The Futur with Chris Do

In this episode, Chris sits down with legendary CEO and leadership thinker Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld for a deep dive into the hidden engine behind long-term success: energy. From running global companies like Siemens and Alcoa to mentoring the next generation of leaders, Klaus shares why burnout is not a badge of honor—and how purpose, mindset, and daily habits are the real levers of performance. This conversation is a masterclass on managing your inner game so you can lead with clarity, stamina, and conviction, no matter the chaos around you. Whether you’re a founder on the brink, a high-achiever running out of steam, or simply someone who wants to lead better and live fuller—this episode is your blueprint. What You'll Learn: ✅ Why energy—not time—is the real asset of high performers ✅ How to avoid burnout while staying ambitious ✅ The mindset reframe that separates fulfilled leaders from exhausted ones ✅ How to tap into purpose (and use it like a laser) ✅ Simple micro-habits to recharge mentally, emotionally, and spiritually Timestamps: (00:04) – From Siemens to Startups: Klaus’s Career Journey (03:50) – Burnout in Founders & Why Energy Is Everything (15:22) – The Inner Game vs. The Outer Game of Leadership (28:40) – The Purpose Principle: “Love It, Change It, or Leave It” (37:15) – Culture, Respect, and Leading Across Borders (45:09) – Sleep, Breathwork & Physical Hacks for High Energy About Klaus Kleinfield: Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld is a founder, global business leader, investor, and author. He’s currently the CEO of K2Elevation, Chairman of KONUX and FERNRIDE, and a board member of GreyOrange, Fero Labs, and NEOM. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of Alcoa/Arconic and as CEO of Siemens AG, where he led transformational shifts in both organizations. Klaus has advised U.S. Presidents and international governments, and he’s a member of institutions like the Council on Foreign Relations and the Brookings Institution. His new book "Leading to Thrive" unpacks the mindset, energy systems, and leadership frameworks that drive sustainable success—in business and in life. Check out Klaus Kleinfield: Klaus' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klauskleinfeld/ Klaus' Website: http://leading-to-thrive.com/ Check out Chris Do: Website: ⁠https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo⁠ [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/] Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign] Instagram:⁠https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/] Twitter:⁠https://x.com/thechrisdo⁠ [https://x.com/thechrisdo] TikTok:⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo] Threads:⁠https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo] Zaap: ⁠https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo⁠ [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] Clubhouse:⁠https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo] Behance: ⁠https://www.behance.net/chrisdo⁠ [https://www.behance.net/chrisdo] Check out The Futur: Website: ⁠https://www.thefutur.com/⁠ [https://www.thefutur.com/] Courses: ⁠https://www.thefutur.com/shop⁠ [https://www.thefutur.com/shop] Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/] Podcasts: ⁠https://thefutur.com/podcast⁠ [https://thefutur.com/podcast] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/] Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/] Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/thefuturishere⁠ [https://x.com/thefuturishere] TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere] Youtube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere]

We want to hear from you. If you're open to a quick chat with our producer or any of the other options, it only takes a few seconds to sign up: https://forms.gle/Enzzpq5FCVQKbHV9A Ever feel like you're doing your team's work for them? In this episode, Chris Do reveals the powerful leadership philosophy of “intentional incompetence”—a counterintuitive but highly effective way to empower creative teams, avoid burnout, and build real autonomy. You’ll learn why micromanagement kills creativity, how to lead without hovering, and the systems Chris uses to help his team take ownership while still delivering top-tier results. If you’re struggling to balance quality control with team growth, this episode is your blueprint. Timestamps: (00:00) – Why “being bad” at your job is a power move (00:42) – The 2 leadership styles that fail (01:55) – How to lead with trust and systems (03:12) – When to intervene (and when not to) (04:15) – Final thoughts on team growth & autonomy Check out The Futur: Website: ⁠https://www.thefutur.com/⁠ [https://www.thefutur.com/] Courses: ⁠https://www.thefutur.com/shop⁠ [https://www.thefutur.com/shop] Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/] Podcasts: ⁠https://thefutur.com/podcast⁠ [https://thefutur.com/podcast] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/] Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/] Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/thefuturishere⁠ [https://x.com/thefuturishere] TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere] Youtube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere] Check out Chris Do: Website: ⁠https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo⁠ [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/] Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign] Instagram:⁠https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/] Twitter:⁠https://x.com/thechrisdo⁠ [https://x.com/thechrisdo] TikTok:⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo] Threads:⁠https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo] Zaap: ⁠https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo⁠ [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] Clubhouse:⁠https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo] Behance: ⁠https://www.behance.net/chrisdo⁠ [https://www.behance.net/chrisdo]

