Podcast — 12 Geniuses

Sara Kenkare-Mitra | Changing Cultures & Curing Cancer

A generation ago, a cancer diagnosis meant the patient had a 50% chance of living beyond five years. Today, cancer is still an awful disease, but thanks to incredible medical advances, survival is far more likely than ever before. That’s not the only good news. In fact, there is hope that as soon as a decade from now, cancer could possibly be a managed disease instead of a killer.

In this episode, pharmaceutical expert and cancer researcher, Sara Kenkare-Mitra, shares her how she got into the pharmaceutical field, the long road to creating an effective drug, and the importance of celebrating failure.

Sara discusses:

Part One: The Road to Making a Drug

Growing up in India, moving from India to the United States, culture shock, building resilience, joining Genentech, becoming a leader, how her leadership skills as a manager needed to evolve to lead a team of 550 people, the importance of technical competence in a large organization, the drug development process.

Part Two: Curing Cancer

Why it’s good to celebrate failure, how pharmaceutical companies are curing cancer, advice for young women entering STEM fields, encouraging your teams to learn from failures, meditation and leadership, overcoming the minority effect, advocating for yourself, how being a mother made her a more effective leader, the future of cancer, the role of empathy in leadership and drug development.

Organizations, People, Resources, Places Mentioned.

Mumbai, India, Genentech, Austin, Texas, University of Texas - Austin, UCSF (University of California, San Francisco), San Francisco, Kadcyla (Her2+ Breast cancer drug), the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration)

To learn more about Sara and Genentech, please visit www.Gene.com.

Giadha DeCarcer | Demystifying Cannabis

Thirty years ago, just 16% of Americans favored the legalization of marijuana. Now, 90% support legalization for medical purposes. For people who experience chronic pain, medical cannabis can be a highly effective, affordable treatment. Ten states have legalized recreational use in the United States and 33 have legalized it for medical use. This had sparked incredible opportunity both in the job market and as an investment.

As cannabis rapidly expands in the global market, we all stand to gain advancements in medical treatment, cheaper energy storage, energy efficient crops, and an explosive new job market. In this episode, serial entrepreneur and cannabis expert Giadha Aguirre de Carcer shares her knowledge of cannabis uses, the global market, and the future of cannabis.

Giadha discusses:

Part One: Changing the Dialogue on Cannabis

Being a serial entrepreneur, starting New Frontier Data, working in the field of United States intelligence, being a female tech entrepreneur, the differences in cannabis terms (CBD vs THC vs Hemp), The Farm Bill, the shift in public opinion on cannabis, medical purposes of cannabis, cannabis user profiles (discrete, weekend, medical, etc.), top ten reasons for cannabis consumption, alternative medical applications for cannabis, federal legalization of cannabis.

Part Two: The Market & Future of Cannabis

Global hemp market, cannabis as an alternative to opioids, Big Agriculture’s position in the hemp market, cannabis consumption rates, cannabis investments, creating company policies where cannabis is legal, police testing for cannabis impaired driving, the best locations for cannabis production.

Organizations, People, Resources, Places Mentioned:

New Frontier Data, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, Progressive, Verizon, China, The Farm Bill, Colorado, California, Martha Stewart, A.G. William Barr, Obama and Trump administrations, Australia, Florida, Mercedes-Benz and BMW

Contact info for New Frontier Data:

https://newfrontierdata.com/

“I did finally convince her to take some CBD pills. It changed her life. She woke up one morning crying saying to me she had forgotten what it was like to not feel pain.”

Giadha Aguirre de Carcer talking about her mother using CBD instead of the opioids she was originally recommended

First Quarter Review - Joey Torkildson Interviews 12 Geniuses CEO Don MacPherson

How did your first quarter of 2019 end? Did you accomplish all that you wanted to get done? Did you meet the people you’d hoped you would? Did you go where you wanted to go? It’s helpful to do an inventory of what we have been paying attention to, where we went, what we learned, who we met, and what’s up next. That’s exactly what two friends do in this special episode of 12 Geniuses. Joey Torkildson, the host of The Grind Podcast, spends some time talking with Don MacPherson about how Q1 of 2019 went for 12 Geniuses. They cover a wide range of topics from rapidly advancing technology to traveling in Europe, to what the lineup of genius podcast guests looks like for the rest of the year.

