Explore every episode of the podcast The Evolving Leader
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEW - The Mindset Economy Podcast | 16 Jan 2026 | 00:01:57 | |
Available NOW wherever you get your podcasts, The Mindset Economy is the podcast from the team that brought you The Evolving Leader. Presented by co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender, this new podcast addresses How will we work, live, and belong in a more uncertain world, where machines can think? Our hypothesis is that as quantitative, routine, low-cognitive work is automated, human advantage will come from qualitative work, creativity, judgement, and social intelligence. The Mindset Economy podcast will explore the changes taking place, how leaders will respond to creation of a new economy being ushered in by the mass adoption of AI, and how we can accelerate human advantage. The Mindset Economy will feature a broad diversity of voices: from leaders at the edge of this transformation to performance scientists and AI thinkers and social philosophers. Subscribe NOW. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindset-economy/id1857925112 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3pFMH4kJBslfg5yg50PIDV?si=6e41e1326f2d42ab YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdDPnyDmEZvkU5PSvv7r5YQ | |||
| 'Leading in the Age of AI’ with Andy MacMillan | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:40:59 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader, Jean and Scott sit down with Andy MacMillan, CEO of Alteryx, to explore how generative AI is reshaping work, leadership and organisational design. Andy shares a uniquely practical and grounded view of where companies really are with AI adoption, caught in a chaotic but exciting period where the opportunity is clear, but the scaffolding is not yet in place. He explains why AI transformation cannot be delegated to IT, how leaders should approach reimagining business processes, and why Theory of Constraints is one of the most powerful lenses for navigating the next wave of change. Andy also opens up about the leadership challenges ahead: maintaining psychological safety in the midst of rapid technological shift, helping teams build confidence with new tools, and avoiding both complacency and panic. He shares candid lessons from his own leadership journey, the importance of transparency when organisations face change, and why the most impactful AI practices often happen at the “strategic altitude” rather than in day-to-day automation. Further reading re. Andy MacMillan and Alteryx: · How AI adoption is driving a new data era at Alteryx — An interview with Andy MacMillan discussing his role as CEO (appointed December 2024), Alteryx’s repositioning as an “AI Data Clearinghouse”, and his thoughts on shifting from siloed business-data systems to unified analytics. · Alteryx Looks To Become An AI Data Powerhouse With New Unified Platform (CRN, May 2025) — MacMillan discusses the launch of the “Alteryx One” platform, a strategic move to unify analytics, data-prep and AI workflows under one roof. · With agentic AI we are being sold on the idea of running before we can walk or crawl, says Alteryx’s Andy MacMillan (Tech Monitor, May 2025) — A leadership-focused piece where MacMillan emphasises the importance of starting with manageable AI projects, surfacing his mindset around experimentation, governance and human-machine synergy. Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| 'The Power of No' with Dr Sunita Sah | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:56:21 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader, hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are joined by Dr. Sunita Sah, a physician turned organisational psychologist and Professor of Management at Cornell University. Together they explore the power of saying “no” in a world that rewards compliance. Drawing from her acclaimed book “Defy: The Power of No in a World that Demands Yes”, Dr Sah reveals how our upbringing, institutions, and social pressures teach us to equate being “good” with being obedient, and how that conditioning can silence our values. She introduces the concept of “insinuation anxiety,” the discomfort of implying distrust when we disagree, and shares how to build the courage and skill to act in alignment with what truly matters. For senior leaders, this conversation reframes defiance as an essential leadership practice, not rebellion, but integrity in action. Sah explains the five stages of defiance, the cost of compliance, and why organisations that cultivate psychological safety and intellectual humility outperform those that suppress challenge. It’s a thought-provoking guide to leading with authenticity, courage, and moral clarity in complex systems where it’s often easier to say yes. Further materials from Sunita Sah: “Defy: The Power of No in a Worlds That Demands Yes”, (Blink Publishing, February 2025) “The science of defiance: A psychology researcher explains why people comply – and how to resist”, (The Conversations, September 2025) “America thinks it’s a country of free thinkers. But we’re actually compliant”, (Los Angeles Times, February 2025) “How to Say No and Mean It”, (Psychology Today, January 2025)
Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| 'The Extinction of Experience' with Dr Christine Rosen | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:52:28 | |
In this thought-provoking episode of The Evolving Leader, hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk with Dr Christine Rosen, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of The Extinction of Experience. The conversation examines how our growing dependence on technology is subtly reshaping what it means to be human, thinning our attention, dulling empathy, and changing how we connect and make sense of the world. Drawing on history, neuroscience and cultural observation, Christine invites us to pause and consider what is the true cost of convenience, and how do we reclaim our embodied authentic experience in a digital world? For leaders, this conversation is a wake-up call. As AI accelerates and organisations seek ever greater efficiency, Rosen argues that the future advantage will belong to those who can cultivate distinctly human capacities, presence, curiosity, and discernment. Her insights challenge us to create workplaces that strengthen, rather than outsource, our humanity.
