What's Next! with Tiffani Bova

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. This week we're talking about something almost every leader is wrestling with right now: why transformation is so hard even when they know they need to change. My guests are Phil Lebrun and Jana Werner, co-authors of The Octopus Organization, a book that challenges the traditional way companies are structured and led. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders navigating transformation and growth who want to build organizations that can meet the level of change. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most organizations approach change as a transformation project with a clear beginning and end. Jana and Phil challenge that idea, arguing that the current environment requires organizations to continuously adapt, learn, and respond rather than rely on top-down change initiatives. In this conversation, they explain why so many transformation efforts fail, how bureaucracy and rigid structures slow organizations down, and why behavior change matters more than new technology or organizational charts. KEY TAKEAWAYS… Transformation is often overused when continuous adaptation is what organizations really need. Behavior change matters more than organizational charts or new technology. Bureaucracy grows when organizations prioritize control over learning. Curiosity and psychological safety fuel innovation and adaptability. Leaders create lasting change by empowering the people closest to the work. WHAT I LOVE MOST… Phil and Jana challenge the idea that transformation is something you complete. The organizations that thrive are the ones that treat learning and adaptation as part of everyday work. Running Time: 29:13 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X Find Phil Online: LinkedIn Find Jana Online: LinkedIn Phil and Jana's Substack: The Octopus Organization Phil and Jana's Book: The Octopus Organization: A Guide to Thriving in a World of Continuous Transformation

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. This week, I'm delighted to speak with Denise Persson. She is the Chief Marketing Officer at Snowflake and co-author of Make It Snow: From Zero to Billions. Over the last 25 years, Denise has helped build and scale some of the most recognizable enterprise technology companies, including Snowflake, Apigee, and Genesis, guiding organizations through hyper-growth, IPOs, acquisitions, and major market shifts. What I really love about Denise's perspective is that she understands growth isn't just about demand generation or pipeline, it's about building the operational alignment, customer trust, and internal culture that allow companies to scale sustainably. So today we're going to dive right into these topics. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…marketing leaders and growth-focused executives helping teams stay aligned while navigating rapid change and ambitious growth goals. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…many companies believe growth comes from moving faster, launching more campaigns, or constantly evolving their message. Denise argues the opposite. Drawing from her experience helping scale Snowflake into one of the most successful technology companies in the world, Denise explains why some of the biggest growth opportunities come from creating clarity and not complexity. Denise and Tiffani discuss what happens when organizations grow faster than their processes, why customer advocacy is more powerful than any marketing campaign, and how leaders can balance innovation with consistency. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Category creation succeeds when customers immediately understand the value. Consistency creates trust for customers, employees, and partners. Hypergrowth often exposes gaps in leadership, hiring, and alignment. Strong data foundations are essential for personalization and AI success. WHAT I LOVE MOST…Denise's perspective that growth isn't always about doing more. It's often about creating more clarity. In a business environment that constantly encourages organizations to move faster, add more, and chase the next opportunity, her reminder that consistency builds trust feels especially important. Running Time: 35:00 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X Find Denise Online: LinkedIn

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I'm thrilled to welcome you back to a series I did with my dear friend, Roger Martin. He's the author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In this episode, we're rethinking Warren Buffett's "moat" metaphor for competitive advantage. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders, entrepreneurs, strategists, and innovators who want to build a sustainable competitive advantage instead of competing in a race to the bottom. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most companies think about competitive advantage as something static, or what Warren Buffett famously coined the "moat" that protects the business from competitors. But Roger argues that this metaphor falls short in this day and age and introduces a more dynamic way to think about strategy: moving through "rooms" ahead of competitors. Roger explores why the best companies stay curious, how customer observation leads to innovation, why benchmarking can actually hurt differentiation, and how asking different questions is often the foundation of breakthrough growth. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Competitive advantage must evolve constantly, it can't stay static. Customer observation often reveals opportunities data alone misses. Benchmarking competitors too closely can limit innovation. Sustainable growth comes from continuously moving to the "next room." WHAT I LOVE MOST…Roger's perspective that competitive advantage is about continually evolving faster than your competitors. His "rooms" metaphor is such a powerful way to visualize innovation, customer learning, and staying ahead by asking smarter questions over time. Running Time: 30:44 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X Find Roger Online: LinkedIn Website Show Summary on Substack

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I'm thrilled to welcome Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, author, decision strategist, and creator of The Area Method. Her new book, The Human Edge, really challenges a core assumption we're all making right now that more technology automatically leads to better outcomes. What I love about her work is that it's not anti-AI, it's pro-human. She gives us a framework to think more clearly, challenge what we're seeing, and ultimately make decisions with more confidence and intention. Because at the end of the day, the question isn't whether we'll use AI, it is whether we will lead it or it will lead us. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone using AI in their work and wondering how to make better decisions without losing their human edge. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…AI can make you faster but it doesn't automatically make you better. Cheryl breaks down why decision-making, not technology, is the true competitive advantage. While AI can accelerate research, generate ideas, and even mirror your voice, it lacks context, judgment, and an understanding of what truly matters to you. Cheryl introduces the concept of "strategic stops" which are intentional moments to reflect, question assumptions, and ensure you're solving the right problem in the first place. KEY TAKEAWAYS… AI is only as good as the context you give it. Without that critical piece, you risk getting answers that sound right but aren't useful. Strategic pauses ("friction") improve decisions by helping you question assumptions and refine your thinking. AI can reinforce bias or limit perspective if you don't actively challenge its outputs. The most important decisions still require human judgment especially when stakes are high and outcomes are uncertain. The future belongs to strong decision-makers, not just companies with the best AI tools. WHAT I LOVE MOST…Cheryl's perspective that AI isn't replacing thinking but is actually demanding better thinking. The idea that we're all "chief deciders" in our own lives is a powerful reminder: no matter how advanced the technology gets, the responsibility to think critically is still ours. Running Time: 25:56 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X Find Cheryl Online: LinkedIn Website Cheryl's Book: The Human Edge: Smarter Decisions in the Age of AI

