Henry Mintzberg is a writer and educator, mostly about managing originations, developing managers, and rebalancing societies but he is also an outdoorsman and collector of beaver sculptures.

He has authored 20 books, including Managers not MBAs, Simply Managing, and Rebalancing Society. 

He has been elected to the Order of Canada and l’Ordre national du Quebec as well as to the Royal Society of Canada and has received twenty-one honorary degrees from universities around the world. He’s also a Hall of Fame member on the Thinkers50.

Henry sits down with Dan Pontefract to discuss an array of topics including Russia, Putin, Ukraine, Shareholder Primacy, communityship, the Business Roundtable, and measurement. The insights are overflowing.

Management Thinker Extraordinaire Henry Mintzberg

Alan Mulally is the former president and CEO of The Ford Motor Company, serving as its most senior leader between 2006 and 2014. Before that and for over 30 years, Mulally held roles at Boeing, including executive vice president of the Boeing Company and president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. To say that Mulally has been at the helm of two of America's most important and prominent brands is wildly understated.

In this discussion with Dan Pontefract, Alan outlines with precision and depth his "Working Together" management system. Alan delves into the various factors that help all stakeholders understand the mission and vision whilst using humanistic traits in which to do so.

As an added bonus, Alan details how the "Working Together" system can also serve as a model for your life.

Former Ford and Boeing CEO Alan Mulally and the Importance of 'Working Together'

Roger Martin is a trusted strategy advisor to the CEOs of companies worldwide including Procter & Gamble, Lego and Ford. In 2017, he was named the world’s #1 management thinker by Thinkers50, a biannual ranking of the most influential global business thinkers.

In this engaging talk with Dan Pontefract, Roger discusses his newest book, "A New Way to Think: Your Guide to Superior Managerial Effectiveness."

Roger is a Professor Emeritus at the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto where he served as Dean from 1998-2013, Academic Director of the Michael Lee-Chin Family Institute for Corporate Citizenship from 2004-2019 and Institute Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute from 2013-2019. In 2013, he was named global Dean of the Year by the leading business school website, Poets & Quants.

He has written twelve other books including When More is Not Better, Creating Great Choices written with Jennifer Riel and Playing to Win written with A.G. Lafley, which won the award for Best Book of 2012-13 by the Thinkers50.

World Renown Thinker Roger L. Martin and a New Way to Think

Adam Kreek is one of North America’s top Executive Business Coaches, who specializes in leadership development, strategic planning and values driven achievement. 

He sits down with Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss facets from his bestselling book, "The Responsibility Ethic," which teaches us the how of self-leadership. There are several juicy facets that Dan and Adam get into including values, trust, ethics, and perseverance. 

A two-time Olympian, Adam holds 60 international medals, including Olympic Gold, and multiple hall of fame inductions. In 2013, Adam made the first-ever attempt to row unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to America, the subject of the NBC Dateline Documentary, Capsized.

As an Entrepreneur, Adam runs two small corporations 
– KreekSpeak Business Solutions and Ergo Eco Solutions, a low carbon initiative that connects small businesses with small governments.
He is a husband, father of three, and an active volunteer in his community and nationally through his work past and present with various health, youth empowerment and human rights not-for-profit organizations.

The Responsibility Ethic With Gold Medallist Adam Kreek

Jennifer Riel is IDEO's global director of strategy. In this role, she collaborates with clients and internal teams to push the edges of creative problem solving, leveraging tools from strategy and design thinking. 

Jennifer and Dan talk about integrative thinking, strategy, and the role of empathy in both in this episode of Leadership NOW.

As a strategy advisor, Jennifer has worked across industries and countries, helping organizations and teams to build winning, sustainable, and human-centered strategies.

Before IDEO, Jennifer spent 13 years at the Rotman School of Management, where she taught undergrads, MBAs, and executives how to think creatively about their toughest challenges. During this period, she partnered with organizations to help them build their strategic thinking capabilities and transform their teams.

Jennifer is also the author of "Creating Great Choices: A Leader's Guide to Integrative Thinking" (with Roger L. Martin). The book is a Wall Street Journal bestseller and was shortlisted for Canada's National Business Book Award.

