The Science of Inspiration: Why Leaders Inspire or Infuriate | Adam Galinsky - E709
About this episode
Adam Galinsky discusses the science of inspiration in leadership and its implications in Southeast Asia's tech ecosystem.
What separates leaders who inspire from those who infuriate? Columbia Business School professor and bestselling author Adam Galinsky (Inspire, Friend & Foe) breaks down the science of inspiration: the Leader Amplification Effect, why every leader inevitably inspires or infuriates, and the three universal traits of inspiring people, being a Visionary, an Exemplar, and a Mentor. He also explains why AI is fundamentally sycophantic, how it can quietly erode learning and human connection, and why in-person relationships still win. Featuring the story of Southwest pilot Captain Tammie Jo Shults, the research on power and reflection, perspective taking, and the real difference between leadership and management. For founders, venture capitalists, and operators across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia, this is a practical playbook for leading teams, raising capital, and building culture in Southeast Asia's fast moving tech ecosystem. Galinsky unpacks how inspiring leadership shifts across individualistic and collectivist cultures, why consistency and avoiding hypocrisy carry extra weight in Asia, and how simple repetition drives belief…
People in this episode
Host: Jeremy Au
Guest: Adam Galinsky
Topics covered
- leadership
- inspiration
- AI
- team building
- Southeast Asia tech
Keywords
- leadership
- inspiration
- AI
- team building
- Southeast Asia
- culture
- trust
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Columbia Business School
Books & works: Inspire, Friend & Foe
Places: Southeast Asia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia
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