Redefiners 2025 Wrapped: What's Next for Leaders
Podcast: Redefiners
Hosts: Marla Oates & Simon Kingston
Date: December 17, 2025
Episode Overview
In this reflective Season 5 finale, hosts Marla Oates and Simon Kingston look back at the transformative leadership insights shared throughout 2025. They revisit conversations with trailblazing CEOs, expert advisors, and industry icons, highlighting the evolving challenges of organizational leadership in an era marked by radical uncertainty, AI-driven transformation, and shifting global landscapes. The episode distills key themes from the year, provides actionable leadership takeaways, and offers memorable quotes and moments to inspire current and future leaders.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Year-in-Review & Hosts’ Personal Reflections ([00:30]–[04:18])
- Unique reflections: Both Marla and Simon share personal and professional highlights, emphasizing the privilege of working with global leaders and celebrating community events.
- “End of year is often a time of reflection... A lot has happened, Simon, over this past year certainly has.” — Marla Oates [00:31]
- Theme of radical uncertainty: The year has been shaped by global instability, affecting leaders and organizations in profound ways.
2. Global Leadership Monitor Findings: Top Priorities and Challenges ([04:18]–[06:48])
- Top five organizational concerns:
- Uncertain economic growth
- Technological change (especially AI)
- Talent availability
- Geopolitical uncertainty
- Policy uncertainty
- Leaders’ confidence in their ability to manage technological change is at an all-time low.
- “Only 44%... the lowest level since we started... 74% of leaders believe that their organizations will simply cease to exist unless they can grasp the need for transformation.” — Simon Kingston [05:18]
3. Theme 1: AI & Continuous Transformation ([06:48]–[15:11])
- AI as an existential challenge: The pace of change is unprecedented; missing out is not an option.
- “AI or die. It’s going to be the greatest competitive divide in business that we will have ever seen.” — Louis Tetu, Coveo Chairman [08:25]
- AI implementation strategies:
- Marco Argenti (Goldman Sachs CIO):
- “Engineers tend to be naturally attracted towards the how... working backwards means that you do why, what, how.” [09:51]
- Marco Argenti (Goldman Sachs CIO):
- Cross-enterprise learning: John Connorton (Bain Capital) underscores breaking down silos to maximize AI impact.
- “It’s hard to do that centrally... we are very seamless across our portfolio... we’ve tried to exploit that is to really break down the walls between some of that learning.” [12:43]
- Transformation as a continuous process:
- “Transformation is now a constant...present... in the best leaders, particularly CEOs, leading into this, we call... the North Star CEO.” — Hedy Pie (RRA) [13:45]
- Barbara Martin Coppola (ex-Decathlon CEO) echoed the importance of having an inspiring North Star vision [14:33].
4. Theme 2: The First-Time CEO & Leadership Vulnerability ([16:41]–[24:32])
- The role of empathy, mentorship, and vulnerability:
- Konstantin Alexandraakis (RRA CEO): “It’s not a bigger job. It’s a completely different job...that was a surprise for me.” [19:04]
- Lisa McGowan (Pets at Home CEO): “What got you here won’t get you there. It’s just a completely different role.” [19:33]
- Benefit of the outsider: Peter Cuneo (Marvel Entertainment, ex-CEO) highlights leveraging fresh perspective to “change the rules of the game” [21:51].
- Value of mentorship: Kurt Harrison stresses the pattern recognition and guidance mentors bring during sustained uncertainty [23:14].
- The power of vulnerability: Henrik Kojawski points out that true confidence comes from admitting what you don’t know—“Vulnerability is the root of charisma” [24:32].
5. Theme 3: Succession Planning ([25:20]–[30:44])
- Succession as development, not replacement:
- Rebecca Slan Jerusalem: “If done well, succession really encompasses development over the long term...actively providing them with development opportunities” [26:18].
- Family business complexities:
- Justice O’Brien underscores the need to “not delay CEO succession” and start succession planning early to fully develop internal candidates [27:57].
