What happens when the playbook for leadership no longer applies? In this thought-provoking conversation, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by futurist Steve Fisher and behavioral scientist Ja-Nae Duane, co-authors of Super Shifts: Transforming How We Live, Learn, and Work in the Age of Intelligence. With decades of experience in executive foresight, systems thinking, and organizational transformation, the duo brings clarity and urgency to what senior leaders must confront in this new era.
Rather than relying on trend-chasing or tech hype, Fisher and Duane challenge leaders to understand the structural shifts reshaping leadership, work, and society. From AI-driven augmentation to generational drift and collapsing institutional trust, the conversation explores how exponential change is converging across systems—and why most organizations are woefully unprepared.
What makes this episode stand out is its strategic lens on real leadership adaptation. The guests don’t just talk about what’s coming—they focus on how executives should respond. They offer a framework for leadership in the age of intelligence and make a powerful case for why foresight, anti-fragility, and systemic thinking aren’t optional—they’re now prerequisites.
You’ll walk away from this episode with a deeper understanding of the nine “super shifts” shaping the future—and a sharpened sense of what your organization and leadership team must start doing now. If you’re serious about designing future-ready strategy and building adaptive leadership capability, this episode is essential listening.
Actionable Takeaways
- You'll learn why your past leadership success patterns could now be liabilities—and what to do about it
- Hear how to build anti-fragility into your team’s mindset, especially during uncertainty and disruption
- You'll explore the five traits of future-fit leadership, and why adaptability matters more than control
- Discover how to integrate AI not just as a tool—but as a collaborative force inside your team
- Hear why scenario planning must evolve into “spectrum foresight”—and how the best leaders are already using it
- You'll be challenged to rethink your assumptions about leadership structure, generational norms, and centralized power
- Learn what “the paralysis of the present” means—and how it silently stalls innovation at the highest levels
- See how real leaders are designing for flexibility at the system level—not just reacting to tech shifts
- Explore ways to confront fear inside your organization—and turn it into a driver for learning and growth
- Understand why leaders who wait for certainty are falling behind—and what it takes to move without a map
Connect with Ja-Nae Duane and Steve Fisher
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.