Further materials from Christine Rosen: ‘The Extinction Of Experience’ (Jan, 2025)
The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| BONUS EPISODE - "Innovate Into The Unknown" with Atif Rafiq | 08 Nov 2025 | 00:16:10 | |
In this bonus episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Scott Allender and Arjun Sahdev talk to Atif Rafiq, the first Chief Digital Officer in Fortune 500 history and former senior executive at McDonald’s, Volvo, and MGM Resorts. Now CEO and co-founder of Ritual, an AI-powered workflow platform, Atif shares how leaders can build decision-making systems that are faster, fairer, and more adaptive in an age of complexity. He explains his core principle of “exploration before alignment” and why premature agreement kills curiosity and weakens problem-solving. Find out more about Atif Rafiq: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atif1/ https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/re-wire-6765332215867031552/ Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| 'Leading From The Heart' with Mark Crowley | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:52:42 | |
In this latest episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, Jean Gomes is joined by Mark Crowley, author of Lead from the Heart, to explore how emotion, belonging, and authentic care are redefining leadership for the modern world. Mark shares his remarkable personal journey, from an upbringing shaped by trauma to a career built on leading through compassion. We hear how what began as an instinctive way to give others what he never received became a philosophy now backed by neuroscience and organisational research. Jean and Mark unpack why traditional engagement models are failing, how the science of emotion is reshaping our understanding of performance, and why belonging and care are now the greatest predictors of organisational health. This is a powerful conversation for leaders seeking to create cultures that elevate both human well-being and business results. Further materials from Mark Crowley: “Don’t Measure Employee Engagement—Support Employee Well-Being” (2025, Porchlight Book Company) “5 Leadership Strategies To Help Teams Thrive Amid Uncertainty” (2025, Fast Company) “Leaders don’t really care about employee engagement. Here’s why” (2024, Fast Company) “How leaders can address the human energy crisis” (2023, Fast Company) “Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century” (2011, Balboa Press)
Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender:
The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘Exploring Imagination’ with Adam Zeman | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:49:55 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to neurologist and author Adam Zeman about his latest book The Shape of Things Unseen. Together they explore how imagination helps us step outside the here and now, recall the past, and anticipate the future, and why this ability matters more than ever in a world shaped by automation and accelerating change. Adam takes us inside the science of the mind’s eye, from aphantasia (the inability to visualise) to hyperphantasia (imagery as vivid as reality), and unpacks what these differences reveal about creativity, culture and leadership. This conversation offers practical insights for leaders on cultivating imagination within organisations, the role of daydreaming in innovation, and how to create environments where ideas can flourish. Further materials from Adam Zeman: Zeman, A. (2025). The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination. Bloomsbury. Zeman, A., Milton, F., Della Sala, S. (2024). “Aphantasia and Hyperphantasia: Exploring imagery vividness extremes.” Cortex, 170, 1–14. Zeman, A. (2024). “Aphantasia: The science of visual imagery absence.” Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 28(3), 189–200.
Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘Strategic Foresight’ with Dr Gabriele Rizzo | 15 Oct 2025 | 00:46:01 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Scott Allender and Sara Deschamps sit down with Dr. Gabriele Rizzo, a global authority on strategic foresight who has advised NATO, the US Space Force and major government institutions. The conversation explores how leaders can shift their relationship with the future, moving from prediction and short-termism to building resilience and long-term value. Gabriele shares the laws of foresight, why multiple futures matter, and how to use practical tools like scenario planning and futures wheels to unlock new thinking in times of uncertainty. This conversation is a guide to making space for future relevance. Gabriele Rizzo challenges the listener to see the unknown not as danger but as potential, and to build organisations capable of disruptive innovation rather than defending the status quo. Whether you’re leading through transformation, wrestling with the implications of AI, or seeking to balance immediate performance with long-term impact, this conversation offers practical and thought-provoking insights into how foresight can become a critical leadership advantage. Further materials from Gabriele Rizzo Longviews.ai HR Futures 2030: A Design for Future-Ready Human Resources
Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘The Art Of Uncertainty – Embracing The Unknown’ with Sir David Spiegelhalter | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:53:12 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to Sir David Spiegelhalter, one of the world’s foremost authorities on risk and probability. David explains why embracing uncertainty, rather than trying to eliminate it is essential for leaders who want to build resilience and make better judgments in complex times. Drawing from his latest book “The Art of Uncertainty”, David shares stories that bring statistics to life, from forecasting failures to the importance of imagination and red-team thinking. This conversation offers both a challenge and a toolkit: how to hold authority while admitting doubt, how to communicate risk with clarity, and how to lead teams toward what he calls ‘safe uncertainty’.
