Future Ready Leadership With Jacob Morgan

Have you ever wondered if vulnerability could backfire? Leaders often face tough decisions about when and how to be open, and the stakes are high when trust is involved. In today's Leadership Spark, we explore a powerful story about a CEO who learned hard lessons about vulnerability after it was used against her early in her career. You'll hear insights on navigating trust, why vulnerability is essential for leadership, and how self-compassion can be your safety net when things go wrong. This episode also introduces the "Vulnerability Wheel" framework to help leaders use vulnerability effectively.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ [https://greatleadership.substack.com/]

Turning around a struggling company isn’t for the faint of heart, but Kate Johnson, CEO of Lumen Technologies, is proving it can be done—and done well. Leading 30,000 employees and steering billions in revenue, Kate is tackling one of the toughest challenges in business: shifting a telecom giant from “playing not to lose” to “playing to win.” In this episode, Kate opens her fresh and fearless playbook on what it really takes to transform a culture: it starts with clarifying your mission and getting everyone aligned. She shares bold, practical strategies like fostering trust, teaching resilience, and encouraging courageous conversations that push teams forward, not sideways. We’ll also unpack why most leaders fail at culture change (and it’s not for lack of trying), how to break silos by getting close to the action, and the non-negotiables for any leader’s first 100 days. If you’re ready to rethink what it means to lead and create a culture that wins, you don’t want to miss this one.  ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ [https://greatleadership.substack.com/]

Workplace flexibility isn’t new, but its importance is growing. More than just remote or hybrid setups, it’s about giving employees options in career paths, benefits, and how they work best. In today’s Leadership Spark, we explore why leaders must stay true to their company’s culture and values, especially in uncertain times. Flip-flopping on big decisions leads to mistrust, but clear communication and conviction create alignment and loyalty. Learn how successful companies navigated the return to office with confidence and how to lead in uncertainty by knowing what matters most to your organization and standing by it, even as the workplace continues to evolve.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ [https://greatleadership.substack.com/]

The office isn’t dead—it’s evolving. How do you design a workplace where you could inspire creativity, collaboration, and sustainability? Jordan Goldstein and Elizabeth Brink, co-CEOs of Gensler, the world’s leading design firm, know all about it. They’ve not only spearheaded some of the most iconic workplace designs but but have also championed a co-leadership model that fosters synergy and innovation. Jordan and Elizabeth are behind groundbreaking projects like Under Armour’s net-zero headquarters, vibrant mixed-use lifestyle districts, and adaptive reuse designs that breathe new life into old spaces. In today’s episode, we’ll explore why the office is still vital for culture and collaboration, how to design spaces that foster engagement and innovation, and why immersive technology and sustainability is no longer optional in workplace design. The future of work is more exciting than ever and packed with opportunities to rethink space, culture, and collaboration.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ [https://greatleadership.substack.com/]

Are you shaping the future or letting it shape you? In today’s Leadership Spark, we explore how leaders can think in scenarios to prepare for multiple outcomes and avoid being caught off guard. We also dive into the power of AI tools like ChatGPT, which are transforming how leaders train employees, boost productivity, and solve problems. But with great power comes responsibility—balancing AI’s potential with human judgment is key to building the future of work.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ [https://greatleadership.substack.com/]