Integrative Thinking and Leadership with IDEO's Jennifer Riel

Josh Bersin is an analyst, author, educator, and thought leader focusing on the global talent market and the challenges and trends impacting business workforces around the world. He studies the world of work, HR and leadership practices, and the broad talent technology market. He is often cited as one of the leading HR and workplace industry analysts in the world.

Josh sits down with Dan Pontefract on the Leadership NOW show to discuss a few of the key components from his latest book, “Irresistible: The Seven Secrets of the World’s Most Enduring, Employee-Focused Organizations" and a few 2023 trends.

He founded Bersin & Associates in 2001 to provide research and advisory services focused on corporate learning selling the company to Deloitte in 2012.

Currently, Bersin is the CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, a research and advisory firm, and dean of the Josh Bersin Academy, the world’s first global development academy for HR and talent professionals at all levels and across all industries.  He is committed to providing the relevant research and insights needed by HR and talent professionals to drive success in the modern world of work.

Author Josh Bersin: Will 2023 Be Irresistible At Your Company?

Martin Lindstrom is the founder and chairman of Lindstrom Company, a global branding & culture transformation firm, operating across five continents and more than 30 countries. 

He sits down with Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss common sense (or the lack of it) in our organizations, in addition to other threads including corporate culture and all things 'corporate nonsense.'

TIME Magazine has named Lindstrom one of the “World’s 100 Most Influential People,” and for three years running, Thinkers50, has selected Lindstrom to be among the world’s top 50 business thinkers. 

Among the companies he advises are Burger King, Lowes, Boar’s Head, Beverly Hills Hotels, Pepsi, Nestle and Google. Lindstrom is the author of seven books including several New York Times bestsellers that have been translated into 60 languages. The Wall-Street Journal praised his book Brand Sense as “one of the five best marketing books ever published,” and his book Small Data as “revolutionary,” and TIME called his book Buyology “a breakthrough in branding.” 

His latest book is  The Ministry of COMMON SENSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE, BAD EXCUSES, AND CORPORATE BS.

Visit http://www.danpontefract.com for more information about Dan and the Leadership NOW program.

Visit https://www.martinlindstrom.com/ for more information about Martin Lindstrom.

The Utter Nonsense of Corporate Nonsense with Martin Lindstrom

Stephen “Shed” Shedletzky — or “Shed” to his friends — helps leaders make it safe and worth it for people to speak up. He supports humble leaders — those who know they are both a part of the problems they experience and the solutions they can create — as they put their people and purpose first.

A sought-after speaker, coach, and advisor, Shed has led hundreds of keynote presentations, workshops, and leadership development programs around the world. As a thought leader on psychological safety in the workplace, he supports leaders and organizations in all industries where human beings work. He is the author of Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up (October 2023).

After years on a corporate track, Shed was introduced to and inspired by the work of Simon Sinek and, soon after meeting him, became the fourth person to join his team. For more than a decade, Shed has contributed at Simon Sinek, Inc., where, as Chief of Staff and Head of Brand Experience, Training & Development, he headed a global team of speakers and facilitators. Shed continues to speak and facilitate with Simon Sinek helping to create a more inspired, safe, and fulfilled world.

Shed graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business with a focus on leadership, communication, and strategy. He also received his coaching certification from The Co-Active Training Institute. He lives in Toronto with his wife and two young children.

More about Stephen and Speak-Up Culture at https://www.shedinspires.com/SUCB

More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com

Creating a Speak-Up Culture with Stephen Shedletzky

Gianpiero Petriglieri is Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD. His award-winning research and teaching focus on what it means, and what it takes, to become a leader. He is particularly concerned with leading well in the age of “nomadic professionalism,” in which people have deep bonds to work but loose affiliations to organisations.

In this conversation with Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW, Gianpiero discusses at length the need (and wish) for leadership to be an art.

Building on two decades of experience studying and working with executives and companies around the world, he has refined a unique approach to experiential leadership development that aims to deepen and accelerate the development of individual leaders, as well as to broaden and strengthen leadership communities within and across organisations.