Topics Covered

Technology: Artificial Intelligence, robotics, wearables, virtual reality, the Internet of Things

Travel: Las Vegas, Lone Pine, CA, Death Valley, Washington DC, New Haven, CT, Yale University, New York City, Phoenix, Honfleur, France, D-Day Beaches

Speaking Engagement: Fuel Work HR Technology Expo on April 10th, 2019

12 Geniuses Guests: Rebecca Ryan, Lauren Azar, Chris Farrell, Patrick Riley, Daniel Pink, Andrew Winston, Giadha Aguirre de Carcer

Catherine Carr | A Story of Self-Disruption and Reinvention

Every day, 40,000 people around the world work in extremely stressful situations to help provide assistance to people in need. People working for Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) leave behind their comfortable lives for the opportunity to make the world a better place. On assignment they expand their self-knowledge and limitations, experience, and adapt to entirely new ways of living while helping those in need. When it’s time to return home, they experience the challenges of re-assimilating to their native culture. In this episode, humanitarian Catherine Carr shares her decade-long experience working for Doctors Without Borders and how the lessons of working as a humanitarian translate to other areas of work once you return home. Catherine discusses:

Part I: The Humanitarian Experience

Applying to Doctors Without Borders, culture shock and adaptation, finding meaning at work, learning from locals, the various roles within Doctors Without Borders, Tea in the Morning, relationship building during “morning tea,” overcoming the fear that prevents personal growth, finding happiness.

Part II: Lessons to Learn from a Humanitarian

Advice for overcoming fear and facing future changes, resistance to change, agility, discovering yourself, getting out of your comfort zone (without leaving the country), the power of teamwork, building trust with employees and community members, the unique skills of a humanitarian, coping in high-stress situations, burnout vs. stress, belief vs. truth, disruption avoidance.

Organizations, People, Resources, Places Mentioned:

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), PB&J Family Services, Kenya, Iraq, the Philippines, Haiti, Central African Republic, Jordan, South Sudan

www.catherinecarr.global

“I was scared of making the change, but I think what scared me even more was not making the change.”

Catherine Carr describing her decision to disrupt her career as a Human Resources leader to join Doctors Without Borders

Chris Farrell | The End of Retirement as We Know It

Chris Farrell has worked as a journalist for national publishers and public radio for decades. Throughout his career, Chris has taken a hard look at how Baby Boomers have redefined work and how they are now redefining the concept of retirement. In this interview, Chris looks at what retirement has been historically, how it is evolving, and what organizations can do to continue to leverage the talent of their most experienced people. Chris also shares his thoughts on the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement that is becoming popular among younger, affluent workers. In this interview, Chris discusses:

Part I: Unretirement and the Future of Retirement

Traditional retirement and its evolution, the relationship between continued work and mental acuity, doing meaningful work, the importance of relationships at work, health benefits as the primary reason some employees stay with their organizations, the importance of building having a thriving network for older workers, advice for those considering a career change, the FIRE movement, retirement in Europe, workforce disruption, the 55-64 year-old entrepreneur, encore careers.

Part II: The Future of Work, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

Disruption and the future of work, creation of new jobs, the increasing rate of technological developments, adapting skills for the future, training employees for a strong and valuable workforce, career changes later in life, how to remain relevant towards the end of your career, the 50+ entrepreneur, women and entrepreneurship, immigrant entrepreneurs.

Organizations, People and Resources mentioned: Unretirement (Book and Podcast), FIRE Movement, Purpose and a Paycheck, AARP, PBS Next Avenue, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Financial Times, Encore.org, Desk Set with Katherine Hepburn, Michael Mandel with the Progressive Policy Institute, Herman Miller, Toyota, Bloomberg Businessweek

Chris’ publications are available on amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Farrell/e/B001HMRRYW?ref=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000

Unretirement Podcast online: https://www.apmpodcasts.org/unretirement/

Lauren Azar | The Future of Energy in America

Imagine life in the year 1900. Imagine how people heated their homes. Think about how people got from place to place. Yes, there was the steam engine, but personal travel was walking or with a horse and buggy. The world is better than ever and one of the foundational reasons for this is because of access to energy. On a daily basis, the average person is estimated to use about 41 pounds of coal in energy per day…that’s 15,000 pounds a year. But that is changing quickly. In this interview, energy expert Lauren Azar talks about her 25 year career in the energy field and what the future of energy in America will look like. Lauren discusses:

Part I: Working in the Field of Energy

Mentorship, young people entering the energy field, energy industry law, working in the Department of Energy, working for the federal government, working for Secretary Chu, navigating hard power and soft power in decision making, working in a male dominated industry

Part II: Planning for Changes in Energy Sources and Overall Consumption.

Energy policy planning, security vulnerabilities in the electrical grid system, the future of coal in America, the future of renewable energy, energy storage methods (battery, compressed air, etc), solar panels, internet of things and AI’s impact on energy, solar roads

Organizations, People, and Resources Mentioned: Former Secretary of the Department of Energy Steven Chu, Xcel Energy

“Once energy storage becomes cost effective, we no longer need to have just-in-time infrastructure. That is going to fundamentally change this industry. It’s going to fundamentally change this nation.”

Lauren Azar on the impact energy storage capabilities will have on our future energy supply.

