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 former CEO Clarke Murphy, Leadership Advisor Marla Oates, and Chief Science Officer Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, 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.
Leadership Lounge
A sister mini-series to the Redefiners podcast, Leadership Lounge gives listeners unfettered access to our global team of leadership experts, who share real-world answers to your most-pressing leadership questions—from how you can give and receive feedback to the benefits of having a mentor. Hosted by RRA leadership advisor Emma Combe, each 15-20-minute episode lifts the curtain on how great leaders think, act, and lead, helping you build your own leadership muscles, whether you’re just starting out or already at the top.
Our Hosts: Clarke Murphy, Marla Oates, Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, and Emma Combe :
Clarke Murphy leverages 30 years of experience in the executive recruiting industry to advise on critical leadership mandates across sectors—including Fortune 100 board searches and CEO successions. Based in New York, he has provided leadership advisory services to corporations such as Duke Energy, Deutsche Bank and Siemens, as well as private equity firms including the Carlyle Group.
Since joining the firm in 1988, Clarke has held several senior level roles at the firm, working both in Europe and the US. Clarke was the CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates from 2011-2021, where he led the firm through unprecedented growth. Previously, he led the CEO & Board Advisory Practice, served as Head of the Americas region, and was a member of the firm’s board of directors and Executive Committee.
Marla Oates is a leadership advisor at RRA who is passionate about connecting organizations with influential leaders and trailblazers who can inspire and drive change in a rapidly evolving world. With a focus on identifying and recruiting exceptional talent for Chief Financial Officer, Chief People Officer, and board searches, Marla has successfully partnered with hundreds of Fortune 500 organizations and private equity firms throughout the technology, industrial, and consumer sectors to identify and recruit top talent.Based in Austin, she has the privilege of fostering community and curating meaningful connections for C-suite executives and board members.
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the Chief Science Officer at RRA and is an international authority in people analytics, talent management, leadership development, and the human-AI interface. His commercial work has focused on the creation of science-based tools that improve organizations' ability to predict performance, and people's ability to understand themselves. He was recently the Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup, and is a co-founder of DeeperSignals and MyTrudy, as well as Professor of Business Psychology at University College London and Columbia University. He has previously held academic positions at New York University and the London School of Economics, and lectured at Harvard Business School, Stanford Business School, London Business School, Johns Hopkins, IMD, and INSEAD, as well as being the CEO at Hogan Assessment Systems.
As the host of Leadership Lounge, Redefiners’ sister podcast, Emma Combe leads the UK Board Practice for Russell Reynolds Associates. She excels at identifying board chairs, CEOs, and executive and non-executive directors for listed, private equity, and family-owned enterprises. She also has extensive experience advising clients on board composition and development, as well as CEO succession planning. Based in London, she brings deep expertise in the industrial, infrastructure, and services sectors, both in the UK and internationally.
Since 2023, Emma has hosted Leadership Lounge, a podcast mini-series where she asks Russell Reynolds Associates’ leadership advisors to answer some of the most pressing questions facing leaders today.
Emma joined Russell Reynolds Associates when The Zygos Partnership became part of the firm in 2017. Previously, Emma worked for a specialist headhunting firm advising private equity funds on the leadership of their portfolio companies. She began her career as an associate for a boutique executive search firm based in New York.
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Leadership Lounge: From Offer Letter to Day One: How First-Time CEOs Lay the Groundwork for Success
Season 6 · Episode 18
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 18:02
When a CEO steps into the role, the focus is often on the first 100 days. But preparation should begin much earlier. The weeks—and sometimes months—between accepting the offer and officially starting provides a valuable opportunity to build (or evolve) relationships, reflect on the leader you want to be, and put the right support around you.
So, how can first-time CEOs use the period before day one to lay the groundwork for a strong start?
Why the transition period looks different for internal and external CEO appointments
What new CEOs should prioritize before day one.
How first-time CEOs can prepare themselves personally for the demands of the role
Why thinking about impact, legacy, and support systems shouldn’t wait until after you start
“Every CEO transition introduces change, and every change is experienced through people.”