At INSEAD, Gianpiero directs the Management Acceleration Programme, the school’s flagship executive programme for emerging leaders, and chairs the initiative for Learning innovation and Teaching Excellence. He also designs and directs customized leadership development programmes for multinationals in a variety of industries. He speaks widely on how to develop and exercise leadership in fast-changing, uncertain, and diverse workplaces.

Gianpiero has chaired the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on new models of leadership and has been named one of the 50 most influential management thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. He has held Visiting Professor positions at the Harvard Business School, and at Copenhagen Business School. Prior to joining INSEAD, he contributed to executive programs and to the MBA at IMD and trained as a medical doctor and psychiatrist.

More about Gianpiero at https://gpetriglieri.com/ including his essays, research, and other wonderful goodies.

More about Dan at https://www.danpontefract.com

INSEAD's Gianpiero Petriglieri - Leadership is an Art

Ilya Kneppelhout co-founded The Offline Club as a response to our increasingly digital world. In this episode of "Leadership NOW," we explore the club's origins, digital intoxication, loneliness, and how It aims to "inspire people to swap screen time for real-time, today and tomorrow."

Located in Amsterdam, The Offline Club offers a space where members can disconnect from their digital devices and reconnect with the real world. The idea is to provide a tech-free sanctuary where individuals can enjoy genuine conversations and immerse themselves in the moment reminiscent of the pre-digital era of the '90s.

The club's core principle is mandatory disconnection from online devices, fostering an environment for genuine human interaction. Ilya’s vision extends beyond individual well-being to inspire a global movement towards offline engagement, aiming to facilitate a worldwide "reconnection" with others and oneself.

More about Ilya and The Offline Club at their site: https://bento.me/theofflineclub

More about Dan Pontefract and "Leadership NOW" here: https://www.danpontefract.com


Ilya Kneppelhout and The Offline Club’s Quest Against Digital Overload

Amy Blankson is a happiness expert, the Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist of the Digital Wellness Institute, and the author of several bestselling books, including "The Future of Happiness."

Amy joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW for a deep-dive discussion on a host of issues and topics related to digital wellness.

Amy is on a mission to help us create a more positive world that prioritizes Digital Flourishing—that sweet spot where productivity, health, and happiness meet.

By harnessing a simple, research-backed framework, Amy and her team help reimagine digital well-being so people can thrive.

As a member of the UN Global Happiness Council and a fellow of the World Innovation Organization, Amy actively engages in initiatives aimed at promoting happiness as a core value in society. Her work has been featured in prominent media outlets such as PBS, The New York Times, Forbes, and The Huffington Post. 

Amy is the only person to have ever received a Point of Light Award from two U.S. Presidents and has over 15 years of experience leading teams in how to convert stress into joy.

With degrees from Harvard and Yale, Amy is being continually recognized for her pioneering contributions to the study of positive psychology and its application in the digital age. 

More about Amy and the Digital Wellness Institute at https://www.digitalwellnessinstitute.com/

More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com/

Digital Wellness with Chief Evangelist Amy Blankson

Join us in this enlightening episode of Leadership NOW as I sit down with Josh Blair, CEO and co-founder of Impro.ai. Blair shares his insights on creating a new category in business innovation: performance technology. 

Discover how Impro.ai leverages AI and human strategists to enhance employee performance, foster leadership, and drive organizational success. Tune in to learn about real-world applications, success stories, and Blair’s unique leadership philosophy that balances empathy with execution.

Impro.ai is a high-tech company that enables corporations to elevate their performance. Through their AI-powered platform, Impro provides daily performance guidance to employees and organizational performance insights to executives.

Impro.ai is at the forefront of developing performance technology, a groundbreaking approach that integrates AI and human expertise to transform employee behavior and organizational efficiency. 

By combining AI-driven data insights with the personalized touch of Impro performance strategists, the platform offers tailored guidance to help employees improve their mindsets, behaviors, and habits. This innovative method not only boosts individual performance but also provides executives with actionable insights to drive strategic decision-making and achieve remarkable business outcomes.

More about Josh Blair and Impro at https://www.impro.ai

More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com

CEO Josh Blair on Pioneering Performance Technology with Impro.ai

In this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, I sit down with Todd Cherches, CEO and co-founder of BigBlueGumball, to explore the unique intersection of visual thinking and leadership. 

