The Leadership Spark

Welcome to 'The Leadership Spark', where we illuminate the path to exceptional leadership through insightful dialogues with brilliant authors. Join me, Sylvain Newton, once a month, as I dive into the minds of thought leaders, uncovering the stories, strategies, and wisdom hidden within the pages of their books. Each episode is a journey, a personal exploration into the spark that ignites exceptional leadership. Tune in, learn and grow. This isn't just a podcast; it's a dynamic community where leadership comes alive. Let’s light the way together!

The Leadership Spark is a arts podcast hosted by Sylvain Newton, with 28 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Sylvain Newton hosts The Leadership Spark, a arts show with 28 episodes published.

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  Episode #28

  Innovative Teams with Paul Saunders

  Sep 9, 202658 minS1

  Paul Saunders is a global leadership expert and adjunct professor at INSEAD. We discuss how cultural diversity in teams can drive high performance when managed deliberately through inclusion. Paul distinguishes between organizational culture (a stable "house") and climate (adjustable "rooms" shaped by leaders), emphasizing that leaders influence 60-80% of team climate, which directly impacts performance. The conversation also covers innovation, virtual team dynamics, and the importance of building trust and community. Show notes : Paul Saunders LinkedIn profile Paul Saunders Insead Faculty profile Book “ The Happiness Advantage ” by Shawn Achor Book “ Design Love In ” by Marcus Buckingham The Nancy Adler curve about effectiveness in multicultural teams Team questionnaire “ View ” Innovation questionnaire “ SOQ ” sylvainnewton.com/podcast

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  Episode #27

  Impressions (mis-) Management with Övül Sezer

  Aug 12, 202654 minS1

  Impression (mis)management: the mistakes we make when we want to impress others. This is the topic of Övül Sezer’s research. She is an assistant professor of management and organizations at the Cornell School of Business. We explore why everyone engages in impression management, common mistakes like humblebragging and hiding success, and the balance between appearing warm versus competent. Övül explains how social media amplifies these challenges and how cultural differences shape self-promotion norms. And beyond her work in research, Övül shares an unexpected passion for stand-up comedy. This might be why she is able to read human beings so acutely! Show notes : Övül Sezer - Cornell SC Johnson College of Business Article “ Impression (mis)management: When what you say is not what they hear ” by Övül Sezer Article “ Humblebragging: A distinct—and ineffective—self-presentation strategy. ” by Övül Sezer Book “ Thinking, Fast and Slow “ by Daniel Kahneman Book “ The Odyssey ” by Homer Book “ Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty ” by Harris Wittels sylvainnewton.com/podcast

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  Episode #26

  The Soul of Strategy with Bernie Jaworski

  Jul 8, 202659 minS1

  Bernie Jaworski holds the Drucker Chair at Claremont's Drucker School and recently wrote “The Soul of Strategy”. Inspired by Peter Drucker's principle that organizations exist to create customers, Bernie critiques traditional strategy frameworks for neglecting customer centricity. He explores how companies lose customer focus as they scale, how AI accelerates insights generation, and why abandoning outdated practices is critical. The conversation also covers the risk of being overly customer-centric and concludes with a rapid-fire round highlighting Drucker's enduring management philosophy. Show notes : Bernie Jaworski - Drucker School of Management Book “ The Soul of Strategy ” by Bernie Jaworski The “ Organic Growth Playbook ” by Bernie Jaworski Book “ Why we buy ” by Paco Underhill Video “ Shopping cart Design process ” by Ideo Joseph Schumpeter in Wikipedia sylvainnewton.com/podcast

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  Episode #25

  Care to Dare with George Kohlrieser

  Jun 10, 202650 minS1

  George Kohlrieser is a renowned IMD Leadership professor and former hostage negotiator. In this episode he shares compelling stories from his career, illustrating how principles from hostage negotiation, such as emotional bonding, managing grief, and honest communication, can transform leadership. The conversation explores the psychology behind high-performance leadership, the importance of secure relationships, and the need for empathy in today’s rapidly changing world. You will gain practical insights on handling conflict, organizational change, and the emotional challenges leaders face. Show notes : George Kohlrieser – IMD Business school Book “ Care to Dare ” by George Kohlrieser Book “ Hostage at the table ” by George Kohlrieser Book “ On becoming a leader ” by Warren Bennis Gallup research on Hope High-Performance Leadership program at IMD sylvainnewton.com/podcast

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  Episode #24

  Leadership as a Profession with Rakesh Khurana

  May 13, 202650 minS1

  <p><b>Summary:</b></p><p>In this episode of the Leadership Spark Podcast, Sylvain interviews Harvard professor Rakesh Khurana. Together they discuss about leadership, humility, and organizational culture. Drawing on personal stories and academic insights, Khurana explores the role of serendipity, the importance of adaptive and humble leadership, and the challenges facing modern institutions. He reflects on bureaucracy, the need for community and belonging, and the evolution of business education. The conversation highlights the value of courage, deep listening, and embracing discomfort as essential leadership qualities for navigating today’s complex world.</p><p><b>Show notes:</b></p>Ra...

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