FranklinCovey On Leadership

Sit down with basketball legend and leadership thinker Shane Battier. From National High School Player of the Year and NCAA Champion at Duke to two-time NBA Champion with the Miami Heat, Battier built a career on more than stats—he became known as the ultimate “glue guy,” mastering the unseen skills that drive teams to win. In this episode, Shane shares the mindsets, lessons, and leadership principles that guided his journey on and off the court, including how to embrace humility, elevate others, and create winning cultures. Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or striving for personal growth, Shane’s insights will inspire you to rethink success and lead with impact.

We sit down with Cyan Banister, a pioneering investor and entrepreneur whose remarkable journey began on a Navajo reservation and included homelessness at 14, no formal degrees, and more than 50 odd jobs before she found her path in technology. She shares how relentless curiosity, daily “level ups,” and the courage to embrace optimism shaped her career as an early investor in transformative companies like Uber, SpaceX, and Pokémon Go. Along the way, Cyan reveals the role of aphorisms in her personal growth, why conviction matters in investment decisions, and how play and wonder fuel both creativity and leadership.

Bestselling author James Patterson and leadership expert Patrick Leddin join us to explore resilience, disruption, and thriving in uncertain times. They discuss lessons from their diverse careers, the importance of repeated practice in building resilience, and how to embrace change with courage and creativity. From stories of family businesses to navigating the rise of AI, this episode offers practical wisdom and inspiring insights on leadership and impact.

We are joined by Carolyn Dewar, McKinsey senior partner and author of CEO Excellence, to unpack what makes great leaders stand out. Drawing on extensive research from her book CEO Excellence, Carolyn reveals the bold mindset that defines exceptional CEOs, the critical risks they take, and why focusing on expanding the pie drives long-term success. She shares insights on the four seasons of being a CEO, from early bold moves to finishing strong, and why openness to learning often matters more than confidence. Listeners will learn how CEOs can avoid analysis paralysis, manage their calendars ruthlessly, lead through uncertainty, and prepare for smooth transitions that save businesses billions.

We sit down with Tim Brown, Chair of IDEO and pioneer of design thinking, for an inspiring conversation on the future of design, leadership, and creativity. Tim reflects on projects he’s proudest of while sharing why good design must address both functional and emotional needs. Tim also dives into the intersection of AI and human creativity—how it’s currently reshaping existing designs, and where it could take us in generating entirely new possibilities. With lessons on collaboration, leadership, and the value of exploring ideas across disciplines, this episode shines light on how design is not just for art but for business.

Chip Conley—hospitality disruptor, modern elder, and wisdom seeker—joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on creativity, culture, and wisdom in business. Chip shares stories from his early days transforming rundown hotels in San Francisco’s Tenderloin into vibrant communities, his role in shaping Airbnb’s growth, and why investing in culture doesn’t have to cost a dime. He reflects on the balance between founder energy and burnout, the lessons of storytelling and constraints, and the importance of wisdom in an AI-driven future.

Economist and author Tyler Cowen explores what makes founders uniquely capable of leading transformative organizations. He discusses the concept of “founder energy”—the authority, credibility, and institutional capital that empower visionaries like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to make bold pivots when others can’t. Cowen examines how leadership legitimacy differs between founders and hired CEOs, and why adaptability, decision speed, and conviction are critical in times of change. He also reflects on how leaders can build influence without formal authority by earning trust and creating value in their organizations. Watch this conversation to learn how to harness founder-like energy to drive innovation and resilience.