Todd, an award-winning professor and author of VisuaLeadership: Leveraging the Power of Visual Thinking in Leadership and in Life, shares his journey from a TV addict dreaming of being Superman to becoming a leading expert in visual communication. 

We discuss how metaphors, mental models, and visual storytelling can enhance a leader’s ability to communicate, innovate, and inspire. 

Todd also dives into his visual leadership formula and the importance of translating complex ideas into relatable, visual terms to connect with and engage your audience. 

Whether you’re looking to improve your leadership style or understand the impact of visual thinking, this episode offers invaluable insights and practical advice.

More about Todd at https://www.toddcherches.com/services

More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com/

How Visual Leadership Transforms Communication with Todd Cherches

Join leadership strategist Dan Pontefract as he sits down with best-selling author Seth Godin in this special episode of Leadership NOW to explore the philosophy behind effective strategy. 

In this engaging conversation, Godin shares key insights from his latest book, "This is Strategy," and explains why strategy is not a rigid map but a flexible compass. 

From focusing on your "smallest viable market" to the power of saying “no,” this episode is packed with actionable advice for leaders looking to drive meaningful, long-term change. 

Don’t miss out on this thought-provoking discussion that challenges the conventional approach to strategy.

Seth Godin has been trying to turn on lights, inspire people, and teach them how to level up for more than thirty years. 

He has spent most of his professional life as a writer, publishing 20 bestselling books, including his latest, “This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans.” 

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that his daily blog called “Seth’s Blog” is one of the world’s greatest treasures. Over 3 million words and counting.

Seth is in the Guerrilla Marketing Hall of Fame, the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame and the Marketing Hall of Fame. 

He’s delivered five TED talks and pioneered ethical online direct marketing, now a $30bn a year industry.

More about Seth Godin at his site: https://seths.blog/more/

More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com/

Seth Godin Talks Strategy

On this episode of Leadership NOW, host Dan Pontefract sits down with Dr. Neri Karra Sillaman, the founder of B Corp-certified Moda Métiers, to explore her transformative journey from refugee to leader in luxury fashion. 

Dr. Sillaman shares her vision for redefining success through purpose-driven leadership, where resilience, sustainability, and integrity are woven into every decision. 

Together, they discuss how Dr. Sillaman’s commitment to social impact, innovation, and ethical practices is setting a new standard in the industry—one that challenges leaders to build brands focused on lasting legacy over fleeting profit.

Dr. Neri Karra Sillaman is a distinguished academic, entrepreneur, and author known for her expertise in business sustainability and leadership. With over 20 years of experience in the fashion and luxury sector, Dr. Sillaman has established herself as a strategy consultant, public speaker, and author specializing in business longevity, resilience, and sustainability. 

She is the founder of a global multi-million-dollar sustainable luxury leather goods brand, which manufactures her eponymous label as well as leading Italian luxury brands. She is the author of the award-winning book Fashion Entrepreneurship: The Creation of the Global Fashion Business. In addition to being a fashion entrepreneur, she is also an academic, currently appointed as an Entrepreneurship Expert at the University of Oxford. 

She also consults for both emerging and established fashion brands through her consultancy firm, Moda Métiers. Neri’s passion lies in understanding the pillars of business longevity and how resilience underpins thriving enterprises and lives. 

Neri has guest lectured for companies including Apple and Credit Suisse, as well as for institutions such as the London School of Economics, the Royal College of Art, and Imperial College London. 

Neri received her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, her master’s from Sabanci University in Istanbul.

More about Dr. Sillaman and her consultancy at: https://modametiers.com/

More about Dan Pontefract at: https://www.danpontefract.com/


Dr. Neri Karra Sillaman on Purpose-Driven Leadership in Fashion

Aging isn’t a new problem to solve; it’s a chance to reimagine. In this episode of Leadership NOW, Jeanette Leardi, a social gerontologist and author of "Aging Sideways," challenges outdated views on aging and offers a fresh perspective on how we can embrace life’s later stages with purpose and possibility.

