Do Good To Lead Well with Craig Dowden

What does great leadership look like when AI is moving faster than most organizations can keep up? To answer this important question, I spoke with Joshua Gould, the CEO of thebigword, a global language technology and services company, where he helped grow the business from $6M to over $100M in revenue. In 2021 he sold the business to a large US based PE firm and continued on as CEO, where he has led a $20m technology investment into AI and automation.

This episode tackles the challenge of leading in an Ai-driven world, examining why level-headedness, prioritization, and empathy are more vital than ever. The discussion surfaces candid insights on how leaders can cut through tech-driven noise, return to first principles, and make decisions that truly serve their teams and customers.

During our conversation, Joshua shares real-world examples that bring the risks and rewards of AI adoption to life, from transforming pricing and market share strategies to reshaping entire job roles. Josh does not shy away from hard truths, exploring the necessity of honest conversations even when the answers are unpredictable or uncomfortable.

For leaders searching for actionable advice on how to steward organizational culture, empower employees, and future-proof their businesses, this episode offers a blueprint grounded in candor, resilience, and a commitment to doing good.

What You’ll Learn
- How to cultivate level-headedness amidst noise.
- Prioritize ruthlessly: It’s the antidote to overwhelm.
- Use technology to serve your values.
- Building a culture of adaptation and co-creation.
- Why the best leaders lean into transparency and courage, even when It’s scary.
- Empathy remains irreplaceable in an Ai-driven world.

Podcast Timestamps
(00:00) – Welcome to the Podcast
(03:10) - Essential Leadership Qualities in the Age of AI
(06:16) - Fundamentals Versus Hype: How to Make Sound Decisions
(10:27) – Effectively Leading Through AI Advancement
(12:39) - AI as a Pricing Weapon Rather Than a Productivity Tool
(19:20) - Navigating Job Impact and Workforce Concerns with AI
(24:09) - Courageous and Transparent Leadership in Disruption
(29:29) - Leading Culture Change Amidst AI Fear and Resistance
(34:38) - Grounding Adoption in Mission and Strategic Participation
(41:00) - Preserving Critical Thinking and Avoiding AI Overreliance
(48:03) - Empathy, Humanity, and Leadership in an AI Future

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology-Driven World, Level Headedness, Market Fundamentals, Fear-Based Decision Making, Prioritization, First Principles, Job Disruption, Upskilling, Employee Anxiety, Courageous Leadership, Transparency, Culture Change, AI adoption, Empathy, Critical Thinking, Executive Decision-Making, Value Creation, CEO Success

This week on the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I sit down with bestselling author Eric Ries for a timely and thought-provoking conversation about leadership, mission, and the growing crisis of short-term thinking in business.

Eric first transformed the entrepreneurial world with The Lean Startup. In his latest book, Incorruptible, he tackles a new challenge: why so many organizations lose sight of their purpose, compromise their values, and drift away from the very mission that made them successful in the first place.

Together, we explore why many traditional business “best practices” are no longer serving leaders, employees, or society — and what it takes to build organizations that can withstand the pressures of short-term performance, protect trust, and stay anchored in their values over time.

Through powerful stories, real-world examples, and surprising data, listeners learn how organizations can defend their mission, outlast competitors, and resist the economic “gravity” that pulls so many companies into compromise. From redefining profit as human flourishing to making trust and love into competitive advantages, the episode offers a blueprint for building companies that not only succeed financially, but endure.

Whether you’re a founder determined to preserve your mission, or an executive seeking to build a culture of integrity, this episode is packed with practical guidance and inspiration. Tune in to discover what it truly means to become an incorruptible force for the good of your business and the good of humanity.

What You’ll Learn
- The perils of “best practices.”
- Corruption isn’t just a crime – It’s losing your purpose.
- How the moral logic of capitalism has been lost.
- Redefining profit: Maximizing human flourishing.
- Mission (not money) makes companies endure.
- Trust and love are competitive advantages.
- Governance isn’t boring. It’s your organization’s DNA.
- Does growth kill mission? The risk is real. The reality does not have to be.
- You can build incorruptible companies: An evidence-based business case.