Further materials from David Spiegelhalter: Five Rules For Evidence Communication The art and science of uncertainty - with David Spiegelhalter (recorded at the Royal Institution, 30 January 2025)
The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘The Power of Intuition’ with Hrund Gunnsteinsdottir | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:54:29 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Scott Allender and Emma Sinclair sit down with Icelandic author, sustainability leader and entrepreneur Hrund Gunnsteinsdottir to explore how intuition can guide leaders through times of uncertainty and noise. Drawing from her book INSÆI: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times and her acclaimed documentary InnSæi: The Power of Intuition, Hrund shares how reconnecting with our inner compass helps us balance rational analysis with intuitive insight, creativity and emotional intelligence. From her own experience of burnout to lessons on presence, journaling, and attention, she reveals how leaders can cultivate deeper self-awareness and resilience. This conversation goes beyond abstract theory, showing how intuition plays a vital role in decision-making, relationships, and leadership culture. Hrund explains how being present allows us to listen more fully, connect with others, and sense opportunities we might otherwise miss. If you are navigating complexity, seeking clarity in uncertainty, or wanting to integrate wisdom and creativity into your leadership practice, this episode offers practical tools and profound inspiration. Further references “Listen to Your Intuition — It Can Help You Navigate the Future”
“How to tap into your intuition: a live meditation with Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir”
Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘How to decide’ with Jon Bircher | 03 Sep 2025 | 00:59:55 | |
What does it really mean to be a great decision-maker, and why is this skill so often left to chance? In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender sit down in person with Jon Bircher, decision coach and former strategy consultant, to explore why decision-making is rarely taught, and how we can do it better. Jon shares insights from his coaching work with senior leaders who often feel confident in solo decisions, but struggle in collaborative settings. We talk about why so many decisions get stuck in ambiguity, how emotion and gut feeling play a role, and how leaders can build conditions for more thoughtful, inclusive, and reflective decision-making. This is a conversation about slowing down to ask better questions, experimenting with new ways of thinking, and developing a decision-making practice that’s fit for the complexity of leadership today. Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘The Art of Judgement’ with Sir Andrew Likierman | 30 Jul 2025 | 00:55:02 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes is joined by Sir Andrew Likierman, former Dean of London Business School and one of the world’s leading experts on judgment. Drawing from decades of research across business, government, medicine, and the military, Andrew breaks down what judgment really is: the combination of personal qualities, relevant knowledge, and lived experience applied to a particular decision. Together, they explore: · Why judgment is not the same as intelligence or expertise · The six components that shape every decision · How to spot (and avoid) bad judgment · The rising importance of human judgment in the age of AI · Practical ways leaders can develop and embed better judgment in their teams Whether you're leading through uncertainty or navigating complex decisions, this episode offers essential insights into what makes judgment a critical (and trainable) human advantage. Referenced during this episode: ‘Judgement at Work: Making Better Choices’ (A Likierman, 2025) Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘The Seven Deadly Sins’ with Guy Leschziner | 16 Jul 2025 | 00:57:17 | |
“Sleep is intrinsic to every aspect of our waking life.” (Dr Guy Leschziner) In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Emma Sinclair delve into the biological roots of our most human behaviours with Professor Guy Leschziner, neurologist and author of The Seven Deadly Sins: The Biology of Being Human. From the neuroscience behind gluttony, anger and pride to the unpredictable nature of envy and the myth of free will, Guy offers a powerful reframing of how biology shapes leadership, judgement, and motivation. He also shares essential sleep research and practical guidance that every leader should hear, particularly those running on too little rest and too much pressure. Whether you're leading through complexity or seeking to better understand the hidden forces that shape your thinking and responses, this conversation offers insight into how our brains construct reality and how leaders can respond with greater empathy, adaptability and presence. #Leadership #Neuroscience #GuyLeschziner #EvolvingLeader #SleepScience #CognitiveDiversity #AdaptiveLeadership #SevenDeadlySins #ExecutiveWellbeing #FreeWill #Motivation #Neurobiology #Empathy #DecisionMaking Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| 'How Climate Change is Changing Us' with Clayton Aldern | 02 Jul 2025 | 01:04:02 | |
As the world gets hotter, how is it changing our brains? In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are joined by neuroscientist and author Clayton Aldern to explore how environmental shifts (especially climate change) are quietly reshaping our minds, behaviours, and capacity for decision-making. Drawing from his acclaimed book The Weight of Nature, Clayton explains how heat, trauma, and ecological instability are influencing everything from memory and empathy to aggression and judgement. This isn’t just a conversation about climate change, it’s about what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world. Jean, Scott, and Clayton dig into the science behind our evolving mental states and offer a compelling call to rethink our relationship with the environment, not just to save the planet, but to preserve our own mental wellbeing. This is a conversation every leader should hear. Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)
Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘Why We Believe’ with Alister McGrath | 18 Jun 2025 | 00:52:31 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are joined by renowned philosopher and theologian Alister McGrath to explore one of the most timeless and urgent questions: Why do we believe? Drawing on insights from his new book, Why We Believe: Finding Meaning in Uncertain Times, McGrath reflects on the nature of belief, the human need for meaning, and how our convictions shape who we are and how we lead. The conversation takes us from McGrath’s early journey through science and Marxism to his later embrace of faith, to the cultural forces shaping our beliefs today from post-truth politics to techno-optimism. The episode explores how leaders can navigate complexity and uncertainty with grounded beliefs, curiosity, and empathy without succumbing to dogma or paralysis. Whether you consider yourself a person of faith, reason, or somewhere in between, this episode invites you to reflect more deeply on what sustains you and how those beliefs can help you thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Referenced during this episode: Why We Believe: Finding Meaning In Uncertain Times (McGrath, 2025) Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘Why Character Matters’ with Dr Edward Brooks | 04 Jun 2025 | 00:56:14 | |
What if leadership isn’t just about performance, but about character? In this episode of The Evolving Leader, we’re joined by Dr. Ed Brooks, Executive Director of the Oxford Character Project and co-editor of the new book The Arts of Leading. With hosts Jean Gomes and Emma Sinclair, Ed explores how cultivating human character, hope, courage, humility, and clarity, can provide the deep stability today’s leaders urgently need. We discuss the difference between optimism and hope, why virtues like kindness and creativity are underrated in leadership, and how the arts and humanities reveal untold stories of leadership that challenge traditional views. From Plato’s cave to the quiet leadership of community organisers, Ed shares how rethinking what (and who) we value in leadership can reshape organisations and ourselves. Referenced during this episode: Good Leadership in UK Business Report Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘Certainty: How Great Bosses Change Minds’ with Mike Mears | 21 May 2025 | 00:59:52 | |
In this compelling episode of The Evolving Leader, we sit down with Mike Mears, former CIA leadership head and author of "Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation." Mike shares powerful insights from his extraordinary career – from his days as a combat platoon leader and nuclear missile commander to his transformative work at GE and the CIA. Discover how his relentless curiosity led him to question conventional leadership practices, the pivotal moments that reshaped his approach, and the lessons he's learned about inspiring teams in a world driven by uncertainty. How can leaders inspire and motivate in a world driven by uncertainty? Join us as we explore the habits, mindsets, and actionable insights that can transform how you lead and connect with your team. Further reading from Mike Mears: Certainty. How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation: https://www.certaintyleadershipbook.com/
Mike Mears’s Website:
Mike Mears’s Leadership Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/i5b5t0
Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)
Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘Ego Flip’ with James Woodcock | 07 May 2025 | 00:52:24 | |
It's no secret that the world is changing rapidly (perhaps faster than many of us appreciate) and this demands a new kind of leadership. But is your ego holding back your ability to evolve and lead effectively? In this episode, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are in conversation with business philosopher, consultant and author of ‘Ego Flip: How to Reset Your Leadership Life’, James Woodcock. The conversation goes beyond theory, exploring practical ways to understand your own perspective and offers simple, actionable ideas like the ‘one breath rule’ and ‘noticing thinking’. If you're interested in understanding how ego shapes not just individuals but also organizations and how leadership can evolve for the future, this episode offers valuable insights on how to potentially reset your leadership life. Referenced during this episode: Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| BONUS: Working in AI with Damian Lowe | 02 May 2025 | 00:42:36 | |
In this bonus episode of The Evolving Leader, host Jean Gomes speaks with Damian Lowe, a senior software engineer at Symphony AI. They discuss how many of us have moved beyond the initial reactions to services like ChatGPT towards a current phase focused on experimenting, learning, and building. Damian shares that for programmers, AI tools like large language models (LLMs) are already providing a tangible 10-20% productivity gain for tasks like code suggestions and reviews, noting that both the technology and human adaptation are still maturing. However he adds that while AI excels at basic or medium tasks, its performance degrades quickly at higher complexity levels, often producing "nonsense," and he emphasizes that effective adaptation requires not just better prompting, but a crucial understanding of the difference between how machines "think" (based on probabilities) and how humans think. Looking ahead, Damian is optimistic that within 3-5 years AI could make many jobs significantly easier, potentially reducing "grunt work" and fostering more creativity through effective human-machine collaboration. He underscores the importance for leaders in helping teams understand AI's capabilities and limits, encouraging experimentation, and stresses the need to maintain critical thinking and human skills alongside AI adoption. Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| The Next Breakthrough in Self Awareness with Caroline Williams | 23 Apr 2025 | 01:18:40 | |