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I'm thrilled to welcome you back to a series I did with my dear friend, Roger Martin. He's the author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In this episode, we dissect the difference between strategy and planning. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders who want to sharpen their thinking and make better strategic choices. If you're responsible for direction, decisions, or results, this conversation will challenge how you think about strategy. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…in this episode, Roger makes the case that real strategy is about making choices and accepting the trade-offs that come with them. He explains why too many organizations avoid hard decisions, how that avoidance weakens execution, and what it actually takes to build a coherent, winning strategy. Key Takeaways: Strategy requires making clear, deliberate choices about where to play and how to win. Avoiding trade-offs leads to diluted focus and mediocre results. A strong strategy aligns resources, decisions, and behaviors around a single direction. Leaders must be willing to say no in order to build something truly differentiated. Execution improves dramatically when strategic choices are clearly understood. WHAT I LOVE MOST…Roger's insistence that strategy isn't complicated but it's uncomfortable. The real challenge isn't intelligence or frameworks; it's the willingness to commit to choices and live with the consequences. That reframes leadership in such a practical, grounded way. Running Time: 25:39 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X Find Roger Online: LinkedIn Website Show Summary on Substack

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. This week, I'm excited to welcome Serin Silva to the show. She is a strategic advisor to women founders, CEOs, and leadership teams. She led integration communications for eight acquisitions in a single year at a billion-dollar telecom, helping bring Oracle's first CRM and human capital management platforms to market. She launched the original MSNBC digital brand for Microsoft, and drove strategy for an early food delivery robot long before it was cool. She led five restructures and turnarounds for mid-sized companies, doubled revenue for mid-market tech firms, and delivered 150% business increase in eight months by forcing the right business and mindset pivots, which is why I wanted her to join today. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone feeling exhausted by trying to "push" alignment instead of creating it. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…drawing from her experience leading impressive acquisitions and product launches, Serin explains how leaders can shift from managing "by spreadsheet" to leading with human understanding. She discusses why high achievers often burn themselves out, how asking better questions changes outcomes, and what it really takes to guide people through change without losing momentum or yourself. Key Takeaways: Leading change works best when leaders prioritize emotional alignment, not just operational efficiency. Asking better questions requires discipline, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge assumptions respectfully. Most resistance at work is emotional, even when it shows up as rational debate. Removing emotion from decision-making frameworks can unlock stalled progress and clarity. WHAT I LOVE MOST…Serin's honesty about learning to temper her fire without losing it. Her insight that growth often comes from separating self-worth from outcomes is a powerful reminder for driven leaders who care deeply about their work. Running Time: 29:20 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X Find Serin Online: LinkedIn Website

Making Better Strategic Choices with Roger Martin I'm thrilled to announce a new show with my dear friend, Roger Martin, author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In this 12-part series, we'll explore the true meaning of strategy and how it's often misunderstood or misapplied in business today. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders and strategists who are tired of strategy being confused with planning and want a clearer, more practical way to think about how real strategic choices drive results. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…strategy isn't a list of priorities or a collection of initiatives—it's an integrated set of choices that work together to drive customer behavior. In this conversation, Roger Martin explains why so many organizations misunderstand strategy, how that misunderstanding shows up in day-to-day decision-making, and what it really takes to close the gap between what leaders hope will happen and what actually does. Drawing on decades of experience, Roger challenges conventional strategy thinking and lays the groundwork for a more disciplined, choice-driven approach to winning. KEY TAKEAWAYS… Strategy only works when choices reinforce one another, not when they exist as disconnected initiatives. The hardest—and most important—part of strategy is influencing customer behavior, not internal activity. Many companies mistake planning exercises for strategy, which leads to disappointing results. WHAT I LOVE MOST…I love how clearly Roger reframes strategy as a set of deliberate, reinforcing choices. It's a powerful reminder that winning isn't about doing more things, it's about making better, more integrated choices. Running Time: 21:22 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X Find Roger Online: LinkedIn Website Show Summary on Substack

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I'm thrilled to welcome Patrick Ledin, PhD, bestselling author and renowned leadership expert at Franklin Covey's Leadership and Culture Practice. He's teamed up with the amazing and legendary author, James Patterson, for their bold new book, Disrupt Everything—and Win, which we dive into in this show. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone feeling overwhelmed by constant change. If you're a leader, manager, or professional navigating disruption (from technology shifts to career uncertainty), this conversation will help you rethink what disruption actually means and how to work with it rather than fight it. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…disruption isn't just something that happens to us — it's something we can choose how to respond to. Drawing on years of research and hundreds of interviews, Patrick explains why winning in disruption isn't about chasing constant change or having all the answers. It's about clarity, purpose, and knowing when to lean into change and when to intentionally choose stability. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Disruption doesn't always mean blowing things up, sometimes saying no to change is the most disruptive move you can make The difference between micro disruptions and major life-altering ones and why both can shape your path. How reframing fear around technology and AI can turn uncertainty into opportunity rather than threat. WHAT I LOVE MOST…Patrick's reminder that leaders don't have to carry disruption alone. You don't need every skill, every answer, or every instinct perfectly calibrated. You just need the self-awareness to know what you bring to the table and the confidence to invite others in. Running Time: 28:27 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X Find Patrick Online: LinkedIn Patrick's Book: Disrupt Everything—and Win