
Hosted by The Proteus Leader Show · EN

Marie Holive sits down with Mario Azar, Chairman and CEO of Black & Veatch, to explore what it takes to deliver critical infrastructure under pressure. Mario shares what’s different about leading a 100% employee-owned company and how ownership changes accountability, decision-making, and execution when timelines are tight. Together, they unpack the leadership implications of the data-center boom, the real-world trade-offs leaders must navigate, and practical ways to build an “owner’s mindset” that improves outcomes in any high-stakes environment. Listen in for clear, actionable leadership insights you can apply immediately, especially if you’re leading growth, complexity, or rapid delivery.Timestamps:[00:00] Podcast episode starts[02:08] What is human critical infrastructure?[04:10] What does it mean to be 100% employee owned[07:02] What is driving the acceleration in data centers?[10:59] How is Black & Veatch dealing with the impact of AI[14:11] Speed vs resilience, how do you choose?[17:16] Practical tips for leading through growth[24:02] Podcast episode wrap upFor more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.

Erika talks with Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, Olympic Gold Medalist and newly named CEO of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, about why safety on all levels - physical, emotional and psychological - is essential in modern organizations, and how to create a safe environment that supports the organization and its members to succeed.Timestamps:[00:00] Beginning of the podcast episode[02:03] Why is safety a necessary foundation for excellence?[04:53] Impact of lack of psychological safety[08:14] How can leaders create a psychological safe environment?[14:08] Podcast comes to an endFor more For more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.Source for psychological safety stats.

Marie Holive sits down with Karim Chaiblaine, CEO of Nesma Mobility in Saudi Arabia, to explore what true transformation requires from leaders in uncertain environments. Through the conversation, listeners will hear practical insights on making tough strategic choices, knowing when to build versus partner, scaling with intention, and staying flexible without losing clarity of purpose. Karim also draws on Professor David Teece's dynamic capabilities framework (UC Berkeley) and Professor Charles O'Reilly's Ambidextrous Organization framework (Stanford), to explore how successful organizations navigate change. It’s a thoughtful discussion on how leaders can navigate complexity, drive meaningful change, and make the kinds of decisions that create lasting impact.Timestamps:[00:00] Introduction to the podcast[02:45] When operating at scale how do you stay agile without creating chaos?[05:43] Common mistakes when launching or scaling new business ideas[10:18] How to pick the right business partner[12:13] When to partner versus when to build internally in your organization[15:41] How to know when to stop a business transformation[18:34] Practical tips leaders can implement today during transformation (especially large in organizations)For more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.

Erika Andersen shares the podcast with Jeff Mitchell, her partner at Proteus and Head of Proteus' Leadership Development Practice. They dive into the power of building real skills, why it's critical for leaders - and how it so often gets overlooked.Timestamps:[00:00] Podcast episode starts[01:54] Why skill building is crucial to leadership development[03:41] How to make skill building actionable[08:24] What happens when leadership doesn't support skill building[11:04] What can leaders do today to ensure skills are developed to help them succeed?For more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.

Marie Holive speaks with Marie Berthelon, Co-founder and CEO of Rouvenat, a historic French jewelry maison founded in 1852 and relaunched in 2022 to redefine luxury around modern, sustainable values. After more than 20 years in senior roles at Hermès, Cartier, De Beers, LVMH, and Richemont, Marie chose to leave major luxury groups to build a new kind of brand rooted in circularity and responsibility.Marie shares the story of Rouvenat’s “forgotten treasures” — giving new life to existing stones through “pierres anciennes, joaillerie nouvelle” and a #circularjewelry philosophy — and reflects on how the luxury industry is evolving on sustainability. She contrasts leading change within large, established houses with building a purpose-driven maison from the ground up, and speaks candidly about the risks and rewards of that choice.Timestamps:[00:00] Beginning of episode[02:29] Turning point to start Rouvenat[09:14] Origin story of Rouvenat[15:42] What is the jewelry industry is doing well in regards to sustainability (and how can it improve)?[20:04] What role will Rouvenat play in the #circularjewelry philosophy and shaping the future of the luxury industry?[23:28] Practical tips for leaders to be more sustainableFor more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.

The Human Side of Selling. Erika Andersen talks with Laird McLean, Proteus Partner, Head of Organizational Transformation and Sales Leader, about the human side of selling - what it means and why it's important, especially in today's increasingly complex and technologically sophisticated business environment.Timestamps:[00:00] Podcast episode introduction[01:00] Importance of focusing on the human side of selling[03:25] Looking at businesses in a three dimension way[04:26] What happens when you don't focus on the human side of selling?[07:31] How can salespeople be more human centric?[10:51] Podcast episode wrap-upFor more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.

Marie Holive speaks with Rosie Bichard, Non-Executive Director at UBS Asset Management, Audit Committee Chair, seasoned investor, and EMEA Co-Chair of WomenExecs on Boards — a global network of over 400 senior women prepared for board service at Harvard Business School.Marie and Rosie revisit their shared experience in the 2017 “Succeeding as a Corporate Director” program at Harvard Business School and trace how that classroom cohort evolved into a formal network in 2019 that now spans multiple countries. They discuss what women really need to access and thrive inboard roles, how WEoB is changing the pipeline for board-ready women, and how Rosie’s background in investment, ESG, and risk governance shapes her view of modern corporate boards.Timestamps:[00:00] Podcast introduction[02:26] How WomenExecs on Boards was born[04:50] How has it grown to 400 plus members?[15:24] What are the barriers to bringing in first time directors?[22:24] Company asset analogy for leaders[26:18] Podcast wrap upFor more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.

Erika Andersen talks with Alison Moore, CEO of Chief, about why supporting women's success in business is more important today than ever before - and how women are changing the definition of leadership in critical ways.Timestamps:[00:00] Introduction to podcast[01:45] Why do we need to support women[06:36] How can organizations support women's success?[11:22] How can leaders support women be successful?[13:52] Podcast wrap-upFor more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.

Marie Holive talks with Jason Beesley, CFO of Pattern (Nasdaq: PTRN) and former CFO of NBCUniversal International, about what it takes to be a transformational CFO in today’s fast-moving business world. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, from GE’s Corporate Audit Staff to global media, and now leading Pattern through its IPO, Jason shares lessons on scaling finance functions, building public-company discipline, crafting a compelling investor narrative, and sustaining momentum after going public.Marie and Jason reflect on their shared journey and dig into the real differences between leading finance in private versus public companies, the cultural shifts required to support growth, and how CFOs can partner with CEOs to build great companies, not just great numbers. Whether you're preparing to go public or simply looking to elevate your financial leadership, this episode is packed with insights for navigating complexity with clarity, credibility, and confidence.Timestamps:[00:00] - Introduction to podcast[01:47] - Differences between private and public companies in a CFO role[06:44] - How to build financial discipline and scalability[11:16] - Definition of a finance business partner[12:59] - Journey taking Pattern public[17:11] - Effective communication best practices[20:32] - Scaling finance and preparing for growth tips[23:54] - Podcast wrap upFor more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.

Erika Andersen talks with Noel Massie, retired VP of US Delivery Operations for UPS, about his new book, 'Congrats! You've Been Promoted!' They discuss the most critical elements of success for new managers in any business.Timestamps[00:00] Introduction to the podcast[01:28] Why new leaders need support[02:29] The coach-leader relationship[03:59] Intentional leadership and integrity[07:10] The Four-to-One Feedback Model[09:20] Terms and conditions of leadership[13:25] The BEST Principle[16:03] Podcast wrap upFor more Proteus, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on YouTube.