A college dropout, Jennie Smythe had no backup plan — but she had one moment of clarity: she wasn’t going to follow the path others expected. She was going to build her own. By her early 40s, while grieving the loss of her father and newly diagnosed with breast cancer, she had built an award-winning digital marketing firm - Girlilla Marketing. In this conversation, Jennie shares how she turned crisis into clarity, and what it really looks like to start over with nothing. If you feel behind, unqualified, or unsure of your next move, this episode is for you. What You'll Learn: ✅ How to turn crisis and grief into clarity ✅ Why “no degree + no plan” becomes your edge ✅ What real leadership looks like through personal loss ✅ The mindset shift that makes building from scratch possible ✅ How to build a business rooted in values, not survival Timestamps: (00:00) – Intro (03:40) – Cancer, grief, and dropping out (07:29) – Choosing herself over expectations (11:10) – Walking away from the conventional path (14:42) – Why Jennie refuses to fake confidence (19:08) – Building with purpose and integrity (24:01) – Leading through grief (27:35) – Starting her business with zero funding (31:54) – Conversations that shaped her leadership (36:42) – The truths of rebuilding from nothing (42:13) – Identity shift: how to start over stronger About Jennie Smythe: Jennie Smythe is the founder and CEO of Girlilla Marketing, a Nashville-based digital marketing agency representing some of the biggest names in country music. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of entertainment, media, and strategy, Jennie has built a reputation as one of the most trusted voices in artist-first digital branding. Before launching Girlilla, she held leadership roles at Warner Music Nashville, Universal Music Group, and AOL Music. Her work is known for blending deep empathy with sharp execution — helping artists and entrepreneurs build lasting, values-driven communities online. Jennie is also a breast cancer survivor, advocate, and mentor to women navigating nontraditional leadership paths. Check out Jennie Smythe: https://www.girlillamarketing.com/about-jennie https://www.instagram.com/girlillajennie https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniesmythe Check out Chris Do: Website: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/] Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign [https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign] Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/ [https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/] Twitter:https://x.com/thechrisdo [https://x.com/thechrisdo] TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo [https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo] Threads:https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo [https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo] Zaap: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] Clubhouse:https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo [https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo] Behance: https://www.behance.net/chrisdo [https://www.behance.net/chrisdo] Check out The Futur: Website: https://www.thefutur.com/ [https://www.thefutur.com/] Courses: https://www.thefutur.com/shop [https://www.thefutur.com/shop] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/] Podcasts: https://thefutur.com/podcast [https://thefutur.com/podcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/ [https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/ [https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/] Twitter: https://x.com/thefuturishere [https://x.com/thefuturishere] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere [https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere] Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere [https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere]

