Leadership Lounge: How to Build a Top-Performing C-suite: The Leadership Blueprint for Sustained High Performance
The C-suite is the engine room of organizational success, yet most leaders struggle to build one that truly performs. It's not just about hiring talented individuals—you need the right mix of complementary skills, aligned vision, and chemistry that transforms organizations. In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to two of our trusted advisors—Danny Ryan and Andres Gil-Casares—who share their perspectives on: The biggest mistakes CEOs make when building executive teams and how to avoid them Why cultural fit and behavioral alignment matter as much as technical excellence How to build C-suites that can drive transformation and adapt to future challenges Why leaders who admit mistakes and foster open dialogue create higher-performing teams "You need to find people that are interested in learning things instead of just knowing things. This means having people on your teams who are interested in asking questions, getting out of the comfort zone, and thinking outside the box." Andres Gil-Casares Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates Four things you'll learn from this episode Avoid the echo chamber—hiring executives who think like you can create dangerous groupthink; prioritize diversity of thought over comfort and familiarity. Balance technical excellence with cultural fit—the most damaging hires have strong credentials but undermine company values, causing talented people to leave. Create psychological safety for fast learning—C-suites that can admit mistakes, test quickly, and iterate outperform those focused on appearing perfect. Address performance issues quickly and compassionately—the top regret amongst new CEOs is not moving fast enough on making changes to their top team. In this episode, we will cover: (01:52) The risk of unconscious bias and why hiring people who challenge you is critical (03:49) Why cultural fit can't be underestimated when making C-suite hires (06:17) The distinction between learning and knowing and why curiosity drives transformation capability (08:17) How leading by example and admitting failures gives others permission to be more authentic (09.14) The importance of establishing clear governance frameworks to enable quick decision-making under pressure (12:10) Why delaying difficult decisions about underperforming executives erodes trust A closer look at the research from this episode: Transformational Leadership Study 2025 | Russell Reynolds Associates CEO Transitions Research | Russell Reynolds Associates
--------
16:45
--------
16:45
The Art of the Superhero Turnaround with former Marvel Entertainment CEO Peter Cuneo
Marvel Studios and many of its numerous characters are household names around the world. Their superhero-powered movies earn hundreds of millions and sometimes billions of dollars at the box office, including the #2 top grossing movie of all time – Avengers: Endgame. They’re also arguably one of the top turnaround stories of the past 20 years, as they rose like a phoenix from the ashes of bankruptcy to ultimately sell to Disney for $4.5 billion. In today’s Redefiners episode, Simon and Marla suit up to talk with Peter Cuneo, former CEO of Marvel Entertainment and the leader who led the turnaround of this storied company, along with several other global brands. Peter shares his story of how he got into the business of turnarounds and why he’s attracted to risk as a leader. He takes us through how he conquers the common challenge of getting the leadership and culture right at the companies he’s led. And he shares some of the 28 leadership tips he’s compiled over the course of his storied career into a list he fittingly calls Essentials for Superhero Leadership (which you can also find in podcast form at Superhero Leadership). We’ll also hear from Hetty Pye, a leadership advisor in our London office, who will discuss why transformation efforts fail and what senior leaders can do about it. Four things you’ll learn from this episode: What are the first things to focus on in a turnaround and how to get your people and board aligned How to make an organization’s culture more productive, creative, and effective What to look out for in a shift from CEO to Board role What are the top leadership essentials of Superhero Leadership If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes: Leading with a North Star: Former Decathlon CEO Barbara Martin Coppola's Blueprint for Bold Change Leadership Lounge: Boardroom Bound: How to Navigate Your Journey from Executive to Board Director Music with a Mission: Former MTV International Chairman and CEO Bill Roedy on Leading with Purpose Leadership Lounge: From Firefighting to Future-Building: How Leaders Can Master Perpetual Transformation Digging Deep: Leadership, Growth & Risk with BHP CEO Mike Henry Leadership Lounge: Leadership Under Fire: How Mentorship Can Help C-suites Turn Headwinds Into Opportunity
--------
29:47
--------
29:47
Leadership Lounge: Built to Last or Built to Learn: How Leaders Can Develop Resilience
