The Leadership Podcast Podcast By Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos experts on leadership development cover art

The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

By: Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos experts on leadership development
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We interview great leaders, review the books they read, and speak with highly influential authors who study them.Copyright © 2016-2025 Rafti Advisors, LLC & Self Reliant Leadership, LLC - All Rights Reserved. Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • TLP490: Reinventing Candy and Culture with Katie Lefkowitz

    TLP490: Reinventing Candy and Culture with Katie Lefkowitz
    Dec 17 2025
    Katie Lefkowitz is a neuroscience-trained entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Harken Foods who's reinventing candy with gut health at its core. In this episode, Katie reveals how her neuroscience background taught her to demand feedback systematically and observe behavior over words—skills that proved universal across consulting, scaling, and founding companies. She shares why she chose measured growth at Harken after experiencing Caulipower's explosive trajectory. Katie explains how the "seven questions framework" helps teams navigate the market's rapid shifts by keeping core values fixed while pivoting operational tactics. Discover practical approaches to data-driven decision-making, building authentic workplace culture, and leading through uncertainty without losing sight of core values. Find The Leadership Podcast episode 490 on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Watch this Episode on YouTube | Katie Lefkowitz on Reinventing Candy and Culture https://bit.ly/TLP-490 Key Takeaways [03:03] Katie explains her neuroscience background taught her the scientific method, helping evaluate questions less emotionally and with reduced bias. [04:05] Katie describes how all decisions need to be based in data, seeking feedback from every person on the Harken team. [05:44] Katie shares Harken was created after a health scare related to colon cancer introduced her to food as medicine. [07:25] Katie explains Caulipower grew as the fastest growing brand in all of CPG, but for Harken she wants to be more measured. [09:03] Katie confirms the Caulipower success gave her confidence to go at it alone with Harken. [09:48] Katie reflects on trying to be what she thought a leader looked like, being insecure about her age and gender. [11:45] Katie explains there will always be some imposter syndrome, but having Harken within her control has helped relieve that feeling. [13:20] Katie recalls a pitch where the first person said her product doesn't taste good, leaving her crying in the cab to the airport. [15:25] Katie describes watching if people take a second bite during tastings because behavior tells more than words. [16:36] Katie emphasizes listening more than talking as the key leadership lesson. [17:29] Katie explains the company uses Southwest Airlines' seven questions framework where core values don't change but goals and focus do. [19:05] Katie notes that running decisions through core values becomes second nature and prevents losing time on wrong priorities. [20:18] Katie states at their early stage it's about hiring people who believe in what they're doing because culture is what happens when she's not in the room. [21:44] Katie explains parents understand prioritization better because anything to get more time with their kid is of high value. [23:40] Katie reflects that taking pauses to pick up her kid allows her to process things better and make better decisions. [24:46] Katie advises knowing what motivates you—autonomy, mastery, purpose or status, wealth, power—and making decisions based on who you actually are. [27:41] And remember... "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." – Frederick Douglass Quotable Quotes "If you're not telling me I'm doing something wrong or questioning what I'm doing, very frequently, I'm gonna have a problem with that because there's no way that I'm doing everything right." "Listen more than you talk. You will always get a lot more from really hearing people than you're ever going to get from talking at them." "When you're just yourself, it actually comes off much more authentic. And it's those relationships that you're holding yourself back from if you're not able to be your full self." "Have confidence in yourself, own who you are. And it'll actually take you much further than trying to fit into some old mold." "All decisions just need to be based in data and not necessarily, you know, stories." "It's about keeping your core values and making sure that runs through every decision that you're making." "My time is my most valuable resource, not only to myself personally, but to the company." "Taking that pause actually allows me to process things much better. And having that breathing room, I think I just make better decisions." "Know what motivates you... Not who you want people to think you are, but who you actually are." Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Katie Lefkowitz Website | https://harkensweets.com Katie Lefkowitz Facebook | www.facebook.com/people/Harken-Sweets/61551227397377/?_rdr Katie Lefkowitz LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/katielefkowitz Katie Lefkowitz Instagram | @harkensweets TLP478: The Consequences of Inaction with Nick Cooney TLP472: Embracing Uncertainty with Dr. Margaret Heffernan
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    28 mins
  • TLP489: Quitting – Knowing When to Walk Away

