Redefiners
by Russell Reynolds Associates
A Foot on the Brake and a Foot on the Accelerator with Former…
About this podcast
Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries and around the globe are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to create extraordinary impact in today’s rapidly changing world. In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates former CEO Clarke Murphy, Leadership Advisor Marla Oates, and Chief Science Officer Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who share their insights and perspectives on how they lead, boldly. You’ll come away with fresh ideas and tangible takeaways on how you can redefine your own leadership trajectory—no matter where you are on your journey.
Leadership Lounge
A sister mini-series to the Redefiners podcast, Leadership Lounge gives listeners unfettered access to our global team of leadership experts, who share real-world answers to your most-pressing leadership questions—from how you can give and receive feedback to the benefits of having a mentor. Hosted by RRA leadership advisor Emma Combe, each 15-20-minute episode lifts the curtain on how great leaders think, act, and lead, helping you build your own leadership muscles, whether you’re just starting out or already at the top.
Our Hosts: Clarke Murphy, Marla Oates, Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, and Emma Combe :
Clarke Murphy leverages 30 years of experience in the executive recruiting industry to advise on critical leadership mandates across sectors—including Fortune 100 board searches and CEO successions. Based in New York, he has provided leadership advisory services to corporations such as Duke Energy, Deutsche Bank and Siemens, as well as private equity firms including the Carlyle Group.
Since joining the firm in 1988, Clarke has held several senior level roles at the firm, working both in Europe and the US. Clarke was the CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates from 2011-2021, where he led the firm through unprecedented growth. Previously, he led the CEO & Board Advisory Practice, served as Head of the Americas region, and was a member of the firm’s board of directors and Executive Committee.
Marla Oates is a leadership advisor at RRA who is passionate about connecting organizations with influential leaders and trailblazers who can inspire and drive change in a rapidly evolving world. With a focus on identifying and recruiting exceptional talent for Chief Financial Officer, Chief People Officer, and board searches, Marla has successfully partnered with hundreds of Fortune 500 organizations and private equity firms throughout the technology, industrial, and consumer sectors to identify and recruit top talent.Based in Austin, she has the privilege of fostering community and curating meaningful connections for C-suite executives and board members.
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the Chief Science Officer at RRA and is an international authority in people analytics, talent management, leadership development, and the human-AI interface. His commercial work has focused on the creation of science-based tools that improve organizations' ability to predict performance, and people's ability to understand themselves. He was recently the Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup, and is a co-founder of DeeperSignals and MyTrudy, as well as Professor of Business Psychology at University College London and Columbia University. He has previously held academic positions at New York University and the London School of Economics, and lectured at Harvard Business School, Stanford Business School, London Business School, Johns Hopkins, IMD, and INSEAD, as well as being the CEO at Hogan Assessment Systems.
As the host of Leadership Lounge, Redefiners’ sister podcast, Emma Combe leads the UK Board Practice for Russell Reynolds Associates. She excels at identifying board chairs, CEOs, and executive and non-executive directors for listed, private equity, and family-owned…
Episodes
The newest 20 of 132 episodes
- A Foot on the Brake and a Foot on the Accelerator with Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi – Part 1 · 24 min · Season 6 Episode 21Transformation is easy to praise when it’s successful but hard to live through, especially when the business appears to be doing well and the market isn’t demanding you to change…
- How CEOs Can Overcome Resistance to Transformation and Make Change Stick · 19 min · Season 6 Episode 20Transformation is at the top of the agenda for CEOs. The rise of AI is forcing even the most successful organizations to rethink how they operate and create value. Yet despite…
- Lessons from a Catalyst CEO: How Jean-Pascal Tricoire Sparked a 20-Year Transformation at Schneider Electric · 32 min · Season 6 Episode 19In today’s rapidly changing world, the ability for an organization to adapt and transform is critical. But while nearly 75% of leaders believe that their organization risks going…