In an era where adaptability trumps consistency, the leaders who survive and thrive are those who've mastered the art of bouncing back stronger. Yet our Global Leadership Monitor reveals that leaders' preparedness to face threats such as uncertain economic growth and geopolitical uncertainty is at its lowest point since we began tracking in 2021. The question isn't whether setbacks will come—it's whether leaders have built the genuine resilience to weather them. And more critically, how can executives create resilient organizations where entire leadership pipelines can adapt and flourish under pressure? In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to two of our trusted advisors—Joey Berk and Maja Hadziomerovic—who share their perspectives on: How to recognize the warning signs when leadership resilience is waning Practical strategies for recovery and building sustainable energy management practices The role of vulnerability in creating high-performance, psychologically safe teams Why the biggest misconceptions about resilience actually undermine leadership effectiveness "When we think about exercising physically or learning a new skill, being in that growth mentality and constantly stretching is what builds resilience and pushes us to do what's less comfortable." — Joey Berk, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates Four things you'll learn from this episode: 1.True resilience integrates three sources of intelligence—cognitive clarity, somatic awareness, and emotional authenticity work together to create leaders who can navigate uncertainty with confidence. 2.Energy management beats time management—resilient leaders audit and proactively manage their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy. 3.Organizational resilience requires systematic investment—build resilience at scale through stretch assignments, mentorship programs, and cultures that reward vulnerability over impression management. 4.Authentic vulnerability drives performance—the strongest leaders admit when they don't know, share their learning process, and create psychological safety that unleashes team innovation. In this episode, we will cover: (00:00:18) Why modern resilience demands adaptability over consistency in rapidly changing markets (00:03:27) The three sources of intelligence framework and how to develop each dimension (00:06:12) Energy management strategies across physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual domains (00:09:21) How to create stretch assignments and mentorship programs that build organizational resilience (00:11:47) Warning signs of resilience fatigue and recovery strategies for overwhelmed leaders (00:13:45) Why vulnerability and psychological safety are competitive advantages, not weaknesses (00:15:55) The biggest misconceptions about building resilience and how to overcome them A closer look at the research from this episode: Global Leadership Monitor | Russell Reynolds Associates Global CEO Turnover Index | Russell Reynolds Associates
--------
18:32
--------
18:32
The Leadership Lessons That Shaped Us: Celebrating 100 Episodes of Redefiners
After four years and 100 episodes of extraordinary conversations with world-class leaders, what are the most powerful leadership lessons that have emerged? In this milestone episode, hosts Simon Kingston and Marla Oates dig through the Redefiners archives to share the top 10 leadership insights. From Ruth Porat's revelation that not having a rigid career plan was her secret weapon, and Debra Martin Chase's unshakeable determination in Hollywood, to Will Guidara's $2 hot dog that redefined hospitality excellence—these aren't just inspiring anecdotes. They're battle-tested lessons from leaders who've built careers with real impact across technology, finance, entertainment, hospitality, and global governance. Simon and Marla reveal their most memorable moments from conversations with CEOs like Adena Friedman at Nasdaq, Brad Smith at Microsoft, Tony Capuano at Marriott, and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the World Trade Organization. They explore how these leaders navigated everything from AI transformation and crisis management to building authentic cultures and making unpopular decisions. "Do people need to learn before they leap? I actually think they need to leap in order to learn.” – Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Four things you'll learn from this episode: Why the most successful leaders embrace uncertainty and leave their doors open to unexpected opportunities How to build the resilience and grit needed to navigate setbacks and transform failure into your competitive advantage The critical importance of putting people first during times of crisis and organizational transition Why authentic leadership—being unapologetically yourself—creates the strongest foundation for long-term successFeatured leaders: Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google Adena Friedman, Chair and CEO, Nasdaq Debra Martin Chase, Film and Television Producer Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, Carlyle Group Dee Caffari, Record-Breaking Yachtswoman Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization Tony Capuano, President and CEO, Marriott International Bill Roedy, Former Chair and CEO, MTV International Sarah Mensah, President, Jordan Brand Will Guidara, Restauranteur and Author