We explore the surprising ways our brains adapt as we age, the importance of intergenerational connections, and why older adults are an untapped reservoir of wisdom, creativity, and experience. 

Jeanette shares her concept of “aging sideways,” calling on leaders to rethink how they approach aging in the workplace and in society.

More about Jeanette Leardi at www.jeanetteleardi.com
More about Dan Pontefract at www.danpontefract.com

Aging Sideways with Social Gerontologist Jeanette Leardi

The workforce is aging, but many leaders are still acting as if nothing has changed.

On this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, CEO and author Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, a global expert on gender, generational shifts, and longevity, unpacks what organizations must do to stay ahead. 

She explains why age diversity is a leadership blind spot, how demographic shifts are reshaping talent strategies, and what wise leaders are doing to future-proof their organizations.

Avivah challenges outdated assumptions about work, career longevity, and leadership. She explores the opportunities that come with longer, multi-stage careers—and why companies that fail to adapt will struggle to compete.

More about Avivah Wittenberg-Cox: https://www.avivahwittenbergcox.com/

More about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/

Are Leaders Ready for an Aging Workforce? Featuring CEO and Author Avivah Wittenberg-Cox

Learning and Development (L&D) teams are at a crossroads. Too many still operate as order takers, delivering training on request without questioning whether it’s the right solution. Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning and Development Officer at BDO Canada and author of "The Trusted Learning Advisor," believes this outdated mindset limits impact and credibility.

In this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, Keating explains how L&D must evolve from transactional function to strategic business partner. He shares:

1) Why L&D professionals must stop taking orders and start diagnosing real business challenges
2) How the IDAD Model—Intake, Discovery, Analysis, and Decision—helps reframe training requests
3) Why empathy, active listening, and design thinking are the missing pieces in L&D’s strategy

Keating outlines practical steps to move beyond outdated approaches and drive real business value.

Watch now to learn how L&D professionals can build credibility, drive impact, and become true trusted learning advisors.

More about Keith Keating: https://www.thetrustedlearningadvisor.com/
More about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/

Dr. Keith Keating on Why L&D Is Failing and How to Fix It

In this episode of Leadership NOW, we delve into the critical issue of knowledge loss within organizations. When seasoned employees retire or depart, they often take invaluable tacit knowledge with them—expertise that isn't documented in manuals or training materials.​

Join us as we explore the insights of Dr. Richard Clark, Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern California, who has dedicated his career to addressing this challenge through Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA). 

Dr. Clark discusses how CTA can uncover and preserve the hidden insights of workplace experts, ensuring that organizations retain and effectively transfer critical knowledge.​

Discover how integrating CTA with artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, can accelerate and enhance the process of capturing and disseminating expert knowledge. Learn practical steps to prioritize expertise mapping, leverage AI-driven CTA, and foster a culture of lifelong learning within your organization.​

Don't let essential knowledge slip away. Watch now to understand how to safeguard your organization's intellectual assets and maintain a competitive edge.​

More about Dr. Clark at https://rossier.usc.edu/faculty-research/directory/richard-clark

More about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com/

The Expertise and Knowledge Crisis with Dr. Richard E. Clark

Rose Fass, founder of Fass Forward Consulting Group and former CTO at Xerox, joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss why organizations repeatedly overlook the crucial layer of middle management.

Rose reveals the critical role of the "messy middle" in translating strategy into execution and why senior leaders must meaningfully engage rather than ignore these vital managers. She explains how genuine, unscripted conversations—not PowerPoint decks—lead to successful transformation, and underscores why wisdom and innovation have no age limit.

It's a powerful conversation that challenges the status quo about middle managers and the real nature of leadership.

More about Rose Fass at: https://www.fassforward.com/
More about Dan Pontefract at: https://www.danpontefract.com/

75-Year-Old Founder Rose Fass Wants Leaders to Stop Ignoring the Messy Middle

In this insightful episode of Leadership NOW, Dan sits down with entrepreneur and acclaimed author Faisal Hoque to discuss the transformative power—and hidden perils—of artificial intelligence. Drawing from his latest book, "TRANSCEND: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI," Faisal explores why the greatest leadership challenge today is balancing AI’s vast potential with human judgment, ethics, and dignity.

