Redefiners
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.
Episodes
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 ...
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 Briea...
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 signi...
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...
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, ...
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 yo...
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.
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 Cla...
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 enga...
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 organiz...
Stepping into the board chair role is a pivotal moment in any leadership journey—one that requires a fundamental shift in mindset and approach. You’re not just contributing to the discussion; you’re responsible for shaping boardroom dynamics, drawing out collective insight, and ensuring the board focuses on what matters most.
In this episode of Leadership Loun...
There’s no shortage of uncertainty and change in the world these days, which is why it’s a frequent topic on Redefiners. This is especially true in the world of commodities, as perhaps no other industry has to deal with the level of uncertainty and volatility that comes with the global trade of energy, metals, and minerals.
Trafigura Chairman&nbs...
Since the establishment of the first family offices in the 19th century, there are now more than 8,000 single family offices globally. These offices hold over $5 trillion in total estimated wealth today, an amount expected to grow to over $9 trillion by 2030.
In today’s Redefiners episode, Marla Oates and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic talk with Ste...
Generative AI is reshaping how leaders think, decide, and communicate. Used thoughtfully, it can sharpen strategic thinking and accelerate decision-making. But when GenAI output replaces genuine insight, it can expose leaders who can't defend their thinking under pressure.
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe sits down with Amy Scissons, Sean Dineen, and F...
Transformation continues to be the word at the top of leaders’ minds. Whether it’s due to changes in technology with AI, market shifts, the regulatory landscape, or unexpected global events, leaders are looking to transform their organization’s operations and culture to be more agile, innovative, and resilient.
In today’s Redefiners, Marla Oates and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic ...
For new CEOs, few relationships matter more—and few are more complex—than the relationship with their board. The tone set in the first year can either establish the board as a powerful ally or create friction that slows progress.
In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe is joined by three of our trusted leadership advisors Rusty O’Kelley, An...
Leadership is crucial to provide vision, direction, and motivation, guiding individuals and organizations toward common goals and overall success. This is true whether it’s in business, society, or your local community.
Today, Clarke Murphy sits down with His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, a well-known leader in the Catholic church, in the New York City community, and around the worl...
Welcome back for Season 6 of Redefiners! What better way to kick off the new year than introducing Russell Reynolds Associates’ first-ever Chief Science Officer, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. And if that wasn’t enough, Emma Combe from the Leadership Lounge joins Marla Oates for this special conversation.
In this episode, Tomas shares his latest research on talent ma...
There was no shortage of challenges for leaders in 2025, as they navigated a year filled with uncertainty and change. Leaders’ skills were tested as they steered their organizations through changes in the global economy, geopolitics, AI transformation, succession planning, and board relationships.
In this final Redefiners episode of the season, hosts Marla Oates and Simon Kingston take a look bac...
Creating leadership impact isn’t about one defining moment—it’s about the ripple effects your leadership generates over time. In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe sits down with Shannon Knott and Erin Marie Collins to unpack what meaningful impact looks like today, and how leaders can sustain it.
They explore:
- Why impact extends beyond results to the experience others have of your leaders...
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