Jennie Smythe was 40 years old, grieving the loss of her father, newly diagnosed with cancer, and had just dropped out of school. She had no backup plan — but she had one moment of clarity: she wasn’t going to follow the path others expected. She was going to build her own. In this conversation, Jennie shares how she turned crisis into clarity, and what it really looks like to start over with nothing. If you feel behind, unqualified, or unsure of your next move, this episode is for you. What You'll Learn: ✅ How to turn crisis and grief into clarity ✅ Why “no degree + no plan” becomes your edge ✅ What real leadership looks like through personal loss ✅ The mindset shift that makes building from scratch possible ✅ How to build a business rooted in values, not survival Timestamps: (00:00) – Intro (03:40) – Cancer, grief, and dropping out (07:29) – Choosing herself over expectations (11:10) – Walking away from the conventional path (14:42) – Why Jennie refuses to fake confidence (19:08) – Building with purpose and integrity (24:01) – Leading through grief (27:35) – Starting her business with zero funding (31:54) – Conversations that shaped her leadership (36:42) – The truths of rebuilding from nothing (42:13) – Identity shift: how to start over stronger About Jennie Smythe: Jennie Smythe is the founder and CEO of Girlilla Marketing, a Nashville-based digital marketing agency representing some of the biggest names in country music. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of entertainment, media, and strategy, Jennie has built a reputation as one of the most trusted voices in artist-first digital branding. Before launching Girlilla, she held leadership roles at Warner Music Nashville, Universal Music Group, and AOL Music. Her work is known for blending deep empathy with sharp execution — helping artists and entrepreneurs build lasting, values-driven communities online. Jennie is also a breast cancer survivor, advocate, and mentor to women navigating nontraditional leadership paths. Check out Jennie Smythe: https://www.girlillamarketing.com/about-jennie https://www.instagram.com/girlillajennie https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniesmythe Check out Chris Do: Website: ⁠https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo⁠ [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/] Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign] Instagram:⁠https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/] Twitter:⁠https://x.com/thechrisdo⁠ [https://x.com/thechrisdo] TikTok:⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo] Threads:⁠https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo⁠ [https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo] Zaap: ⁠https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo⁠ [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] Clubhouse:⁠https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo⁠ [https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo] Behance: ⁠https://www.behance.net/chrisdo⁠ [https://www.behance.net/chrisdo] Check out The Futur: Website: ⁠https://www.thefutur.com/⁠ [https://www.thefutur.com/] Courses: ⁠https://www.thefutur.com/shop⁠ [https://www.thefutur.com/shop] Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/] Podcasts: ⁠https://thefutur.com/podcast⁠ [https://thefutur.com/podcast] Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/] Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/] Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/thefuturishere⁠ [https://x.com/thefuturishere] TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere] Youtube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere]

We want to hear from you. If you're open to a quick chat with our producer or any of the other options, it only takes a few seconds to sign up: https://forms.gle/Enzzpq5FCVQKbHV9A In this playful and provocative episode, Chris reunites with Jodie Cook—entrepreneur, author and athlete — for a conversation about standing out, staying human, and showing up as your full self in a world ruled by conformity and AI. They explore the cultural pressure to "be normal," the rise of copy-paste personal brands, and why weirdness might just be your most valuable asset. From LinkedIn anarchy to fitness-fueled discipline, Jodie and Chris unpack how to build a brand (and life) that actually reflects who you are—and how being real is sometimes the weirdest thing of all. Timestamps: (00:02) – Why We Need to Get Weirder Online (01:19) – Turning Up the Dial on Your Personality (03:46) – Being a Lighthouse for Like-Minded Weirdos (04:25) – Unlearning the Pressure to Fit In (06:01) – What Counts as Weird (And Who Gets to Say?) (09:43) – Steve Jobs, Contrarians & the Price of Originality (12:09) – Context, Childhood & the Illusion of Normal (14:42) – LinkedIn, AI, and the Death of Strong Opinions (17:46) – Using Weirdness to Attract the Right People (18:07) – Fitness as a Life Hack (and Brand Differentiator) (22:10) – Can You Cheat Fitness? The Real Story Behind the Gains (27:11) – Craving Realness in a World of AI and Image (29:19) – Transparency, Weirdness, and the Power of Disclosure Check out today's guest, Jodie Cook: Jodie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-cook/ Jodie's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jodie_Cook https://jodiecook.com [https://jodiecook.com/] https://coachvox.ai [https://coachvox.ai/] Check out The Futur: Website: https://www.thefutur.com/ [https://www.thefutur.com/] Courses: https://www.thefutur.com/shop [https://www.thefutur.com/shop] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/] Podcasts: https://thefutur.com/podcast [https://thefutur.com/podcast] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/ [https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/ [https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/] Twitter: https://x.com/thefuturishere [https://x.com/thefuturishere] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere [https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishere] Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere [https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishere] Check out Chris Do: Website: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/] Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign [https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesign] Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/ [https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/] Twitter:https://x.com/thechrisdo [https://x.com/thechrisdo] TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo [https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdo] Threads:https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo [https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdo] Zaap: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo [https://zaap.bio/thechrisdo] Clubhouse:https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo [https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdo] Behance: https://www.behance.net/chrisdo [https://www.behance.net/chrisdo]