(Ep. 261) Boo Boucousis: Fighter pilot leadership

IN EPISODE 261:In this episode, Joe Hirsch speaks with Christian "Boo" Boucousis, a former fighter pilot and CEO of Afterburner, about the principles of flawless leadership. Boo shares insights on how the fighter pilot mindset can be applied to business, emphasizing the importance of having a clear destination, valuing mistakes as learning opportunities, and the necessity of debriefing to foster growth and accountability within teams. The conversation highlights how leaders can normalize accountability and create a culture of continuous improvement. ABOUT BOO BOUCOUSIS:Christian “Boo” Boucousis is a former fighter pilot and the CEO of Afterburner, a global leadership company that has worked with over 3,500 organizations and 2 million professionals. Known for bringing fighter pilot precision to business, Boo helps leaders navigate complexity, drive execution, and perform under pressure, and he's the author of The Afterburner Advantage.

IN EPISODE 260:We have too many meetings and not enough clarity. In Episode 260, Rebecca Hinds is here to make meetings more intentional and effective. Using Rebecca's powerful meetings model, you'll learn what to cut, what to keep, and how to right-size your internal communications. From the rise of "digital twins" to measuring meeting ROI, this episode is packed with no-nonsense tips that will make your next meeting time well spent. ABOUT REBECCA HINDS:Rebecca Hinds founded the Work Innovation Lab at Asana and the Work AI Institute at Glean, first-of-their-kind corporate think tanks dedicated to conducting cutting-edgeresearch on the future of work. Her research is consistently featured in top-tier publications and has appeared all across the popular press. She is the author of Your Best Meeting Ever: 7 Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done.

IN EPISODE 259:There's value in knowing our core values . In Episode 259, Robert Glazer returns to the show to explore how we should lead and live by core values.  We discuss how core values influence decision-making, the distinction between inner and outer work in identifying values, and whether values can evolve over time. If you want to make better life choices and navigate relationships effectively, you'll find value in thisconversation.ABOUT ROBERT GLAZER: Robert Glazer is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Acceleration Partners, a global partner marketing agency and the recipient of numerous industry and company cultureawards. Robert is the bestselling author of six books, most recently, The Compass Within, and also hosts The Elevate Podcast. He appeared back on Episode 214.LINKS:https://robertglazer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Robert-Glazer-Speaker-Kit-v6-For-Speaking-Bureaus.pdf

IN EPISODE 258:Want to make a great first impression? Put the other person first. In Episode 258, Rebecca Okamato shows us how to make a lasting first impression in 20 words or less. We discuss why so many first impressions fail to impress, how to craft a clear and compelling message, and how to tune our nonverbal cues for success. Whether you're trying to stand out at work, land a new job, or discover new opportunities, these tips will make your first impression memorable.ABOUT REBECCA OKAMOTO:Rebecca Okamoto is the founder of Evoke Strategy Group. She teaches people how get their audience to say “tell me more” in 20 words or less. Her talk, “How to introduce yourselfand get hired” is one of the most popular TEDx talks of 2025.

IN EPISODE 257:To be a super-performer, you don't need extraordinary effort - just ordinary habits. In Episode 257, George Pesansky explores ways individuals can optimize their everyday behavior and decisions to drive improvement throughout their organization. Whether it's listening to frontline workers, understanding the root causes of success, or creating a culture of continuous improvement, super-performers aren't born -- they're bred. ABOUT GEORGE PESANSKY:George Pesansky has fostered a culture of continuous improvement in numerous Fortune 500 organizations and has provided training, coaching and support for over 10,000 Six Sigma, Lean and World Class Manufacturing professionals across six continents. He's the author of Superperformance: 8 Strategies to Reach Full Potential for Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization.

IN EPISODE 256:In Episode 256, Kelli Thompson explores the cost of overestimating others and underestimating ourselves. We discuss ways to align decisions with values, how to stay grounded as a leader, why we should treat AI with white gloves, and the importance of mentorship.ABOUT KELLI THOMPSON:Kelli Thompson is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and executive coach who is on a mission to help more women advance to the rooms where decisions are made. She is theauthor of Closing The Confidence Gap, and her work has been published in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Marketwatch, Quartz, Business Insider. Her TEDx talk on fulfilling your leadership potential was a 2025 Editor’s Pick.LINKS:Episode #80: How to grow sideways in your careerTEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVbsZ52jgLs

IN EPISODE 255:What looks like “good fortune” is often the result of understanding — and leveraging — the hidden markets that govern access to opportunity. Judd Kessler is here to help us understand them. Whether it’s the algorithms behind dating apps, the psychology of lotteries and waitlists, or the structure of modern hiring, we can design our own luck — as long as we know the rules and are prepared to play. ABOUT JUDD KESSLER:Judd B. Kessler is the inaugural Howard Marks Endowed Professor at the Wharton School, where is he a professor in the Business, Economics, and Public Policy Department. His work and research has appeared across the popular press, and he's the author of LUCKY BY DESIGN: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want.LINKS:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juddkessler/Website: juddbkessler.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316566829

IN EPISODE 254:Can you collaborate with people you don't like, agree with, or trust? In Episode 254, Adam Kahane shows how it's possible to collaborate even when we can't pick our partners. We explore the limits of traditional collaboration and how "stretch collaboration" can allow us to better embrace conflict, experiment with solutions, and recognize our personal agency.ABOUT ADAM KAHANE:Adam Kahane is the co-founder of Reos Partners, a global social impact company that helps people move forward together on their most important and intractable issues - from executives and politicians to generals and guerrillas, civil servants and trade unionists, community activists and United Nations officials, even clergy and artists. Adam is also the author of six books and was named a Schwab Foundation Social Innovation Thought Leader of the Year at the World Economic Forum in Davos.LINKS:Website: http://www.adamkahane.comBook: https://reospartners.com/resource-library/collaborating-with-the-enemyReos Partners: https://reospartners.com/

IN EPISODE 253:The truth about high-achieving teams is that they engage in honest talk. In Episode 253, Steven Gaffney shows us how to get the unsaid said through more honest team communication. We discuss ways leaders can create stronger feedback cultures, why accountability measures often backfire, and how to screen for candidates who align with your values. ABOUT STEVEN GAFFNEY:Steven Gaffney is a speaker, author and advisor who has helped develop high-achieving teams at Fortune 500 companies, recognized brands, and government and military agencies.

In this solo episode, I share my complicated relationship with feedback - and why I'm now thankful it's a major part of my life. A Thanksgiving edition of things I wish you knew.