Podcast Timestamps
(00:00) - A Special Topic and Guest
(01:49) - From the Lean Start-up to Incorruptible
(04:07) - Defining and Diagnosing Corruption
(08:32) - The Moral Logic of Capitalism and Value Creation
(13:03) - Redefining Profit and Human Flourishing
(19:15) - Mission Drift and Protecting Organizational Purpose
(22:01) - Outliers: Exceptional Companies and New Best Practices
(25:29) - Financial Gravity, Longevity, and Employee Ownership
(30:00) - Trust as Organizational Currency
(34:23) - The Long Term Stock Exchange and Long-Termism
(35:20) - Love, People-First Leadership, and Real Competitive Advantage
(41:23) - Governance, Board Dynamics, and Creating Incorruptible Organizations
(44:46) - Lessons from Case Studies: Zita Cobb and Beyond
(49:16) - Closing Reflections and Practical Resources

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, Incorruptible, Integrity, Do Good to Lead Well, Long Term Thinking, Effective Governance, Market Reform, Lean Startup Method, Company Culture, Avoiding Short Term Thinking, Corruption, Capitalism, Value Creation, Shareholder Primacy, Business Ethics, Corporate Mission, Profit Redefinition, Human Flourishing, Stakeholder Alignment, Organizational Trust, Financial Gravity, Mission Controlled Companies, Organizational Character, CEO Success

On this week’s episode of Do Good to Lead Well, I am joined by Kevin Ford, the former CEO of Calian, whose track record as a transformational CEO sets the stage for a candid exploration of what really drives lasting personal and business success.

We start by asking the question: Are authenticity and transparency more critical than ever in the age of AI? Our answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ We continue the conversation by exploring how the ATP trifecta—authenticity, transparency, and positivity—became the defining factor behind Kevin’s award-winning tenure as CEO.

Our discussion moves beyond buzzwords, tackling real questions: How do you lead authentically even when you don’t have all the answers? How does transparency foster trust and spark breakthrough thinking? And why does a leader’s positive energy ripple through teams, especially in uncertain times?

Packed with fresh perspectives and memorable stories, this conversation is essential listening for leaders and aspiring leaders looking to create thriving, rather than surviving, cultures. If you want to future-proof your leadership, build high-trust organizations, and learn how positivity can become your secret competitive edge, listen in to learn the tools and strategies that bring the ATP model to life for you.

What You’ll Learn
- The Power of Authentic Leadership.
- Transparency as a Catalyst for Engagement.
- Positivity as the Secret Sauce.
- Building Trust in an Ai-Driven world.
- Embracing Vulnerability for Growth.
- Practical Ways to Become an ATP Leader.

Podcast Timestamps
(00:00) - Setting the Stage
(02:38) - Defining ATP: Authenticity, Transparency, Positivity
(03:13) - Personal Reflections on Legacy and Feedback
(04:19) - Maintaining Core Values Amidst Public Company Pressures
(05:16) - Exploring Authenticity: What It Means and Why It Matters
(08:57) - Trust as a Foundation: Authenticity and Transparency in Practice
(10:02) - Transparency: Challenges and Benefits for Modern Leaders
(11:18) - The Power of ‘Thinking Out Loud’
(14:16) - The Downside of Command-and-Control Leadership
(15:37) - Positivity as Secret Sauce: Leading Through Uncertainty
(16:58) - Controlling How You Show Up: Practical Positivity
(18:06) - Avoiding Negativity: Energy and Team Dynamics
(21:30) - Community Call-to-Action: Living and Leading ATP

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, Authenticity, Transparency, Positivity, Leading Through AI/Disruption, Business Growth, Engaged Culture, Acquisitions, Public Company, Building Trust, ‘Think Out Loud’ Sessions, Workplace Culture, Personal Reflection, Legacy, Growth Mindset, Reframing, Employee Feedback, Positive Mindset, Resilience, Human Connection, Psychological Safety, Self-Awareness, CEO Success

How do leaders stay steady in the storm of tough choices? This week, I sit down with Jack Briggs, a retired major general with a 30-year career in the military who is also a highly seasoned, for a masterclass in pressure-tested decision making.

The episode debunks the myth that high-stakes choices are unique to the military or boardroom. Instead, Jack argues, “pressure is pressure,” whether the risk is reputational, operational, or personal. The discussion highlights the three traits of the best decision makers: anchoring decisions in firm principles, seeking help with humility, and making the call… decisively, not reactively.