- Valerie Mars (Mars Inc.): “Sometimes the assets are prioritized over the human capital...you are a human being...a balance of those things, not a waiting for the oldest generation to die.” [29:45]
6. Theme 4: Boards, IPOs, Resilience & Next Gen Leadership ([30:44]–[39:52])
- IPO vs. staying private:
- Adena Friedman (NASDAQ CEO) analogizes going public as graduating from a country road to a four-lane highway full of rules and speed [31:28].
- Career resilience and impact:
- Bill Rode (media executive): “The key is wake up in the morning and do them, or do one or two—have the discipline to actually employ those leadership principles.” [33:33]
- “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill, quoted by Marla [34:03]
- Resilience in changing landscapes:
- Joey Burke highlights new qualities required for resilience: “Adaptability, change, speed... differentiate organizations of the present” [35:00].
- Boards and effective governance:
- Louis Tetu: “True excellence happens in the long tail...in the intricate moments that you win.” on board understanding [36:55].
- Maggie Bankhart (RRA): Top 5 board behaviors—judgment, engagement, integrity, focus, independence [37:48].
7. Actionable Career & Leadership Takeaways ([38:59]–[40:39])
- Job changes and opportunities: Adena Friedman encourages evaluating employer potential and fit beyond the immediate role [38:59].
- Courage & popularity: Peter Cuneo: “Change requires courage...you’re going to make people unhappy...even good change will upset human beings and you have to be comfortable with that.” [39:52]
8. Rapid-Fire Holiday Reflections & Season Wrap ([41:04]–[44:46])
- Personal touches: Both hosts answer light-hearted questions about holiday favorites and personal goals for 2026.
- Farewells: Simon Kingston announces his departure, expressing gratitude for colleagues and listeners.
- “I really am grateful to our... guests who’ve been willing to talk to us so freely, so openly... I hope that the colleagues of all of our listeners who are thinking about their own redefinition are as generous as mine have been.” — Simon Kingston [43:25]
Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps
- On AI and transformation:
- “AI or die... the greatest competitive divide in business that we will have ever seen.” — Louis Tetu [08:25]
- On solving for ‘why’ instead of ‘how’:
- “Working backwards means you do why, what, how.” — Marco Argenti [10:04]
- On succession planning:
- “You’re not an organ donor to the business... you’re a human being.” — Valerie Mars [29:45]
- On leadership principles in action:
- “The key is wake up in the morning and do them, or do one or two—have the discipline to actually employ those leadership principles.” — Bill Rode [33:33]
- On vulnerability:
- “Vulnerability is the root of charisma, and true confidence is really knowing oneself.” — Henrik Kojawski [24:32]
- On courage in leadership:
- “Change requires courage. Many people are poor leaders because they just can’t bring themselves to be unpopular, to upset other people and make the changes that are needed.” — Peter Cuneo [39:52]
Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps
- 00:30–04:18: Hosts’ reflections and year’s key themes
- 06:48–15:11: AI, transformation, and leadership adaptation
- 16:41–24:32: CEO experiences, mentorship, and vulnerability
- 25:20–30:44: Succession planning (corporate & family business)
- 30:44–39:52: Boards, IPOs, resilience, and leadership impact
- 41:04–44:46: Rapid questions, goals & Simon’s farewell
- 43:25: Simon’s closing gratitude and reflections
Final Thoughts & Looking Ahead
Season 5 of Redefiners underscored the urgency of adaptability, the need for visionary leadership, and the new realities of perpetual transformation brought by AI, technological disruption, and geopolitical shifts. Leaders must now blend courage, vulnerability, and resilience—redefining themselves and their organizations in the process and preparing the next generation. The hosts thank listeners and guests for fostering a global community committed to impactful, authentic leadership, promising more insightful conversations in 2026.
“We have more remarkable guests, inspiration and leadership insights already in the works for 2026. I can’t wait.” — Marla Oates [46:05]
Wishing you all a joyful and reflective holiday season from the Redefiners and Leadership Lounge team!