Rebecca Ryan | How a Futurist Sees the World

How can you plan for your organization's future? For over two decades Rebecca Ryan has been consulting with individuals, teams, and organizations to create future plans that accommodate for our ever changing society. In this interview Rebecca shares her insights on:

Part I – Social Change in America

Who is winning economically and who is losing, the cost of being middle class, the Great Recession, the three previous “Winters” in America (The American Revolution, The Civil War and Reconstruction, and the Great Depression), social changes in America, the aging of baby boomers, the expansion of human rights, prison reform, economic development, benefit corporations (B-Corps), influential demographic changes, community planning, affordable housing, transit changes, and planning for the unexpected.

Part II – How to Predict the Future

Foresight / futuring, STEEP methodology (Society, Technology, Environment, Economy Politics), Four Forces (Resources, Technology, Demographics, Politics), crowdsourcing, advice for staying relevant in the future, future trends, how to be future ready, city planning, youth as agents of change for our future, diversifying your information sources, and the importance of delivering on America’s promise.

Organizations, people, and resources mentioned: “Re-Generation: A Manifesto for America’s Next Leaders,” “The Next Big Things” by Rebecca Ryan, Patagonia, Tom’s Shoes, Danone, WARBY PARKER, Futurist Camp, STEEP Methodology, Four Forces (Cecily Sommers), “Think Like a A Futurist: Know What Changes, What Doesn’t, and What’s Next,” www.rebeccaryan.com

“Change happens from the margins…it works its way into the mainstream. So if you want to be future ready, you need to pay attention to things that people are just now starting to talk about.”

Rebecca Ryan on the importance of empathy building and diversifying your information sources for futuring.

A Look at the Year Ahead with 12 Geniuses CEO Don MacPherson

In this special edition podcast, Devon McGrath interviews 12 Geniuses CEO Don MacPherson. Don shares what he learned in 2018 and where the focus of the podcast and company will be in the new year.

While reviewing 2018, Don and Devon talk about learning Arabic, the art and science of podcasting, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, futurist camp, technologies that are changing the way we live and work, the threat of technology addiction, and why change is so difficult. Then, they shift their focus to what is on the horizon for 12 Geniuses in 2019. They discuss changing demographics and an aging population, cryptocurrency, the ethics of gene editing, global governmental cooperation, the economic opportunity of cannabis, prison reform, and immigration reform.

Other topics include Artificial Intelligence, virtual reality, 3D printing, wearable technologies, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles.

“There are currently about a billion people over the age of 60 in the world now. By mid-century it will be two billion. What does that mean for the workforce? What does that mean to society and how we design our communities and companies?”

Don MacPherson, CEO of 12 Geniuses, discussing aging and how that trend will shape our future.

Jim Geckler | From Active Addiction to CEO

In this episode of 12 Geniuses, host Don MacPherson interviews Jim Geckler, CEO of the Harmony Foundation in Estes Park, Colorado. Jim bravely and candidly shares his transformative journey from battling active addiction to leading a renowned treatment center, offering invaluable insights into leadership, change, and emotional intelligence.

Key Lessons for Global Business Leaders:

Embracing Personal Transformation: Jim's narrative underscores the power of personal change, illustrating how overcoming significant personal challenges can lead to profound professional growth.
Leading with Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Jim’s experiences highlight the importance of understanding and compassion in leadership, emphasizing that emotional intelligence is crucial in guiding teams through disruption and change.
How addiction is a powerful barrier for reaching one’s potential: Jim journey from rock bottom to becoming an executive illustrates how devastatingly powerful addiction is in preventing people from performing at their highest levels.
Guidance for spotting people at risk: By fostering an environment that prioritizes support and trust, Jim demonstrates how leaders can cultivate resilience and adaptability within their organizations.
Advice for dealing with employees or family members struggling with addiction : Lies, slipping grades, late assignments, and abnormal behavior are a few of the warning signs that Jim says are important signals that someone might be struggling or on the precipice of addiction. It’s important these signs are addressed and not ignored.

About 20 million people in the United States have substance abuse problems and 72,000 Americans lost their lives from drug overdoses in 2017. The chances are you have a family member, a friend, a work colleague, or neighbor who struggles with addiction.

