve over time, with periodic resets helping to maintain alignment. In this episode, we will cover: (01:45) Why the CEO–board relationship is critical in the first year (03:10) How new CEOs should prepare for working with multiple board perspectives (05:05) What to understand about the board during the selection and transition phase (10:30) What effective transparency with the board really looks like (13:40) How to share difficult news without undermining confidence (16:20) The most common sources of tension between CEOs and boards (18:55) Managing disagreement constructively and maintaining trust (24:10) When and how to reset expectations with the board over time (26:45) The most common mistakes new CEOs make—and how to avoid them A closer look at the research from this episode: CEO Transitions | Russell Reynolds Associates The New CEO | Russell Reynolds Associates

Leading with Faith and Purpose with His Eminence Cardinal Dolan

Leadership is crucial to provide vision, direction, and motivation, guiding individuals and organizations toward common goals and overall success. This is true whether it’s in business, society, or your local community. Today, Clarke Murphy sits down with His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, a well-known leader in the Catholic church, in the New York City community, and around the world. Cardinal Dolan shares his path to leadership roles in the Church and how he looks at developing the next generation of Church leaders. He talks about what goes into electing the next Pope and lessons on leading through uncertainty. He’ll explore the commonalities that business and religious leaders have when it comes to the challenge of earning and developing trust. And he shares his views on the role of faith in today’s world of technology and change. We’ll also hear from Dean Stamoulis, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates, who shares why thoughtful succession planning—and the responsible transfer of power—are essential to long-term leadership continuity.  Four things you’ll learn from this episode: The key insights business leaders can learn from religious leaders to help them build and maintain trust in their organizations The criteria that go into deciding who the next Pope will be and how to manage through leadership uncertainty The critical skills and traits to look for in the next generation of leaders His views on the role of faith today in a fast-changing world If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes: The Urgent Race to Create 800 Million Jobs: World Bank President Ajay Banga’s Global Challenge Leadership Lounge: How to Create and Maintain Impact as a Leader Action Creates Hope: A Conversation with IRC President and CEO David Miliband Leadership Lounge: The Art of Succession: How to Identify Tomorrow's Leaders Today Thriving Through Adversity: How WTO’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Solving Global Problems Leadership Lounge: Beyond Handshakes: How to Build Trust and Transform Executive Team Performance