Neil Hoyne: Data, AI, and the Human Side of Strategy

When every leader is being told to “have an AI strategy,” where do you actually start? Neil Hoyne—Google’s Chief Strategist and author of Converted—joins Jennifer Colosimo to reframe the conversation around what really drives growth. Drawing on two decades in rooms with CEOs, boards, and frontline teams, Neil explains why the first question isn’t which AI model to buy, but what business problem you’re trying to solve and how you’ll deploy limited resources to capture real opportunities. He talks about the psychology of data—why even the most sophisticated leaders override it, how metrics get weaponized into sales pitches, and what it takes to build disciplined experimentation instead. Neil also shares how to reconnect spreadsheets to the human stories behind them, design standards for “how much data is enough,” and use AI as a tool in service of clear strategy rather than a shiny object that drives it. AI Transformation and the Human Imperative: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/tlg-ai-transformation-human-imperative?x=j4G37p&lb-mode=overlay As a global leadership and organizational performance partner, we give strategy the human edge™. For 40 years, FranklinCovey has helped tens of thousands of leaders, teams, and organizations around the world achieve breakthrough results and transform how they execute strategy at scale.To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776

How do you lead through constant disruption without losing sight of people, purpose, or performance? In this episode, Kat Cole—CEO of AG1, former president of Cinnabon, and longtime operator and investor—joins Jennifer Colosimo to share the pivotal moments that shaped her philosophy of leadership. Kat reflects on rising from restaurant hostess to executive, turning Cinnabon around after the Great Recession, and steering franchise and hospitality businesses through COVID when revenue evaporated overnight. She explains why “being clear-eyed” about what’s broken, focusing on what truly matters, and being willing to take unpopular actions are essential in volatile times. Kat also talks about the beliefs great leaders hold about people, how they balance optimism with realism, and the everyday habits—listening, taking action, seeking feedback, and growing on purpose—that allow them to build trust, unlock potential, and create opportunity in any environment. From Shock to Strategic Advantage: How Leaders Convert Disruption Into Opportunity: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/tlg-convert-disruption?x=j4G37p&lb-mode=overlay As a global leadership and organizational performance partner, we give strategy the human edge™. For 40 years, FranklinCovey has helped tens of thousands of leaders, teams, and organizations around the world achieve breakthrough results and transform how they execute strategy at scale.To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776

What does effective leadership look like when every decision can affect a patient’s life? In this episode, Erica DeBoer, Chief Nursing Officer at Sanford Health, joins Jennifer Colosimo to share how she leads 11,000 nurses and 55,000 team members across one of the nation’s largest rural health systems. Erica describes her philosophy of stewardship, why leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating the conditions for great decisions, and how she keeps “brilliance at the bedside” at the center of every choice. She explains why clarity matters more than certainty, how Sanford’s high-reliability journey and SAFE (Sanford Accountability for Excellence) framework guide communication, and practical ways she equips frontline teams to speak up, solve problems, and focus on what matters most. Along the way, she highlights simple practices—like huddles, repeated messaging, and visible presence—that build trust, strengthen engagement, and improve both the employee and patient experience. Rethinking the High-Turnover Hospital: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/tlg-rethinking-the-high-turnover-hospital?x=j4G37p&lb-mode=overlay As a global leadership and organizational performance partner, we give strategy the human edge™. For 40 years, FranklinCovey has helped tens of thousands of leaders, teams, and organizations around the world achieve breakthrough results and transform how they execute strategy at scale.To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776

In many organizations, the ideal employee is still the one who’s always on, answers instantly, and never seems to slow down. Elizabeth Svoboda—award-winning science journalist and author of The Art of Pacing—joins Jennifer Colosimo to challenge that myth with evidence from neuroscience, psychology, and elite performance. Elizabeth explains why “grind” culture quietly erodes physical and mental health, drives talented people out, and ultimately undermines productivity. She shares what happens in our brains and bodies when we ignore limits, how leaders’ own narratives about overwork shape their teams, and why learning to pull back before you hit the wall is an act of courage, not weakness. Drawing on real research and practical tools, Elizabeth shows how leaders can model healthier pacing, spot early warning signs of overload, and create environments where people can sustain high performance over the long term.   From Burnout to Breakthrough: Turn Inconsistent Leadership Into Sustainable Performance: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/tlg-from-burnout-to-breakthrough?x=j4G37p&lb-mode=overlay   As a global leadership and organizational performance partner, we give strategy the human edge™. For 40 years, FranklinCovey has helped tens of thousands of leaders, teams, and organizations around the world achieve breakthrough results and transform how they execute strategy at scale.To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776

In a world obsessed with speed, what if the most powerful leadership move is to tap the brakes? In this episode, Shawn Vanderhoven—partner at The Wiseman Group and co-author of Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World—joins Jennifer Colosimo to share what he’s learned from researching hundreds of leaders and high-performing teams. Shawn explains why so many managers feel overcommitted, addicted to activity, and unintentionally pass busyness down to their people, especially as AI accelerates expectations. He describes the simple behaviors that distinguish leaders who create clarity, calm, and space for deep work from those who amplify chaos. Through real stories and practical tools, Shawn shows how to design time for focus, reduce distraction, and shift from a bias for constant action to a bias for impact—so your team can do the kind of work they’re truly capable of. From Burnout to Breakthrough: Turn Inconsistent Leadership Into Sustainable Performance - https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/tlg-from-burnout-to-breakthrough?x=j4G37p&lb-mode=overlay As a global leadership and organizational performance partner, we give strategy the human edge™. For 40 years, FranklinCovey has helped tens of thousands of leaders, teams, and organizations around the world achieve breakthrough results and transform how they execute strategy at scale. To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776