— Shannon Knott
Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
Why external CEOs should be wary of early assumptions: Board papers, interviews, and conversations can tell you a lot about an organization, but they cannot give you a complete picture of its culture, ways of working, or leadership team. External CEOs need to remain open-minded and be prepared to test their early impressions once they are in the role.
Which relationships matter early on: Use the transition period to establish a strong working relationship with the chair, listen to individual board members, and understand the perspectives of other influential leaders.
How your leadership may need to evolve: The appointment process can offer valuable insight into your strengths, blind spots, and development areas. Use that feedback to consider how your leadership needs to evolve as you step into the CEO role.
What will help you sustain performance: The CEO role can be more isolating and demanding than first-time CEOs expect. Establishing a trusted group of advisors and routines that help you reflect and recharge can help you sustain your performance once the job begins.
In this episode, we discuss:
[01.55] Why internally promoted CEOs have a “golden hour” before their appointment is announced—and how to make the most of it
[03.38] Why external CEOs can do all the right research and still struggle to understand how an organization really operates before joining
[06.13] What newly appointed CEOs should learn from the chair and individual board members before they formally start
[10.02] How to use feedback from the CEO appointment process to identify the strengths and blind spots that could shape your tenure
[11.16] Why thinking about your legacy before day one can help clarify the impact you want to have as CEO
[14.32] Why first-time CEOs should build a “trusted cabinet” and establish routines that help them sustain their performance before they need them
From Bankruptcy to Revival: Cracking the Gen Z Code with Pacsun CEO Brieane Olson
Season 6 · Episode 17
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 • Duration 33:20
With around 2 billion people globally in Gen Z—roughly 25% of the world’s population—it’s no surprise so many consumer companies are racing to connect with them, drawn to their spending influence today and their growing economic power tomorrow. Yet capturing their loyalty is anything but straightforward.
In today’s Redefiners episode, Tomas and Marla talk with a leader in youth fashion, Pacsun CEO Brieane Olson, who seems to have cracked the code on Gen Z and even wrote a book on it: Co-Created: The Cultural Strategy That Redefined Pacsun. Brieane shares how she helped lead Pacsun's turnaround after bankruptcy, the leadership lessons that shaped her early days as CEO, and how she shifted the culture from "brand telling" to "customer listening" and co-creation. She also covers how Pacsun is using AI to deepen customer relationships and drive sales, along with her playbook for building authentic partnerships that resonate.
We’ll also hear from Emmy Melville, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates, who shares how today’s leadership teams can sustain performance when change never stops.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
Tips on stepping into the CEO role
How to go from “brand telling” to customer listening
Insights on developing authentic brand partnerships
Ideas on how to use AI to deepen customer connections
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
Leadership Lounge: How to Build Trust as an Outside CEO in a Family Enterprise
Season 6 · Episode 16
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 • Duration 16:57
Stepping into a family enterprise as an outside CEO is unlike taking the helm of almost any other organization. You’re stepping into a business shaped by generations of history, deeply held values, and personal relationships.
That means trust cannot be assumed. Outside CEOs need to understand what matters to the family, build relationships across the enterprise, and recognize that even seemingly small decisions can carry significant weight.
So, how can outside CEOs earn the trust they need to lead effectively, while respecting the legacy they have been entrusted to protect?
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe is joined by leadership advisors Hugo Healing and Burak Gorbon to explore what it takes to succeed as an outside CEO in a family enterprise.
They discuss:
What makes leading a family enterprise different from other CEO roles
How outside CEOs can establish credibility and build relationships with family stakeholders
How to navigate the expectations and complexities that come with leading a family-owned enterprise
How to balance the need for transformation with respect for the family’s legacy
“You're a custodian of something that's very personal to people.”
— Hugo Healing
Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds
The Eight Moves to Rewrite Your Leadership Playbook with Former IG Group CEO June Yee Felix
Season 6 · Episode 15
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 • Duration 26:42
Every leader needs a playbook to keep the organization operating consistently, cut through ambiguity, and align teams around a shared vision and goals. But many playbooks weren’t designed for an era defined by increasing uncertainty and relentless change.
