The Leadership Enigma

Hosted by Adam Pacifico

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254

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Jun 2026

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About the show

For 30 years I've uncovered the best and worst of human behaviour and endeavour.Now it's time to truly understand what we mean by leadership in a chaotic world. I've delivered live events to over 60,000 around the world as a leadership expert, author, opinion columnist and barrister. Each week I'll explore the power and potential of the human being with global experts, academics, rising stars, ambitious upstarts and disruptors across sectors, disciplines and geographies as we explore 'The Leadership Enigma.'Whether you are an entrepreneur, business owner or seasoned corporate executive, this show will uncover the tools, techniques, strategies and lessons learned to catapult your leadership capabilities in preparation for success in a constantly changing landscape. The Leadership Enigma is an award winning globally ranked show powered by LaunchPod Studios. www.leadersenigma.comYouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@theleadersenigma Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

June 15, 202646 min

Leading Through War | Maryna Pavliuk

What does real leadership look like when your team is working through blackouts, missile strikes, and the daily uncertainty of war? In this powerful episode of The Leadership Enigma, host Adam Pacifico sits down with Maryna Pavliuk, General Manager of Glovo Ukraine a delivery platform that became critical infrastructure from the very first day of the Russian invasion in February 2022. Maryna shares her extraordinary journey: from nearly turning down the GM role while eight months pregnant, to returning to Kyiv as one of the first wave of leaders to go back, to growing the business from 10% of pre-war levels to one of Glovo's top 5 most profitable markets globally. In this episode you'll discover: - How Glovo pivoted to deliver medicine, food and essentials to frontline cities from day one of the war - Why Maryna chose to return to a war zone instead of relocating to Barcelona - What "being the eye of the storm" really means as a leadership philosophy - The concept of managerial courage and why it matters more in crisis than ever - How Ukraine's economy is gaining a powerful new feminine face - Why there is no playbook for leading through radical uncertainty and what to do instead - Lessons being shared with UAE businesses now facing their own conflicts This is not a conversation about leadership theory. This is human-centred leadership in its rawest, most courageous form. 🎧 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube so you never miss an episode. #Leadership #Ukraine #CrisisLeadership #FemaleLeadership #Resilience #Glovo #TheLeadershipEnigma #BusinessLeadership #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 2, 202645 min

Leading Tennis Integrity | Karen Moorhouse

In this episode of The Leadership Enigma, Adam Pacifico sits down with Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the International Tennis Integrity Agency, to explore the challenges of protecting integrity in one of the world's biggest sports. From high-profile anti-doping cases involving top-ranked players to the realities of match-fixing investigations, Karen reveals what happens behind the scenes when professional tennis faces its toughest tests. Topics include: 🎾 How the ITIA protects professional tennis 🎾 Anti-doping investigations and athlete responsibility 🎾 The cases involving top-ranked tennis players 🎾 Match-fixing and corruption in global sport 🎾 Leadership during crisis and uncertainty 🎾 Lessons learned from leading rugby through COVID-19 🎾 The future threats facing sport, technology and integrity 🎾 Building trust, accountability and transparency Karen also shares her leadership journey from law to sport governance, her experiences at the Football Association and Rugby Football League, and what it takes to lead an organisation responsible for safeguarding the credibility of professional tennis worldwide. If you're interested in leadership, elite sport, governance, integrity, anti-doping, corruption investigations, and decision-making under pressure, this episode is essential viewing. For more information about the ITIA and its work, please visit: www.itia.tennis ITIA on Instagram ITIA on LinkedIn ITIA on X #Tennis #Leadership #MatchFixing #Doping #SportsIntegrity #SportBusiness #KarenMoorhouse #ITIA #LeadershipEnigma #Governance #TennisPodcast #SportsLeadership #EliteSport #Wimbledon #ATP #WTA Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 18, 202625 min

AI Won’t Wait And Neither Should Leaders

AI is moving faster than most organisations can adapt but what does that actually mean for leadership, workforce capability, and real business impact? In this episode of The Leadership Enigma Podcast, Adam Pacific sits down with Sanjay Dutt, SVP & Global Head of HR Centres of Excellence, to unpack what it really takes to move beyond AI experimentation into meaningful workforce transformation. From mindset shifts and upskilling at scale to cutting through fear, ambiguity, and hype this conversation goes straight into how leaders are actually navigating the AI era, not just talking about it. Powered by Emeritus: www.emeritus.org #futureofwork #artificialintelligence #careergrowth #mindsetshift #reinventyourself #leadership #aijobs #careeradvice #personalgrowth #workplacetrends #mentalhealthatwork #resilience #lifelonglearning 🚀 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 4, 20261 hr 1 min

Leading In A Warzone | Yuriy Ryzhenkov

What happens when leadership is tested in the most extreme conditions imaginable? In this powerful episode of The Leadership Enigma, we sit down with Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest, to explore what it truly means to lead in a war zone. From navigating life-or-death decisions to keeping thousands of employees safe, this conversation goes far beyond business it’s about courage, responsibility, and human resilience. 👉 Like, subscribe, and join the conversation. #futureofwork #ukraine #mindsetshift #reinventyourself #leadership #warzone #personalgrowth #workplacetrends #mentalhealthatwork #resilience Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