Listeners will come away with four essential questions to use in any crisis and learn why reframing “crises” into a set of solvable problems is vital for calm, effective leadership. This conversation is a must for anyone seeking practical, repeatable strategies to lead well, even when the stakes—and the anxieties—are high.

What You’ll Learn
- Anchor your decisions in principles.
- Lead with humility and build your team.
- Distinguish between problems and crises.
- The power of a structured decision framework.
- Be decisive and own the outcome.
- Focus on your sphere of influence.

Podcast Timestamps
03:18 Jack's origin story: from the Thunderbirds to the Air Force Academy
05:37 When leadership first appeared: Boy Scouts, the leadership laboratory, and the Eagle Scout
07:37 The Air Force Academy as a leadership lab: authority vs. responsibility
10:42 Being the snowplow: how to delegate without abandoning accountability
14:11 Leadership is a science and an art: training the recipe, then adapting it
16:41 Combat to boardroom: why pressure is pressure regardless of context
19:19 Defending North America: leading at continental scale
21:28 The three characteristics of the best decision makers
23:24 The archer analogy: principles, input, decisiveness
26:45 What leaders get wrong: fighting the fight they wish they had
28:06 Mob rule, Moses, and principled decision-making
32:11 Crisis vs. problem: why language matters under pressure
33:10 Snowstorms and problem buckets: a real-world example
35:26 The four questions for high-stress decisions
40:01 Checklists that work: laminate it and they will keep it
43:18 Humility plus decisiveness: being disagree-able
45:36 Choosing the least worst option and owning it
48:35 Final thoughts: stop chasing outcomes, start leading in your three feet

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, Decision Making, Decision Making Under Pressure, Humility, Air Force Career, Military Leadership, Air Force Academy, Leadership Lab, Principles-Based Decisions, Delegating Authority, Crisis Management, Operational Risk, Financial Risk, Reputational Risk, Pressure in Leadership, Crisis vs Problem, Crisis Communication, CEO Success

Why do (senior) executives so rarely hear what they need to improve? I explore this critical leadership blind spot, inspired by a recent article in Fast Company by Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and global thought leader on psychological safety, Amy Edmondson. Relying on thought-provoking research amplified by real-world case examples, this episode exposes the invisible barriers that often keep leaders in the dark and offers a toolkit for reversing the trend.

From the dangers of hierarchical silence to the psychology of honest feedback, I review practical strategies we can all use including asking focused questions, acknowledging our own blind spots, and separating our immediate reactions from thoughtful reflection. The importance of acting on feedback, no matter how small, is a simple, yet frequently overlooked opportunity. I also share the powerful example of Alan Mulally, one of the most celebrated and respected CEOs of all-time, to highlight how we can transform our cultures from focusing on fear to unleashing our individual and collective potential.

For leaders who are hungry to boost their impact and foster psychological safety, this episode is full of actionable advice on creating an environment where candor thrives and teams and leaders at every level can truly grow.

What You’ll Learn
- The benefits of feedback.
- What is feedback?
- Ask for specifics, not generalities - The power of specific questions.
- Reward courage – It’s scary to offer someone feedback.
- Act on feedback and communicate your changes.

Podcast Timestamps
00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction
01:37 Today's Topic: The Feedback Gap for Senior Leaders
04:04 What Feedback Really Is: The Zenger Folkman Definition
05:47 Why Senior Leaders Struggle to Receive Honest Feedback
08:11 Strategy 1: Ask for Disconfirming Data, Not General Impressions
10:31 Asking Specific, Targeted Feedback Questions
12:40 Strategy 2: Separate Ingestion from Reaction
14:57 Strategy 3: Focus on Patterns, Not One Data Point
17:18 Strategy 4: Act on One Small Piece of Feedback First
19:40 The Alan Mulally and Ford Turnaround Story
22:01 Red Lights Are Gems: Closing Thoughts

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, Feedback, Psychological Safety, Amy Edmondson, 360 feedback, Self-Awareness, Hierarchy, Power Differential, Leadership Development, Constructive Feedback, Actionable Feedback, Behavioral Change, Barriers to Feedback, Receiving Feedback, Accountability, Alan Mulally, Ford Turnaround, Transparent Leadership, CEO Success

Source: Why senior leaders get less feedback—and how to change that - Fast Company