This week on The Evolving Leader is a double celebration – after more than 4 years and 190 episodes, we are thrilled to release our first in-person episode where co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender (usually sat thousands of miles apart) were together with guest, the renowned science writer Caroline Williams. Long term listeners will remember that we spoke to Caroline way back in season 2, and we are so pleased that Caroline agreed to come back and talk to us again, this time about her work around the science of interoception and her new book Inner Sense. Reading from Caroline Williams: Inner Sense: How the New Science of Interoception Can Transform Your Health Move: How the New Science of Body Movement Can Set Your Mind Free Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘Normalising Human Leadership’ with Nicky Lowe | 09 Apr 2025 | 00:55:00 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to Nicky Lowe. Nicky started her career working for a Silicon Valley tech company during the lead up to Y2K, where the financial rewards were great but for many their own wellbeing was secondary. After having her first child Nicky experienced burnout on her return to work, as she says ‘underestimating the psychosocial factors that impact women - especially mothers in the workplace’. Nicky became extremely curious as to what had happened and as a result reimagined her approach to her career and motherhood - learning what it takes to thrive both as a leader, mother and woman and for the last 20 years, Nicky has been an executive coach specialising in helping her clients achieve success in their lives without sacrificing their health or wellbeing.
Referenced during this episode: Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘Fake News and Why We Fall For It’ with Sander van der Linden | 26 Mar 2025 | 01:04:51 | |
During this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender discuss the pervasive issue of misinformation and its implications for society with Professor Sander van der Linden. Sander is Professor of Social Psychology in Society in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab and has also held posts at Princeton and Yale University. His research interests centre around the psychology of human judgment and decision-making and in particular he is interested in the social influence and persuasion process and how people are influenced by (mis)information and how they can gain resistance to persuasion through psychological inoculation. Sander is also interested in the psychology of conspiracy theories, extremism and radicalization, (digital) media effects, social networks, polarization, and the emergence of social norms, reasoning about evidence, and public understanding of risk and uncertainty. He has published around 175 papers and is ranked among the top 1% of all social scientists worldwide. In 2023, Sander’s book ‘FOOLPROOF: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity’ was published. Referenced during this episode:
Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)
Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| The Enneagram in Real Life with Stephanie Barron Hall | 21 Mar 2025 | 00:51:58 | |
In this bonus episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, host Scott Allender talks to Enneagram Practitioner, Leadership Consultant, and Author Stephanie Barron Hall. During the episode, Stephanie explains what the Enneagram is, how people new to the Enneagram might approach it and how it can be applied to teams in the workplace. Stephanie is the author of 'Enneagram In Real Life - Find Your Type and Take Steps Toward Growth' Further reading from Stephanie Barron Hall: Get your copy of Enneagram in Real Life https://www.ninetypes.co/enneagram-in-real-life Find Your Enneagram Type: https://www.ninetypes.co/find-your-enneagram-type Listen to the Enneagram in Real Life Podcast: https://www.enneagramirl.com/ Learn more about team sessions: https://www.ninetypes.co/
Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader YouTube @evolvingleader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Permission to Feel with Dr. Marc Brackett | 12 Mar 2025 | 01:00:47 | |
During this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are in conversation with Dr Marc Brackett. As the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Marc is professor in the Child Study Center at Yale, and author of the best-selling book 'Permission to Feel'. Marc’s next book ‘Dealing With Feeling – Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want’ is due for release in September 2025. An award-winning researcher for 25 years, Marc has published 175 scholarly articles on the role of Emotional Intelligence in learning, decision making, creativity, relationships, physical and mental health, and workplace performance. He is also the lead developer of RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) that has been adopted by over 5,000 schools across the globe, improving the lives of millions of children and adults. In addition to being featured frequently across media outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Good Morning America and more, Marc is also in demand as a keynote speaker and is co-founder of Oji Life Lab, a corporate learning firm that develops innovative digital learning systems for emotional intelligence. Referenced during this episode: ‘How We Feel’ app: https://howwefeel.org/ ‘Dealing With Feelings’ webcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRM-kVGeBRqdXAf7q7ut91HZQlfZSx_VX&si=oLRQ11SXM1GqTEgC ‘Permission to Feel: Unlock the power of emotions to help yourself and your children thrive’ (Quercus, 2019) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Permission-Feel-emotions-yourself-children/dp/1787478815/
Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)
Social: Instagram @evolvingleader LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter @Evolving_Leader Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| The New CEO with Ty Wiggins | 26 Feb 2025 | 00:57:23 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Emma Sinclair talk to CEO and Executive Transition advisor Ty Wiggins. He advises leading companies on leadership transitions and executive onboarding to ensure the accelerated paths to effectiveness and is one of only a handful of people globally with a PhD in senior leadership transitions. Ty is the author of ‘The New CEO – Lessons From CEOs on How to Start Well and Perform Quickly’ (Wiley, 2024). Instagram @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| The Atomic Human with Neil Lawrence | 12 Feb 2025 | 01:04:54 | |
During this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to Professor Neil Lawrence. Neil is one of the world’s most influential thinkers on the future of machine intelligence and the implications of what it means to be human. He’s the DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge and a Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield. In his book ‘The Atomic Human’, he explores the differences between AI and human intelligence. For three years (2016 – 2019) Neil was also Director of Machine Learning at Amazon. Instagram @evolvingleader The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Rethinking Driving Productivity in Emerging Markets with Anant Nyshadham | 29 Jan 2025 | 00:58:13 | |
During this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are in conversation with Anant Nyshadham who’s work includes studying the effectiveness of firms in developing countries with the intention of accelerating economic development. Anant is an associate Professor in the Business Economics and Public Policy area of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. He is also an affiliate of BREAD, which is a nonprofit dedicated to research and scholarship in development economics. And he is a research affiliate of the IGC, a J-PAL affiliated professor and an affiliate of the Montreal Partnership for Human Resource Management. Anant is also co-founder and chief strategy officer of the Good Business Lab, a nonprofit seeking to promote investment in worker welfare as a business imperative. His work focuses on enterprise, firm and worker characteristics and decision-making like labour contracting and worker training and managerial quality and the resulting performance dynamics, particularly in developing countries. Instagram @evolvingleader The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| BONUS: 'Finding Your Voice' with Tricia Brouk | 25 Jan 2025 | 00:52:26 | |
In this bonus episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Sara Deschamps and Arjun Sahdev are in conversation with Tricia Brouk. Tricia is a dynamic director, producer, author and speaker who specializes in empowering leaders to find their voice and tell their stories. She is also the founder of The Big Talk Academy, where she helps individuals master the art of public speaking and storytelling and over 30 years she has directed numerous award-winning films and theatrical productions. Known for her innovative approach to communication, Tricia combines her expertise in performance with a passion for personal growth, guiding clients to captivate audiences and make a lasting impact. Her work has been featured in prestigious platforms, and she is a sought-after speaker and mentor. Instagram @evolvingleader The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| ‘Building X-Teams' with Deborah Ancona | 15 Jan 2025 | 00:59:14 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to Professor Deborah Ancona about the importance of X-teams. These are a brand of team that emphasizes external outreach to stakeholders, extensive ties, expandable tiers, and flexible membership. The resulting X-teams are not only are able to adapt in ways that traditional teams are not, but they actually improve an organization’s ability to produce creative ideas and execute them increasing entrepreneurial and innovative capacity. In 2007 Deborah and Henrik Bresman wrote the book ‘X-Teams: How To Build Teams That Lead, Innovate, And Succeed’. Instagram @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Restoring Our Sanity Online with Mark Weinstein | 01 Jan 2025 | 00:50:35 | |
To kick off 2025, we’re releasing a conversation that Evolving Leader co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender had with Mark Weinstein. Mark is a tech entrepreneur, contemporary thought leader, privacy expert and one of the inventors of social networking. His work around social media, privacy, AI, free speech antitrust and protecting children online is widely published in publications including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fox, CNN and the BBC (to name but a few). Mark has been listed as one of the ‘Top 8 Minds in Online Privacy’ and his book ‘Restoring Our Sanity Online’ was published in September 2024. In this conversation, Mark talks about the profound impact of social media on society, politics and well-being, highlighting the shift from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 where users became the product, leading to surveillance capitalism. This is an important listen.