How do you lead transformation in an environment where the stakes are life and death and “the way it’s always been” feels hardwired? In this episode, Ryannon Frederick, Chief Nursing Officer at Mayo Clinic, joins Jennifer Colosimo to talk about what human-centered leadership looks like in practice. Ryannon shares how she pushes herself and her teams beyond incremental change by borrowing ideas from outside healthcare, challenging limiting beliefs, and using “imagine a world where…” prompts to unlock big thinking. She describes Mayo’s “for nurses, by nurses” approach to innovation, why the people closest to the work are best positioned to spot opportunities, and how pairing frontline clinicians with non-clinical experts sparks new solutions. Along the way, she highlights the daily behaviors that build trust, psychological safety, and engagement across 26,000 nurses—and why the toughest leaders she’s worked for ultimately helped her grow the most.   The views expressed in this interview are those of Ryannon Frederick and do not reflect the views of their employer.   Caring for the Caregivers: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/tlg-caring-for-the-caregivers?x=j4G37p&lb-mode=overlay   As a global leadership and organizational performance partner, we give strategy the human edge™. For 40 years, FranklinCovey has helped tens of thousands of leaders, teams, and organizations around the world achieve breakthrough results and transform how they execute strategy at scale.   To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776

Why do so many smart organizations still feel slow, rigid, and stuck in the past? In this episode, Phil Le-Brun—former McDonald’s executive who helped modernize operations across 38,000 restaurants, and now an executive in residence at Amazon Web Services—joins Jennifer Colosimo to introduce ideas from his new book, The Octopus Organization. Phil explains why the “silent killer” of performance isn’t bad people, but good people trapped in bad rules, outdated structures, and 19th-century management thinking. Using the octopus as a metaphor, he explores what it really means to build a learning, adaptive organization where decision-making lives closer to the work, not just at the top. Phil shares practical ways leaders can move beyond soul-crushing, one-time transformations and instead create continuous, humane change that unlocks potential, accelerates decisions, and helps teams thrive in a world of constant complexity.   As a global leadership and organizational performance partner, we give strategy the human edge™. For 40 years, FranklinCovey has helped tens of thousands of leaders, teams, and organizations around the world achieve breakthrough results and transform how they execute strategy at scale.   To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776

What if the biggest barrier to your goals lives inside your own head? In this episode, Dr. Henry Cloud—renowned clinical psychologist, executive coach, bestselling author, and co-founder of a large healthcare organization—joins Jennifer Colosimo to unpack the ideas behind his new book, Your Desired Future: The 5 Essential Steps That Take You Where You Want to Go. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and years working in the “war rooms” with CEOs and executive teams, Henry explains why effort alone rarely closes the gap between vision and execution. He introduces a simple but powerful model, inspired by how the human body moves from “here” to “there,” to help leaders clarify the future they want, recruit the right talent, and design strategies that actually work. Along the way, he explores how self-doubt, unexamined assumptions, and missing structural elements quietly stall progress—and what you can do to consistently create the results you intend.   FranklinCovey’s world-class learning solutions—delivered Live-Online, On Demand, or Live In-Person—are designed to build exceptional leadership skills and enrich your culture at every level of your organization.   To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776

In a world flooded with information, the greatest leadership challenge may be managing how we respond to ideas that challenge our assumptions. Philosopher and cognitive immunology researcher Andy Norman introduces the concept of “mental immunity”—the mind’s ability to resist misinformation, rigid thinking, and reactive decision-making. Drawing parallels to the body’s immune system, he explains why leaders must learn to pause before reacting, listen deeply to dissenting perspectives, and treat objections as opportunities for learning rather than threats. Norman also explores how organizations can strengthen collective decision-making through collaborative inquiry, intellectual humility, and a culture that welcomes thoughtful questioning. For leaders navigating change, conflict, and uncertainty, the ability to remain curious and persuadable may be one of the most important leadership skills of all. Listen to explore how stronger mental immunity can improve leadership effectiveness. FranklinCovey’s world-class learning solutions—delivered Live-Online, On Demand, or Live In-Person—are designed to build exceptional leadership skills and enrich your culture at every level of your organization. To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776

Today’s CEOs face constant distractions that consume time and attention. Dan Bigman, editor-in-chief and chief content officer of Chief Executive Group, shares what he’s hearing from top executives about the realities of modern leadership. He explains why clarity becomes a leader’s most important responsibility during uncertainty and why many organizations are approaching AI the wrong way. Bigman also explores the habits shared by effective CEOs, including disciplined focus, continuous learning, and the ability to adapt as conditions change. Drawing on conversations with some of the world's most influential business leaders, he offers a grounded perspective on what leadership looks like when complexity and change are accelerating simultaneously. Listen to explore the practices helping leaders stay effective amid constant disruption.   FranklinCovey’s world-class learning solutions—delivered Live-Online, On Demand, or Live In-Person—are designed to build exceptional leadership skills and enrich your culture at every level of your organization.   To learn more, email us at [email protected], visit franklincovey.com, or call us at: 1-888-868-1776