    TLP489: Quitting – Knowing When to Walk Away
    Dec 10 2025
    Annie Duke is a three-time bestselling author, decision strategist, and former professional poker champion. She holds a PhD in cognitive psychology and is co-founder of the Alliance for Decision Education. Annie's latest best-selling book is "Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away." In this episode, Annie reveals why knowing when to walk away is the most underrated leadership skill. Drawing on cognitive psychology and real-world coaching with executives and venture capitalists, she breaks down why we're wired to stick with bad decisions, and more importantly, how to override that wiring. Annie explains how sunk costs, identity attachment, and status quo bias conspire to keep us committed past the point of reason. Listen now to stop grinding on goals that don't serve you, and start quitting your way to better outcomes. Find The Leadership Podcast episode 489 on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Watch this Episode on YouTube | Annie Duke on Quitting – Knowing When to Walk Away https://bit.ly/TLP-489 Key Takeaways [02:01] Annie reveals she's an avid tennis player and has a Bernadoodle dog not mentioned in her public bio. [02:54] Annie explains quitting is central to success because decisions are made under uncertainty and even perfect choices have bad outcomes 20% of the time. [06:25] Annie discusses how over-optimism harms decision-making by overestimating both likelihood and quality of good outcomes. [09:41] Annie describes Don Moore's research showing optimistic people just spend more time on unsolvable problems without performing better. [11:44] Annie clarifies that quitting feels too early in the moment but people looking back realize they quit too late. [14:27] Annie explains not quitting creates two problems: pursuing unhelpful goals plus losing opportunity cost of redirected resources. [15:03] Annie recommends using psychological distance through quitting coaches and kill criteria involving mental time travel. [16:19] Annie describes an exercise where executives set six-week benchmarks for underperforming employees, accelerating decisions. [19:38] Annie advises adding "unless" statements to goals since cost-benefit analyses change over time. [24:45] Annie addresses information paralysis by emphasizing the time-versus-accuracy trade-off in decisions. [30:49] Annie acknowledges self-knowledge matters but notes people have competing preferences between short-term wants and long-term values. [33:28] Annie explains how implicit decision-making allows bias to highlight factors supporting desired conclusions. [36:49] Annie explains explicit frameworks resolve short-term versus long-term conflicts by creating future accountability. [37:57] Annie tells negotiation clients every deal can be broken, paralleling keeping quitting as an option. [38:30] Annie addresses opportunity cost neglect where people focus on immediate goals without considering sacrifices. [44:32] Annie connects quitting to innovation since minimal starting information requires flexibility to pivot. [46:22] And remember…"If at first you don't succeed, try again, then quit, there's no point in being a damn fool about it." - W.C. fields. Quotable Quotes "When you make decisions to start things, you are making those decisions under conditions of uncertainty." "When you're thinking about quitting, it will generally feel like it's too early. But when you're looking at someone from the outside, if you're coaching, it'll feel like they're too late." "We quit way too late, as judged by our happiness." "When we don't quit something that we ought to quit, we have a double problem. One problem is that we're doing something that isn't helping us achieve our goals. And the other problem is an opportunity cost problem." "You don't want the goal itself to become an object because it is a representation of a cost benefit analysis." "In order to be a really good innovator, you have to build in this whole idea of quit." "Every deal can be broken, and even if you break it's not broken." These are the books mentioned in this episode Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Annie Duke Website | www.annieduke.com Annie Duke X | @annieduke Annie Duke Facebook | www.facebook.com/AnnieDukeAuthor Annie Duke LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/annie-duke-30ab2b5/ Annie Duke Instagram | @_annieduke
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    47 mins
  • TLP488: From Fleeting Moments to Sustained Momentum