Faisal and Dan dive deep into practical frameworks leaders can immediately use to guide AI ethically and strategically. From addressing algorithmic bias to maintaining authentic human connections in increasingly automated workplaces, they unpack why leadership in the AI age demands clarity, compassion, and purpose.

Join this critical conversation to learn how to ensure your organization’s smartest technologies amplify human strengths rather than undermine them.

For more about Faisal Hoque visit: https://faisalhoque.com/
For more about Dan Pontefract visit: https://www.danpontefract.com/

Author Faisal Hoque on Preserving Humanity in the Artificial Intelligence Era

Gary Officer, President and CEO of CWI Labs, joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss why organizations repeatedly overlook older workers—and why it's strategically and socially damaging. 

Officer explains how ageism impacts organizational productivity, innovation, and culture. He debunks common myths around older employees' technological skills, health care costs, and salary expectations, offering compelling insights and examples of successful intergenerational teams. 

This episode highlights why age inclusiveness isn't simply about fairness; it's a crucial competitive advantage.

For more information about Gary A. Officer visit: https://www.cwilabs.org/
For more information about Dan Pontefract visit: https://www.danpontefract.com/

CEO Gary Officer Wants Organizations to Stop Ignoring Older Workers

Maureen Wiley Clough, seasoned technology leader and host of the podcast It Gets Late Early, joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss the overlooked yet costly issue of ageism in today’s workplaces. 

Clough highlights why age diversity isn’t simply an ethical responsibility but a strategic advantage. She dismantles harmful myths about older employees’ technological capability, cost, and adaptability, and provides actionable insights for leaders on cultivating meaningful intergenerational mentorship and organizational resilience.

If your organization values inclusion, it’s time to start genuinely including older employees.

More about Maureen Wiley Clough: https://www.itgetslateearly.com/
More about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com

Ageism is Hurting Your Organization with Maureen Wiley Clough

When companies go through a merger or acquisition, most leaders obsess over financials and spreadsheets. But according to Jennifer Fondrevay—founder of Day1 Ready and author of Now What?—the real failure happens when leadership ignores people. 

In this episode of Leadership NOW, we explore what really drives post-acquisition chaos, the arrogance of deal-making, and why culture buddies and pre-mortems are essential to getting it right. 

If your company is planning a deal, this conversation is your human integration blueprint.

More information about Jennifer Fondrevay at https://jenniferjfondrevay.com/
More information about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com/

Jennifer Fondrevay on Fixing the Human Side of M&A

What do ultra-marathons, workplace distractions, and failed goals have in common? Mandy Gill. In this candid episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, Mandy shares her journey—from overcoming anorexia to guiding leaders through resilience and workplace wellness. Her book "Reset with Resilience" is a blueprint for bouncing forward through setbacks.

We explore her signature “catch it, check it, change it” method, the psychology of negative thinking, and how reverse-engineering your goals can shift your trajectory. Mandy doesn’t sugarcoat it—she teaches resilience with precision, story, and lived truth. This episode is equal parts blueprint and mirror.

For more information about Mandy Gill visit: https://www.mandygill.com/book

For more information about Dan Pontefract visit: https://www.danpontefract.com

Mandy Gill on Grit, Goals & Getting Back Up

Maria Franzoni has booked Neil Armstrong and Liza Minnelli—and mentored hundreds of speakers in between. In this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, she explains what separates the truly bookable speaker from the rest, and how those same principles apply to leadership, business, and long-term impact.

We explore how speaker bureaus are evolving in an AI-enabled world, what event organizers actually want, and why celebrity status means far less than clarity, value, and being frictionless to work with. Maria also walks through her new model, The Bookability Formula, and why the most successful speakers aren’t always the most famous—they’re the most useful.

This is a masterclass in leadership positioning disguised as a conversation about keynote speaking. If you want to lead with more presence, pitch with more purpose, or build influence that lasts, you’ll want to listen through to the end.

Learn more:
Maria Franzoni: https://www.mariafranzoni.me
Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com


Maria Franzoni on Bookability and Leading in the Speaking Industry

What does it take to go from “nice-to-have” to non-negotiable?

