Leveraging Thought Leadership

What if the world didn’t reward the best ideas — but the best-packaged ones?

That’s the question at the heart of this conversation between Bill Sherman and Gavin McMahon, CEO of fassforward and author of Story Business. Once an engineer designing submarines, Gavin discovered that technical brilliance alone doesn’t move ideas forward — storytelling does. Now, he helps leaders use story as a tool for influence, clarity, and change.

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What happens when senior executives step into a room and speak with radical candor?

In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Ken Banta, Founder and CEO of the Vanguard Network, to explore how real leaders grow stronger through dialogue—not monologues.

Ken doesn’t just advise on leadership—he builds ecosystems where executives learn directly from each other. The Vanguard Network creates pe...

What happens when a CEO treats thought leadership as essential as strategy?

In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Des Hague, an acclaimed executive who has led global brands like PepsiCo, IHOP, and Centerplate, and now advises startups, nonprofits, and private equity firms. He’s also the author of "Think Your Way to the Top" and "15 Minutes of Shame", with a third book on the way.

Des ...

What if time wasn’t fixed, but something you could stretch, compress, and reframe?

In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman sits down with John Coyle—Olympian, design thinking expert, and author of "Design for Strengths". John has spent his life chasing the meaning of time, from hundredths of a second on the ice to decades in thought leadership. His work asks us to reconsider not just how much time we ha...

What if the key to transformation isn’t a new app, a coach, or a seminar—but a 99-cent notebook?

In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Klint Guerry, Group Vice President at Sewell Automotive Companies and author of "A Guide to Self Disruption". Klint reveals how a simple daily practice evolved into a powerful system for accountability, focus, and lifelong learning.

At the heart of Klint’s t...

What does it take for a self-published author to turn a niche book into a best-seller—and then hand it over to a traditional publisher for its second edition?

Erik Hanberg did just that with "The Little Book of Boards: A Board Member’s Handbook for Small and Very Small Nonprofits". His journey offers lessons in entrepreneurship, publishing strategy, and the business of thought leadership.

In this episode, Erik shares how his earl...

What if gambling with your time was the smartest investment you could make as a thought leader?

Today on  Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Dan Ariely—renowned behavioral economist, three-time New York Times bestselling author, and one of the sharpest minds in decision science. His work has influenced companies like Google and Apple, guided governments, and sparked movements in how we understand human...

What happens when every member of your team thinks, works, and communicates differently? Do you see chaos—or do you see opportunity?

In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Stephanie Chung, bestselling author of "Leading People Who Are Not Like You" and a pioneering executive in the aviation industry. Stephanie challenges leaders to move beyond surface-level diversity and embrace the reality t...

Are you the bottleneck in your own business?

Many entrepreneurs wear every hat—CEO, sales, R&D, even accounts receivable—yet still feel stuck. Cary Prejean, founder of Strategic Business Advisors and author of three books, has spent 40 years helping business owners shift from operator to visionary leader. In this episode, we explore why entrepreneurs don’t need to become great managers—and why trying to do so can hold them back. I...

What if your next career move wasn’t about climbing the ladder—but making real progress toward a life of purpose?

In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Michael Horn—author, speaker, and co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation —to explore how thought leadership can transform education, careers, and the way we make big life decisions.

Michael has spent d...

What happens when world-class research escapes the ivory tower and takes root in the boardroom

In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Christopher Marquis — Professor of Chinese Management at the University of Cambridge and author of "Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profits and Socializes Costs" — to explore the art of turning academic insight into practical, high-impact business thinking.
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What if your team—not just your leaders—held the key to breakthrough performance?

Today, Peter Winick sits down with long-time friend and bestselling author Keith Ferrazzi to explore why “leadership” alone isn’t enough anymore. Keith’s new work, "Never Lead Alone", moves beyond the individual and puts the spotlight on "teamship"—a powerful, often-overlooked force in organizational transformation.

Keith shares how he’s evolved fro...

What does it take to transform a mission-driven organization into a high-velocity execution machine?

Today, Peter Winick sits down with Suba Vasudevan, COO of Mozilla, to explore how thought leadership drives impact inside and outside the organization. Suba isn’t just talking about brand elevation—she’s focused on aligning thought leadership with Mozilla’s double bottom line: financial success and a healthy internet.

You’ll hear ...

What if the game of Whac-A-Mole perfectly described your leadership challenges?

Ric Shriver and Jeff Fierstein think it does. These two veteran consultants have spent over four decades tackling recurring, high-stakes issues inside organizations—and they’ve captured those lessons in their book "Leadership Whack-A-Mole: Actionable Strategies to Leadership Challenges".

Today's episode, Ric and Jeff join Peter to explore how they've ...

What if you could lead organizational change the same way revolutions overthrow regimes?

Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Greg Satell—co-founder of ChangeOS, bestselling author of "Cascades: How to Create a Movement That Drives Transformational Change", and one of the world’s top experts on transformational change. Greg doesn’t just talk about change—he’s lived through it, from leading media orga...

What if you could design the future — instead of reacting to it?

In today's episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with futurist and design strategist Lisa Kay Solomon to explore how leaders can use design thinking to actively shape what’s next.

Lisa is a Designer-in-Residence at Stanford’s d.school, an educator, a bestselling author, and a respected voice on the Thinkers50 Radar list. She helps leaders an...

In this special compilation episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman brings together four voices at the forefront of AI and innovation: Jen Cohen, Stephanie Grayson, Amelia Ross, and Spencer Ante. Each offers a powerful, firsthand take on how AI is changing the way we lead, communicate, and make decisions.

Jen Cohen explores how AI can amplify—rather than replace—human potential. She’s seen how automation can unl...

Can doing good in the world be quantified like ROI?

Peter Winick sits down with Nick Cooney, founder and managing partner of Lever VC, to explore how a venture capitalist measures moral return alongside financial return. Nick’s not your typical VC—he’s also the author of "What We Don't Do: Inaction in the Face of Suffering and the Drive to Do More", a book that fuses analytical thinking with a deep commitment to reducing suffering...

What happens when a top-tier academic walks away from the ivory tower and becomes a powerhouse investor?

In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with David Bell—former Wharton professor, founder of Idea Farm Ventures, and investor in some of the biggest direct-to-consumer brands you know: Warby Parker, Bonobos, Harry’s, Diapers.com, and Jet.com.

David shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, offering real insight into ...