In today’s Redefiners, Tomas and Marla talk with former IG Group CEO June Yee Felix about how she had to rewrite her own leadership playbook after stepping into the CEO role during a time of increased regulation and scrutiny. She explores why leaders need to rewrite their playbooks to better navigate chaos and uncertainty, and shares the eight moves they’ll need to do it. She also discusses the characteristics that make up an effective board and the role boards play when it comes to tech and AI governance.
We’ll also hear from Margot McShane, a leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates and co-founder of RRA Artemis, an initiative to create more future-ready CEOs. She’ll explain why traditional CEO succession planning is no longer enough and how boards can build stronger leadership pipelines for an uncertain future.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
How to prepare for stepping into a leadership role at a difficult time
Why leaders need to change their leadership playbooks and what should they do
What are the characteristics of an effective board and what is its role when it comes to tech and AI governance
What is contributing to increasing CEO turnover and how are boards preparing for CEO appointments and succession
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
Leadership Lounge: How to Succeed as an Interim CEO
Season 6 · Episode 14
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 • Duration 19:11
Interim CEO appointments are on the rise. As boards contend with increasing leadership turnover, unexpected CEO departures, and growing pressure from stakeholders, many are turning to interim leaders to provide stability while they identify the right long-term successor.
But succeeding as an interim CEO is far from straightforward. Leaders are often expected to build trust quickly, make important decisions with limited information, and create momentum across the organization—all while operating under significant uncertainty about their own future.
▪ Why boards are increasingly appointing interim CEOs
▪ The unique pressures and challenges that come with leading on an interim basis
▪ How leaders can build trust, clarity, and momentum during periods of transition
▪ What aspiring permanent CEOs should consider when navigating interim appointments
"The most fraught word in interim leadership is ambiguity. The first question that an interim CEO needs to ask is: Why am I here? What am I trying to accomplish?"
Justus O'Brien
Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates
Rewriting the Playbook: How FMF President Mikel Arriola Is Reinventing Football in Mexico
Season 6 · Episode 13
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 29:37
World Cup madness has taken over the world. And while you’re screaming “Allez les Bleus!”, “Vamos Vamos Argentina!”, “I Believe That We Will Win!”, “It’s coming home!”, “Vamos Nippon!”, “¡Cielito Lindo”, "Olé, Olé, Olé!" or any other team chant at the World Cup, there are thousands of people who have been planning and sweating the details so that you can watch the games and cheer your team to victory.
Today, we’ll speak with someone who is leading that team in Mexico, as Marla and Tomas sit down with the Commissioner and President of Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Mikel Arriola. Mikel shares how he regrouped after a setback running for political office to step into the top roles at FMF and Liga MX. He digs into how he aligned his team to execute an audacious World Cup strategy across three host cities in Mexico, guiding the organization through the complexity, politics, and stakeholder demands of both FMF and FIFA. And he discusses how technology and AI are redefining sports.
We’ll also hear from Navio Kwok, a leadership specialist at Russell Reynolds Associates, who will share his perspective on whether the lessons learned in professional sport can help explain why so many athletes go on to become successful leaders.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
How to align your leadership team and navigate complexity, politics, and stakeholder demands to execute an audacious strategy
How to regroup and move forward after a setback
How to manage competing priorities and conflicts to drive decisions
Ideas on building the culture and skills needed for technology and AI transformation
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
Leadership Lounge: Why Decision-Making Is Becoming Harder for C-Suite Leaders—and How You Can Overcome It
Season 6 · Episode 12
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • Duration 18:49
The ability to make sound decisions has always been a defining leadership capability. But for today’s C-suite leaders, the challenge is greater than ever. Rapid change, increasing uncertainty, and a constant flow of information mean leaders are often required to make high-stakes decisions without having all the answers.