In this episode of Leadership NOW, Dan Pontefract sits down with Christa Haberstock—founder of See Agency and Bookable Speakers, and author of Become a Bookable Speaker. 

Together, they unpack what it means to lead with an “obvious advantage”—the kind of value that gets you rebooked, respected, and remembered.

From her early days selling keynote talent on 100% commission to building a cohort-based model for speaker development, Christa shares what leaders and speakers alike often miss: it’s not just about telling a story—it’s about solving a problem others can’t. 

Clarity, community, strategic partnerships, and purpose aren’t just concepts—they’re prerequisites for relevance.

For more information about Christa Haberstock, visit: https://bookablespeakers.com/the-book
For more information about Dan Pontefract, visit: https://www.danpontefract.com

Christa Haberstock on Being Bookable as a Speaker

David Liddle argues that legacy grievance and disciplinary procedures corrode trust, suppress performance, and institutionalize fear. In this conversation, the TCM Group and People and Culture Association founder outlines a practical reset: retire retributive processes in favour of an integrated resolution framework, build genuinely predictive People and Culture capability, and own the AI agenda with integrity. 

We cover his Seven Cs of Transformational Culture, why compassion is a management discipline, how Resolution Centers and Culture Hubs operationalize values, and why early-career roles must not be sacrificed to short-term AI gains. 

Leaders who equate control with accountability will find a different script here—resolution, inquiry, repair, and measurable cultural uplift.

For more information about David Liddle, visit: www.thetcmgroup.com

For more information about Dan Pontefract, visit: www.danpontefract.com

David Liddle on Rewriting People and Culture

Victoria Tomlinson, chief executive of Next-Up, FRSA, BBC Expert Woman, bestselling author, TEDx and international speaker, explains how to value and invest in 50+ talent before and after retirement. 

We explore the Three R’s—recruitment, retention, redundancy by age—succession done properly, tech confidence vs. capability, and intergenerational teams. 

Victoria’s track record spans EY’s leadership team, 30 years at Northern Lights, and WILD Digital, plus her Re-think Retirement podcast.

At the age of 63, Victoria founded Next-Up, a firm that helps employers to maximize the value of 50+ workers, have difficult conversations, and remotivate employees in their last years at work.

More information about Victoria Tomlinson: https://next-up.com/

More information about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/

CEO Victoria Tomlinson on Unretirement, Age Inclusion, and Older Workers

James Root of Bain & Company unpacks "The Archetype Effect"—six distinct motivations that show up across roles, industries, and countries—and why a one-path ladder misses most of the value. We explore how to design work around what people actually care about, not what old systems assume.

We get practical: keep the ladder for Strivers while building credible paths for Artisans, Explorers, Givers, and Pioneers. We also push back on generational clichés and discuss how country context and career era shape what matters.

Finally, we look at older-worker design, the rise of interesting work and autonomy, and the importance of intentional knowledge capture so wisdom keeps moving. James points to Bain’s quick worker-archetype quiz as a low-stakes way for teams to compare notes and improve collaboration.

More information about James Root: https://www.bain.com/insights/books/the-archetype-effect/

More information about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/

James Root of Bain & Company - Designing Work Around Six Archetypes

Dan Pontefract is an award-winning author, leadership strategist, and culture change expert. Dan's podcast explores all aspects of leadership, organizational culture, purpose, and professional development. 
 
Dan is the best-selling author of five books: WORK-LIFE BLOOM, LEAD. CARE. WIN., OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT, and FLAT ARMY. A renowned speaker, Dan has presented at four different TED events and also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review. Dan is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business, and has garnered more than 20 industry awards over his career.
 
Previously, as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning Officer at TELUS—a Canadian telecommunications company with revenues of $14 billion and 50,000 global employees—he launched the Transformation Office, the TELUS MBA, and the TELUS Leadership Philosophy, all award-winning initiatives that dramatically helped to increase the company’s employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%. Prior to TELUS, he held senior roles at SAP, Business Objects, and BCIT. He is honoured to be on the Thinkers50 radar list.

Dan Pontefract, Author and Leadership Strategist

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