- Leadership Lounge: From Offer Letter to Day One: How First-Time CEOs Lay the Groundwork for Success · 18 min · Season 6 Episode 18When a CEO steps into the role, the focus is often on the first 100 days. But preparation should begin much earlier. The weeks—and sometimes months—between accepting the offer…
- From Bankruptcy to Revival: Cracking the Gen Z Code with Pacsun CEO Brieane Olson · 33 min · Season 6 Episode 17With around 2 billion people globally in Gen Z—roughly 25% of the world’s population—it’s no surprise so many consumer companies are racing to connect with them, drawn to their…
- Leadership Lounge: How to Build Trust as an Outside CEO in a Family Enterprise · 17 min · Season 6 Episode 16Stepping into a family enterprise as an outside CEO is unlike taking the helm of almost any other organization. You’re stepping into a business shaped by generations of history…
- The Eight Moves to Rewrite Your Leadership Playbook with Former IG Group CEO June Yee Felix · 27 min · Season 6 Episode 15Every leader needs a playbook to keep the organization operating consistently, cut through ambiguity, and align teams around a shared vision and goals. But many playbooks weren’t…
- Leadership Lounge: How to Succeed as an Interim CEO · 19 min · Season 6 Episode 14Interim CEO appointments are on the rise. As boards contend with increasing leadership turnover, unexpected CEO departures, and growing pressure from stakeholders, many are…
- Rewriting the Playbook: How FMF President Mikel Arriola Is Reinventing Football in Mexico · 30 min · Season 6 Episode 13World Cup madness has taken over the world. And while you’re screaming “Allez les Bleus!”, “Vamos Vamos Argentina!”, “I Believe That We Will Win!”, “It’s coming home!”, “Vamos…
- Leadership Lounge: Why Decision-Making Is Becoming Harder for C-Suite Leaders—and How You Can Overcome It · 19 min · Season 6 Episode 12The ability to make sound decisions has always been a defining leadership capability. But for today’s C-suite leaders, the challenge is greater than ever. Rapid change…
- Banking on Change: How Standard Chartered Group Chief Executive Bill Winters Stays Ahead · 30 min · Season 6 Episode 11Stepping into the CEO role is a challenging transition for any leader to make. It’s even more challenging when you know you’re stepping into the role at a turbulent time in an…
- Leadership Lounge: Staying Sharp at the Top: How CEOs Can Use Mentors to Sustain Performance · 15 min · Season 6 Episode 10The demands of the CEO role don’t stand still—and neither can the leaders in it. Yet while many executives benefit from mentorship on the path to the top, far fewer maintain it…
- Scaling Giving: How GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan Connects 190 Million People to Help Each Other · 30 min · Season 6 Episode 9The term “crowdfunding” was coined in 2006 by entrepreneur and technologist, Michael Sullivan. The number of crowdfunding tools and companies have grown since then, but the…
- Leadership Lounge: Advice on How to Be an Effective Board Chair · 20 min · Season 6 Episode 8Stepping into the board chair role is a pivotal moment in any leadership journey—one that requires a fundamental shift in mindset and approach. You’re not just contributing to…
- Winning in Volatility: How Trafigura Chairman Jeremy Weir Built a Global Powerhouse · 27 min · Season 6 Episode 7There’s no shortage of uncertainty and change in the world these days, which is why it’s a frequent topic on Redefiners. This is especially true in the world of commodities, as…
- All in the Family: Leadership Lessons from the World’s Biggest Family Offices with Stephan Roche · 36 min · Season 6 Episode 6Since the establishment of the first family offices in the 19th century, there are now more than 8,000 single family offices globally. These offices hold over $5 trillion in…
- Leadership Lounge: How GenAI Can Elevate—And Expose—Today’s Leaders · 19 min · Season 6 Episode 5Generative AI is reshaping how leaders think, decide, and communicate. Used thoughtfully, it can sharpen strategic thinking and accelerate decision-making. But when GenAI output…
- Transformation in Turbulent Times with Former Telstra CEO Andy Penn · 32 min · Season 6 Episode 4Transformation continues to be the word at the top of leaders’ minds. Whether it’s due to changes in technology with AI, market shifts, the regulatory landscape, or unexpected…
- Leadership Lounge: How New CEOs Build Productive Relationships With Their Board · 22 min · Season 6 Episode 3For new CEOs, few relationships matter more—and few are more complex—than the relationship with their board. The tone set in the first year can either establish the board as a…
- Leading with Faith and Purpose with His Eminence Cardinal Dolan · 29 min · Season 6 Episode 2Leadership is crucial to provide vision, direction, and motivation, guiding individuals and organizations toward common goals and overall success. This is true whether it’s in…