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| REPLAY: How Emotions Are Made with Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett | 18 Dec 2024 | 01:22:42 | |
Back in 2020, we released a two-part conversation (S1 Ep15 and 16) with neuroscientist Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett. We’re long-time admirers of Lisa’s work and were thrilled that she agreed to join co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender to discuss her work on The Evolving Leader podcast. It’s also clear that Lisa Feldman Barrett’s work is a big hit with our listeners as four years after release these two episodes continue to sit at the top of our listener chart, so here we’ve decided to pull them together into a special extended episode. Lisa Feldman Barrett is profoundly changing our understanding of the brain and in particular, our emotions. Since the ancient philosophers, and into our last century of scientific endeavour, emotions have been seen as hard-wired responses to external stimuli, located in specific regions of the brain. Lisa’s work has over-turned this age-old model which shapes everything from our current beliefs about emotional intelligence to facial recognition software widely being deployed around the world. Beyond this extended conversation, you’ll find more of Lisa Feldman Barrett’s work in her two books, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain (2020) and How Emotions are Made (2017), as well as hundreds of peer reviewed scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience and other top journals in psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Instagram @evolvingleader Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Exponential Growth with Salim Ismail | 11 Dec 2024 | 00:56:28 | |
This week on The Evolving Leader podcast, hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender spend an hour with Salim Ismail. In 2011, Salim Ismail co-wrote ‘Exponential Organizations’, a book that has since been widely read by CEOs who are looking for a new way to navigate uncertainty and embrace disruptive technologies and business models. In 2023 Salim and his co-authors updated the book and during this conversation he talks to Jean and Scott about ‘Exponential Organizations ExO 2.0’. Salim is also the founder and chairman of OpenExO which helps companies implement the ExO playbook. He is a serial entrepreneur, the Founding Executive Director of Singularity University and serves on the board of the XPRIZE Foundation, and all of that is really just scratching the surface as to the work that Salim Ismail is part of.
Core Principles of Exponential Organizations https://salimismail.com/ Instagram @evolvingleader Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| The New Science of Everyday Wonder with Dacher Keltner | 26 Nov 2024 | 00:51:32 | |
During this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are in conversation with Dr Dacher Kelter. Dacher is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center. His pioneering research focuses on the cultural and evolutionary origins of compassion, awe, love, beauty, power, social class and social inequality. He has over 200 scientific publications and has written several books, the latest of which is Awe - The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life. In this book, Dr. Keltner investigates the elusive emotion of awe - and presents incredible research on how the emotion of Awe can transform our brains and bodies, and how we can cultivate more experiences of awe in our everyday lives.
Instagram @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Being Human in the Age of AI with Susie Alegre | 13 Nov 2024 | 00:56:10 | |
In this episode, we’re delighted to welcome Susie Alegre back to The Evolving Leader. Susie is a leading human rights barrister at the internationally renowned Garden Court Chambers. She has been a legal pioneer in digital human rights, in particular the impact of artificial intelligence on the human rights of freedom of thought and opinion and she is also Senior Research Fellow at the University of Roehampton. Artificial intelligence is starting to shape every aspect of our daily lives, from how we think to who we love, and in her latest book ‘Human Rights, Robot Wrongs, Being Human in the Age of AI’ Susie Alegre explores the ways in which artificial intelligence threatens our fundamental human rights – including the rights to life, liberty and fair trial; the right to private and family life; and the right to free expression – and how we protect those rights. This is an important listen for us all.
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Connecting with our Future Selves with Hal Hershfield | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:52:06 | |
Have you ever wanted to travel through time and see what your life will be like in the future? While we want the best possible future for ourselves, we often fail to make decisions that would make that a reality. So why are so many of us so disconnected from our future selves? This week on The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to psychologist Professor Hal Hershfield. Hal is Professor of Marketing, Behavioural Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and is committed to the work of helping people make better long-term decisions. In his 2023 book ‘Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today’ Hal explains that in our minds, our future selves often look like strangers. Many of us view the future as incredibly distant, making us more likely to opt for immediate gratification that disregards the health and wellbeing of ourselves in the years to come. He says that people who are able to connect with their future selves, however, are better able to balance living for today and planning for tomorrow. This is a fascinating listen.