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe sits down with leadership advisors Ilana Abramowicz and Henryk Krajewski to explore why decision-making is becoming more challenging in the C-suite—and the practices leaders can adopt to make better decisions and sustain performance.
They discuss:
The forces making decision-making harder at the top of organizations
How leaders can navigate decisions when every option involves difficult trade-offs
The practical tools leaders can use to make better decisions under pressure
“Go fast where learning is cheap. Be careful where being wrong is expensive.”
Great decision-making starts with creating space to think. C-suite leaders who are “always on" risk burnout and decision fatigue, making it harder to exercise sound judgment when it matters most.
Banking on Change: How Standard Chartered Group Chief Executive Bill Winters Stays Ahead
Season 6 · Episode 11
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • Duration 29:38
Stepping into the CEO role is a challenging transition for any leader to make. It’s even more challenging when you know you’re stepping into the role at a turbulent time in an organization’s history.
Our guest today experienced that transition over a decade ago and has since built a compelling story of transformation and value creation. Standard Chartered Group Chief Executive Bill Winters joins Marla Oates and Clarke Murphy to talk about why he knowingly stepped into the role at a challenging time at the bank and what he did to restore confidence in the company. Bill shares how he manages innovation and perpetual transformation in a highly regulated industry, including how the bank is using AI, reskilling teams, and continuing to evolve with digital assets. He also unpacks how he builds relationships and trust with his board, including plans for the next CEO succession.
We’ll also hear from Henryk Krajewski, leadership advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates, who shares his perspective on how CEOs can unlock greater value in today’s environment.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
What are some the first steps to take to restore confidence in a company in turmoil
What are the keys to value creation and balancing innovation with risk
How to think about succession planning and working with your board
How to lead perpetual change
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
Leadership Lounge: Staying Sharp at the Top: How CEOs Can Use Mentors to Sustain Performance
Season 6 · Episode 10
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 • Duration 14:37
The demands of the CEO role don’t stand still—and neither can the leaders in it. Yet while many executives benefit from mentorship on the path to the top, far fewer maintain it once they arrive.
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe sits down with Suzanne Bose-Mallick to explore how mentorship helps CEOs sustain performance in one of the most demanding roles in business.
They discuss:
Why many CEOs stop engaging with mentors—and why that can limit their effectiveness
The moments when mentorship matters most, from succession to transformation
How mentors support CEOs in building relationships with their boards, making top team decisions, and deciding between competing priorities
The difference between a mentor and a chair—and why independence can be important
“An external mentor allows a CEO to have consequence-free conversations…a space where they can truly express their concerns.”
- Suzanne Bose-Mallick, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
Mentorship becomes more valuable at the top: The transition into the CEO role often increases the need for external perspective, not reduces it.
Challenge sharpens performance: The best mentors hold CEOs to account, helping them make better, more grounded decisions.
Scaling Giving: How GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan Connects 190 Million People to Help Each Other
Season 6 · Episode 9
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 • Duration 30:02
The term “crowdfunding” was coined in 2006 by entrepreneur and technologist, Michael Sullivan. The number of crowdfunding tools and companies have grown since then, but the purpose has remained the same—democratizing access to capital for those who need it.
GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan joins Marla Oates and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic to talk about how his organization is helping people help each other, connecting more than 190 million people to raise $40 billion since the company’s founding in 2010. Tim digs into the key drivers to scaling and growing the business, including embedding purpose, technology, and AI. He delves into the psychology of asking for and receiving help, and how emotion and the need for human connection impact fundraising. And he shares his journey from entrepreneur CEO to board chair, and how he shifted and evolved his leadership style along the way.
We’ll also hear from Emma Combe, leadership advisor and the UK Board Practice Leader at Russell Reynolds Associates, who will share what it really takes to move from an executive role into the boardroom. Emma is also the host of Redefiners’ sister podcast, Leadership Lounge, where she asks our advisors to answer some of the most pressing questions senior leaders face.