This episode offers a profound exploration of how personal adversity can inform and enhance leadership capabilities, providing global business leaders with actionable insights into managing change, fostering emotional intelligence, and leading with courage in the face of disruption.

don macphersonDecember 3, 2018addiction, recovery, drug abuse, hope, opioids, Kindness, LGBTQ+, Empathy, Reinvention, rehabilitation, Leadership

Doug Lennick | Developing Financial and Emotional Competence

Doug Lennick is a legendary leader in the financial services industry who has mentored hundreds of people over his career and coached thousands of people to be more effective leaders and make better financial decisions. In this interview, Doug shares his insights on:

Personal Financial Decision Making: Good debt vs. bad debt, the concentration of private debt, Millennial debt, benchmarks for responsible borrowing, financial education, delaying gratification, financial “slavery,” debt stress and how it impacts performance at work, financial intelligence, preparing for financial uncertainty, behavioral change, Stanford Marshmallow Experiment, impulse control

Effective Leadership: senior leadership trust, compassion, integrity, self-awareness, personal and organizational values, transparency, Baby Boomer retirement, advice for first-time managers, leaders vs. managers, the importance of self-management, alignment of thoughts, actions, emotions to values and goals, moral intelligence vs. moral competence, employee engagement and high performance, advice for first-time CEOs, leadership in a world of artificial intelligence and other major technology transformation, the diminishing importance of cognitive ability in leadership, neuroscience, the adult brain, changing adult behaviors, The Four Rs (Recognize, Reflect, Reframe, Respond), happiness

Organizations, people, and resources mentioned: Arun Abey, How Much Is Enough? Making Financial Decisions That Create Wealth and Well-Being, Ray Dalio, Ken Chenault, American Express, Walter Mischel, 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer, Stephen Covey, Stephen M. R. Covey, The SPEED of Trust, Moral Intelligence, Think2Perform, Spock, The Simple Genius (You)

“Our culture is this…I want anybody to be able to talk to anybody, about any thing, at any time.”

Doug Lennick, CEO of Think2Perform, commenting on one of the ways he built trust, transparency, and empowerment while leading a 17,000 person organization at American Express

Ryan Estis | Fighting the Fear of Failure

Fear of failure holds many leaders back from embracing change and driving transformation. In this episode of 12 Geniuses, host Don MacPherson speaks with Ryan Estis, a leadership expert and keynote speaker, about how to overcome fear, take bold action, and thrive in disruptive times. In a rapidly evolving business landscape, courage is essential for navigating uncertainty, seizing opportunities, and fostering innovation. Ryan shares personal stories and research-backed strategies to help leaders reframe failure, build resilience, and lead with confidence.

Ryan breaks down the psychology of fear and failure, offering practical strategies for leaders to navigate change and disruption with confidence. He discusses why embracing failure is key to growth, how to lead with courage in uncertain times, and what it takes to build a resilient, high-performing organization. This conversation equips global business leaders with the mindset and tools needed to turn challenges into opportunities and drive meaningful transformation.

Key Lessons for Leaders:

Reframing Failure as Growth – Learn how to shift your mindset to see failure as a stepping stone to success.
Leading with Courage in Times of Change – Discover how bold leadership can drive transformation and innovation.
Embracing Disruption – Understand how top leaders turn uncertainty into opportunity.
Developing a Resilient Mindset – Gain strategies for overcoming setbacks and staying focused on long-term success.
Building a Culture of Risk-Taking – Learn how to create an environment where employees feel empowered to innovate.

Dr. Robert Eichinger | Leadership, the Brain, & Managing Lasting Change

How can leaders leverage neuroscience to drive lasting change and transformation? In this episode of 12 Geniuses, host Don MacPherson speaks with Dr. Robert Eichinger, a leading expert in leadership development, to explore the connection between leadership, change management, and cognitive function. In a world of constant disruption, leaders must understand how the brain processes uncertainty, adapts to new trends, and embraces transformation.

In this interview, Dr. Robert Eichinger breaks down the science behind leadership and transformation, offering practical advice on how business leaders can use brain-based insights to guide their teams through uncertainty. He explains why change is often met with resistance, how leaders can help employees reframe disruption as an opportunity, and what steps organizations can take to build resilience. The conversation also covers the increasing importance of emotional intelligence, strategies for fostering continuous learning, and key trends shaping the future of leadership development. Packed with actionable takeaways, this episode equips global business leaders with the tools they need to navigate an era of rapid change with confidence and clarity.

Key Lessons for Leaders:

How the Brain Responds to Change – Understand the neurological processes that drive resistance or acceptance of transformation.
The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership – Learn why self-awareness, empathy, and social intelligence are critical for managing disruption.
Building a Culture of Adaptability – Discover strategies for creating an organization that embraces change and innovation.
Leadership Strategies for Lasting Change – Gain insights into effective change management techniques based on cognitive science.
The Future of Leadership Development – Explore emerging trends in leadership training and how neuroscience is shaping the next generation of leaders.

Dr. Robert Eichinger has authored more than 100 articles and books on leadership, while coaching thousands of leaders from first-time managers to Fortune 500 CEOs. He was co-founder and CEO of Lominger International, which was sold to Korn Ferry, and started TalenTelligent in 2018.

“You cannot manage change cognitively. It has to be managed from an EQ standpoint. People get promoted based on smarts and fail based on people skills.”

Dr. Robert Eichinger

12 Geniuses Podcast

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