--------
35:49
--------
35:49
Leadership Lounge: Leadership Under Fire: How Mentorship Can Help C-suites Turn Headwinds Into Opportunity
C-suite executives face an unprecedented cascade of simultaneous challenges—AI transformation, regulatory upheaval, geopolitical instability, and economic turbulence. Unlike previous generations who weathered single crises, today’s leaders must navigate sustained uncertainty that many have never experienced before. So, how can the right mentor transform leadership under pressure? And what makes mentorship relationships truly effective for senior executives? In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to three of our trusted advisors—Kurt Harrison, Amanda Foster, and Jeffrey Cheng—who share their perspectives on: Why seeking the support of a mentor doesn’t equate to weakness Why finding mentors with experiential alignment is more important than industry experience Why vulnerability and authenticity are critical in building fruitful mentor-mentee relationships The common mistakes leaders make when entering mentorship engagements "Mentorship is not remedial. It's developmental, and it's all part of an agile, constantly learning mindset, which keeps executives fresh in how they look at the future rather than looking backwards." Amanda Foster, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates Four things you'll learn from this episode: Seek mentors who've weathered multiple crises—their battle-tested wisdom is invaluable when facing today's sustained uncertainty. Mentorship isn't remedial—it's about gaining fresh perspectives that keep even experienced leaders sharp. Having an external mentor means a leader can be vulnerable without career consequences—they can discuss real struggles openly. Come prepared with clear goals and be genuinely open—mentorship is a relationship, not a transaction. In this episode, we will cover: (00:01:56) How sustained uncertainty differs from episodic crises and why this changes mentorship needs (00:04:02) Why cross-industry mentor-mentee pairings are often the most successful (00:10:07) The importance of building authentic mentorship relationships (00:14:18) How external mentors provide objective perspectives often impossible internally (00:15:48) Strategies for maximizing value from mentor relationships through preparation and goal-setting A closer look at the research from this episode: Global CEO Turnover Index | Russell Reynolds Associates Global Leadership Monitor | Russell Reynolds Associates
Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries and around the globe are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to create extraordinary impact in today’s rapidly changing world.In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates Leadership Advisor Hoda Tahoun and former CEO Clarke Murphy host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who share their insights and perspectives on how they lead, boldly. You’ll come away with fresh ideas and tangible takeaways on how you can redefine your own leadership trajectory – no matter where you are on your journey. Our Hosts:Clarke Murphy Clarke Murphy is the former Chief Executive Officer of Russell Reynolds Associates and serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he was the Global Leader of the firm's CEO/Board Services Practice.While at Russell Reynolds Associates, Clarke has conducted a number of significant projects in the industry, including Fortune 100 board searches and CEO successions. In addition, he has led notable searches in the private equity industry including searches for the Carlyle Group and Warburg Pincus.Hoda TahounAs a leadership advisor and leader of the global Leisure & Hospitality Practice at RRA, Hoda Tahoun identifies, assesses, and develops dynamic C-suite leaders for global hospitality, travel, and leisure companies. Based in Miami, Hoda helps clients solve their most pressing leadership issues at the CEO, C-suite, and other executive-levels. She also advises clients on customer-centric, go-to-market leadership roles such as chief marketing officers and chief experience officers. Hoda is committed to reshaping the hospitality and leisure landscape to ensure it is an industry that leads with purpose, value, and wellbeing and continues to attract and retain talent across all facets of diversity.Hoda spent more than seven years working for a boutique executive search firm, rising to the title of principal where she worked closely with hotel management companies, cruise lines and private equity firms. Previously, Hoda was an assistant vice president at SHUAA Capital in Dubai where she led the firm’s investment banking efforts. She has also worked at American Express, Bank of America and Citi.
Ireland