Four things you’ll learn from this episode:
The top leadership and tech/AI drivers to scaling and growing a business
How to embed purpose into a culture and team to help guide strategy and decision making
The psychology of giving and asking for help
Tips on building your leadership team across different stages of a company’s growth
Trust must be earned: The CEO title provides authority, but family stakeholders still need to develop confidence in the person behind it.
Preparation starts before day one: Learning the family’s history, relationships, values, and expectations gives outside CEOs a stronger foundation for success.
Small actions send big signals: Seemingly routine decisions can take on greater significance when they appear inconsistent with the family’s values.
Transformation needs shared ownership: Involving family stakeholders and recognizing their contribution can help position change as evolution rather than rejection of the past.
In this episode, we discuss:
(00:05:32) Why modifying a company car caused one outside CEO to lose the family’s trust just three months into the role
(00:08:42) How one incoming CEO started building relationships before day one—including going sailing with a family member
(00:07:09) Why outside CEOs need to “read the book” of a family enterprise before trying to write its next chapter
(00:09:58) What informal conversations can reveal about a family’s expectations that you may never uncover in the boardroom
(00:12:50) Why a cost-cutting transformation can raise deeper questions about whether a CEO understands what the family stands for
(00:11:05) Why becoming defensive when trust breaks down can make the problem worse—and what to do instead
(00:12:50) How giving family members credit for what they have built can help an outside CEO create support for change
Interim CEOs don't have the luxury of a traditional onboarding period. With limited time and high expectations, they must absorb information quickly and make decisions before they have complete certainty.
There is no universal playbook for interim leadership. Some situations require leaders to preserve stability, while others demand rapid transformation—success depends on understanding which mandate the board has given you.
Trust is built faster when leaders look beyond the executive leadership team and listen to the layers below. Engaging stakeholders across multiple levels of the organization helps interim CEOs make better decisions and build credibility more quickly.
Ambiguity can undermine even the most capable leaders. The most effective interim CEOs reduce uncertainty by aligning early with the board on expectations, authority, tenure, and long-term succession plans.
In this 19-minute episode, we will cover:
(2:26) Why interim CEO appointments are increasing
(3:09) How CEO turnover, burnout, and succession planning challenges are shaping leadership transitions
(6:06) The unique pressures of serving as an interim CEO
(8:51) Why clarity on your mandate is essential for success
(9:56) Examples of interim CEOs who have led through crisis
(13:32) How to build trust quickly across the organization
(14:10) Managing competing ambitions within the executive team
(15:58) When and how to discuss becoming the permanent CEO
Values provide critical decision-making guardrails. When facts are incomplete and every option carries consequences, clarity about what leaders stand for helps them make difficult decisions with confidence and integrity.
Strong leaders know the difference between conviction and ego. The best decision-makers remain open to new evidence and avoid becoming overly attached to their original ideas.
High-performing executive teams bring discipline to decision-making. Clear accountability, constructive challenge, and knowing when to move quickly—or slow down—help top teams make better decisions and execute them more effectively.
In this episode, we will cover:
(02:33) Why leaders often fall into analysis paralysis
(04:12) The impact of being "always on" and how it can affect a leader’s judgment
(05:54) How personal values help leaders navigate difficult trade-offs
(10:40) How executive teams can improve decision-making through clearer decision rights
(12:53) How to avoid groupthink and create productive dissent
(14:03) The role of pre-mortems to stress-test major decisions
(15:27) The one-way-door versus two-way-door-framework for more effective decision-making
Independence creates space for honesty: Unlike internal stakeholders, external mentors offer a confidential environment for candid reflection and clearer thinking.
Impact depends on the CEO: The most effective mentoring relationships require preparation, openness, and a willingness to be challenged.
In this episode, we will cover:
(1:53) Why CEOs must continually evolve to stay effective
(2:38) How mentorship supports leaders through high-stakes transitions
(5:20) When to seek a mentor—and why it’s never too late
(6:53) The role of mentors in grounding decision-making under pressure
(8:44) Mentor vs. chair: understanding the difference
(10:55) What CEOs must bring to get value from mentorship
(12:31) When mentoring relationships lose effectiveness—and how to respond
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
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