    TLP488: From Fleeting Moments to Sustained Momentum
    Dec 3 2025
    Bernie Banks is a professor and institute leader at Rice University and co-author of "The New Science of Momentum: How the Best Coaches and Leaders Build a Fire from a Single Spark." As a Brigadier General, he led West Point's Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership in his final military assignment. In this episode, Bernie decodes how fleeting moments morph into sustained momentum. Drawing on eight years of research, over 250 interviews and thousands of survey responses across sports, business, politics and the military, Bernie shares a tried-and-true model leaders can use to spark movement, sustain it, and redirect it when needed. Momentum doesn't happen by accident—it's built through small wins, clear culture, situation-readiness, and intentional follow-through. Whether you're leading a team, an organization, or your own career, listen in for practical tools to recognize the early spark, harness the energy, and turn it into a flame that drives real progress. You can find episode 488 on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Watch this Episode on YouTube | Bernie Banks on From Fleeting Moments to Sustained Momentum https://bit.ly/TLP-488 Key Takeaways [03:27] Bernie explains the book originated from the 2017 Super Bowl when the Patriots came back from 28-3 to win against the Falcons. [06:39] Bernie explains momentum is overlooked because people view it as common sense rather than a vital leadership skill. [08:23] Bernie outlines the momentum model starts with leadership setting culture, then moving into preparation where leaders actively seek to generate momentum. [11:29] Bernie uses Nvidia as an example, explaining they made strategic decisions long ago to prepare for the AI revolution. [14:05] Bernie emphasizes "culture is not what you talk about, it's what you tolerate, it's what you reinforce." [15:35] Bernie shares Alan Mulally telling a disruptive Ford executive they needed a transition conversation because those behaviors wouldn't be tolerated. [19:23] Bernie quotes Warren Buffett on hiring: look for smart, driven, and principled people, never hiring someone high on the first two without the third. [21:57] Bernie explains hiring depends on whether you need to maintain or innovate. [25:05] Bernie advises being open and honest with people about gaps they'll have to address for the new reality. [27:39] Bernie explains momentum requires both managers who optimize systems and leaders who produce change. [30:36] Bernie notes the most effective leaders were high on both people and results orientation. [33:17] Bernie discusses the Pygmalion study, stating people rise to the level of expectations when leaders show vested interest in their well being. [34:51] Bernie explains he replaced "failure" with "embrace challenge" because failure has negative connotation and finality. [37:23] Bernie emphasizes intentionality matters, explaining legacy means our story will be told by others, not ourselves. [41:44] Bernie closes stating "momentum is leader business" and the book is designed as a how-to guide with immediate actions. [44:30] And remember…"The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum." - Frances E. Willard Quotable Quotes "Culture is not what you talk about. It's what you tolerate. It's what you reinforce." "Results are one thing, but the how matters." "Momentum is not something they stumbled upon. It was something they actively sought to generate." "People will rise to the level of your expectations so long as they believe you have a vested interest in fostering their well being and that you're equipping them to meet those expectations." "In the best organizations, accountability is the word, and in many organizations, accountability is a bad word." "Challenges can lead to opportunities, and we can always learn things along the way as we push through challenges." "Legacy comes from the Latin word legatus, which means people, person, delegated, which means our story will not be told by self." "Be intentional. The great leaders are." "Momentum is a leader business. " "A core obligation of every leader is to put their people in a position to win." "You don't put people in a position to win by watering down expectations." "Wherever there's a challenge, there's an opportunity." These are the books mentioned in this episode Resources Mentioned The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by | www.darley.com Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com Bernie Banks Facebook | www.facebook.com/bernard.banks.9 Bernie Banks LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/bernard-bernie-b-4458003
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    45 mins
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I've been listening for 3 years and every time I listen to a show I feel like I can go apply the practices discussed in my personal life and lower to mid management career. I have 100% grown as a leader from listening to this show.

Focus on evergreen topics. Meaning they don't cover current events. Only leadership focused self improvement topics.

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