Instagram @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| The Excitable Soul with James Glover | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:58:23 | |
Are you feeling stuck? Finding your purpose changes everything. During this new episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-host Jean Gomes talks to self-confessed purpose nerd James Glover. James is the founder of The Excitable Soul, an organisation through which he and his team address the challenge that is helping people find their purpose. James is a World Champion athlete and a former Olympic performance coach, and after leaving elite sport he has worked all over the world with large organisations including Google, Microsoft and Sky helping them invest in their people and nurture a happier, stronger workforce. James is also the host of the Excitable Soul podcast (on which both Jean and Scott have been guests). Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Harness the Power of Open Innovation with Steve Rader | 02 Oct 2024 | 01:00:19 | |
Steve Rader is a leader in the thinking behind open innovation, open talent, and the future of work. In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, Steve joins Evolving Leader cohosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender to share how leaders can learn from his important work and use their learnings to solve complex problems. Steve tells us that open innovation and open talent are key strategies for organisations to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world. Instagram @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Reignite Your Inner Drive with Sharath Jeevan | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:49:22 | |
What happens when everything changes, when your core assumptions about your life and work seem no longer to hold true? A key responsibility of the leader is to be honest with themselves and others about anticipating, accepting and preparing for new realities while acknowledging that human beings often resist reality in ingenious and self deceiving ways. In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to Sharath Jeevan O.B.E. about his work helping leaders confront inflection moments where the external environment poses a significant threat or opportunity to an organisation’s business model. Sharath has also written two books “Inflection: A Roadmap for Leaders at a Crossroads” (2024) and “Intrinsic: A Manifesto to Reignite our Inner Drive” (2021) and teaches leadership at both Oxford and Cambridge universities. Instagram @evolvingleader
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| The Laws of Connection with David Robson | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:57:00 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender welcome back former guest science writer David Robson. David is an award-winning science writer specialising in the extremes of the human brain, body and behaviour. He has worked as editor of New Scientist and BBC Future, and his writing has been published in The Guardian, the Observer, the Washington Post and Atlantic and in 2022 was a finalist for the Best British Science Journalist of the year award. He has written three books including The Intelligence Trap (2019), The Expectation Effect (2022) for which he won a British Psychological Society Book Award and his latest book The Laws of Connection (2024). During this conversation David shares the importance of social connection for physical health and well-being. He explores the concept of the liking gap, where people underestimate how much others like them, and the physiological effects of loneliness. This highlights the need for prioritizing social connection and provides practical strategies for building and deepening relationships.
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Leading With Radical Candor with Kim Scott | 04 Sep 2024 | 01:10:49 | |
In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are in conversation with Kim Scott. Kim is the author of the best selling ‘Radical Candor, How To Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean’ (2017), ‘Just Work: How to Confront Bias, Prejudice and Bullying to Build a Culture of Inclusivity’ (2021) and the more recently published ‘Radical Respect, How to Work Together Better’ (2024). Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrix and Twitter and she hosts the Radical Candor and Radical Respect podcast.
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| SUMMER SHORTS: Richard Firth-Godbehere (BONUS) | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:03:31 | |
This short comes from a conversation that co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender had with Richard Fith-Godbehere back in March 2023 (S5 Ep15). Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| SUMMER SHORTS: Anil Seth (BONUS) | 27 Aug 2024 | 00:05:20 | |
This short comes from a conversation that co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender had with Anil Seth back in November 2021 (S3 Ep11). Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| SUMMER SHORTS: Ellen Langer (BONUS) | 25 Aug 2024 | 00:08:48 | |
This short comes from a conversation that co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender had with Dr Ellen Langer back in December 2023 (S6 Ep11). Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| SUMMER SHORTS: Philip Clarke (BONUS) | 22 Aug 2024 | 00:09:33 | |
This short comes from a conversation that co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender had with Philip Clarke back in November 2021 (S3 Ep9). Listen as co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to Philip Clarke, founder and CEO of strategic innovation consultancy Hunch, podcast host and author, about the eight pioneer principles needed to change the world. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| Leaders Who Fiction with Melanie Bell (BONUS) | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:22:31 | |
Are you a leader who loves to read fiction but rarely finds time to do so? Enjoy this short bonus episode of The Evolving Leader podcast. The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)
The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| SUMMER SHORTS: Ed Lu (BONUS) | 20 Aug 2024 | 00:06:09 | |
This short comes from a conversation that co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender had with Ed Lu back in March 2021 (S2 Ep7). Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| SUMMER SHORTS: Kevin Kelly (BONUS) | 18 Aug 2024 | 00:07:41 | |
This short comes from a conversation that co-host Jean Gomes had with Kevin Kelly back in September 2021 (S3 Ep2). Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| SUMMER SHORTS: Aidan McCullen (BONUS) | 15 Aug 2024 | 00:04:57 | |
This short comes from a conversation that co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender had with Aidan McCullen back in July 2021 (S2 Ep25). Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| SUMMER SHORTS: Dr Emily Clements (BONUS) | 13 Aug 2024 | 00:04:32 | |
This short comes from a conversation that guest host Emma Sinclair had with Dr Emily Clements back in January 2023 (S5 Ep10). Sit back and listen to this fascinating conversation during which Emma and Emily explore a key foundation for tomorrow’s leaders, building mindsets to navigate uncertainty and improve their capacity for disruptive thinking. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| SUMMER SHORTS: Mark Solms (BONUS) | 11 Aug 2024 | 00:11:56 | |
This short comes from a conversation that co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender had with neuroscientist Mark Solms back in April 2021 (S2 Ep14). Send a message to The Evolving Leader team After more than 5 years of hosting The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are launching their new show The Mindset Economy in January 2026. The new show will explore how to live better, work smarter and be connected in a more uncertain world where machines can think. Available wherever you get your podcasts. | |||