ILA Podcast

Creating Mindful Organizations

Maureen Metcalf Podcast Cover

with Subhanu Saxena and Michelle Harrison

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How do we create organizations that promote mindfulness and joy during work? Subanhu talks about how to build mindfulness in organizations. Great leaders uniting people around a making positive impact on society – a deeper purpose. Great leadership starts with knowing yourself and is built through the power of introspection. This allows you to be more humble, authentic and vulnerable. Mindfulness practices allow you as a leader to be fully present and aware of the moment. Michelle talks about how she demonstrates authenticity as a leader, a CEO, and a mother. She gives a very honest account of changing business plans because of her personal commitment to her family. In an era where we talk about authenticity and balance, we often see organizations expect their leaders to continually prioritize work over family. There are certainly many times that work will need to be a priority and yet, Michelle talks about her personal decision to balance and what that looks like in her life.

About the Guest

Subhanu Saxena

Subhanu Saxena is currently Regional Director Life Science Partnerships, Europe at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as as well as Managing Partner New Rhein Healthcare.
At the Gates Foundation, Subhanu leads the Foundation’s industry engagement in Europe and key Global Health Initiatives. In this capacity, he maintains and develops a deep understanding of the industry and the companies of primary interest to the Foundation. He sustains and enhances the Foundation’s relationships with current and emerging partners, identifying opportunities to augment their Global Health contributions. He guides and supports teams who are engaged or are planning to engage with corporations in Europe and is leading a number of key global initiatives for the Foundation. In his role as co-managing partner in New Rhein Healthcare, he invests in companies that bring innovation whilst reducing the cost to healthcare systems. In addition, Subhanu is a Senior Advisor to Bain Capital.

Michelle Harrison

Michelle Harrison, Global CEO, Kantar Public, the WPP Group public policy consulting and research business. We work with our clients in government, corporations, international governmental organisations, and global NGOs to provide the evidence for decision making, support innovation in policy and service delivery, improve public value, build local capability and share global best practice. Kantar Public offices are in Brussels, Paris, London, Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam, Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, Delhi, Seoul, Sydney, and Washington.

Host Maureen Metcalf

Maureen Metcalf

Maureen Metcalf brings 30 years of experience and success in the fields of leadership, innovation, and technology. A regular contributor to Forbes.com, Metcalf has authored an award-winning book series on leadership and is the Founder & CEO of the Innovative Leadership Institute. She is the host of an Innovating Leadership, a weekly international podcast that hit the airways in July 2015. As an ILA Fellow, Maureen partners with the International Leadership Associate on a series of global leadership podcasts within the show.