April 20, 202646 min

The Longevity Risk | Annie Coleman

We’re living longer than ever before… but businesses are still built for a world that no longer exists. In this episode of The Leadership Enigma, Adam Pacifico sits down with longevity expert Annie Coleman to unpack one of the biggest hidden risks facing organisations today. 💡 Key topics: Why companies are unprepared for longer working lives The real risk of losing experience too early How longevity impacts growth, hiring, and leadership strategy Why AI won’t replace human wisdom anytime soon The untapped opportunity of the “silver economy” ⚠️ 50% of people worry they won’t have enough money to live on after retiring and businesses aren’t ready for what comes next. If you’re a leader, founder, or building a career — this is a conversation you can’t afford to ignore. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, business, and the future of work. #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Longevity #BusinessStrategy #WorkplaceCulture #CareerAdvice #EntrepreneurMindset #SuccessMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #ThinkDifferent Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

April 6, 202630 min

AI Won’t Save You… Unless You Do This First | Ashok Ramchandran

AI isn’t just a tool it’s a complete rethink of how we work. In this episode, we go beyond the buzzwords and break down what AI really means for leaders today. From re-engineering processes to building future-ready organisations, this conversation challenges everything you thought you knew about AI adoption. 💡 Key takeaways: Why adding AI on top of old systems doesn’t work The biggest misconception leaders are making right now Why “future fitness” matters more than AI itself How great leaders are adapting (and what others are missing) If you’re a founder, leader, or just trying to stay relevant in a fast-changing world — this is a must-watch. Powered by Emeritus: www.emeritus.org #futureofwork #artificialintelligence #careergrowth #mindsetshift #reinventyourself #leadership #aijobs #careeradvice #personalgrowth #workplacetrends #mentalhealthatwork #resilience #lifelonglearning 🚀 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

March 23, 202627 min

AI Will Replace You… Unless You Do This First | Shaji Mathews

AI isn’t coming… it’s already here. In this episode, we sit down with a global CXO leading a 300,000+ workforce across 60 countries to break down what it really takes to build an AI-ready organisation. From completely reshaping business models to retraining entire workforces, this conversation reveals the uncomfortable truth: 👉 If you don’t adapt, you risk becoming irrelevant. We go deep into: - Why AI is fundamentally changing how business works - The real risk of doing nothing (and why companies won’t survive it) - How leaders are training hundreds of thousands of people for AI - The mindset shift required to stay competitive - Why “human + AI” is the future — not AI alone This isn’t theory. This is what’s happening inside one of the world’s biggest organisations right now. Powered by Emeritus: www.emeritus.org #futureofwork #artificialintelligence #careergrowth #mindsetshift #reinventyourself #leadership #aijobs #careeradvice #personalgrowth #workplacetrends #mentalhealthatwork #resilience #lifelonglearning 🚀 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

March 9, 202623 min

Building a Gas Empire | Raj Kumar

In this episode, we sit down with Raj Kumar, former leader at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and now founder of his own gas company, to unpack the real behaviours required to operate at CXO level. This isn’t theory. This is lived experience from the energy sector — one of the most complex and high-pressure industries in the world. We cover: - The mindset shift from executive to owner - The behaviour required to lead at scale - Why strategy fails without discipline - Decision-making under pressure - Corporate leadership vs entrepreneurial leadership - What most professionals misunderstand about becoming a CXO Powered by Emeritus: www.emeritus.org #futureofwork #artificialintelligence #careergrowth #mindsetshift #reinventyourself #leadership #aijobs #careeradvice #personalgrowth #workplacetrends #mentalhealthatwork #resilience #lifelonglearning 🚀 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

February 23, 202646 min

Decoding The World! | Ozan Ozkural

🚨 Attention Leaders, Executives & Entrepreneurs! 🚨 The world is changing faster than ever AI, quantum computing, geopolitical battles, inflation, and global crises are reshaping everything. In this exclusive session, we break down: ✅ The human condition in leadership: fear, greed, and confirmation bias ✅ Why courage beats comfort in decision-making ✅ The AI supercycle & energy, water, and infrastructure risks ✅ How businesses can survive asymmetric commercial wars ✅ The Stockdale Paradox: brutal reality + optimism If you’re in the boardroom, running a company, or shaping the future, this isn’t just theory—it’s practical foresight you can act on now. 🔥 Watch till the end to learn the #1 trait leaders need to survive 2026: COURAGE. 💡 Engage with us: Comment your leadership challenges, subscribe, and join the conversation. The future doesn’t wait—and neither should you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

February 9, 202624 min

Manjul Tilak | Authentic Leadership in the Age of AI | Why HR Must Lead the Mindset Shift

In this episode, we talk about why organisations that don’t adapt to AI risk falling behind, and how HR can lead one of the most important transformations organisations are facing today. From storytelling and humility in leadership to real, practical AI use cases within HR 💡, this conversation challenges traditional ways of thinking about leadership and change. We also explore why mindset, authenticity, and human skills will matter even more as AI becomes part of everyday work 🤝 — and why HR has a critical role to play in shaping that future. 👉 Watch till the end for powerful advice on staying relevant, confident, and future-ready 🚀 Powered by Emeritus: www.emeritus.org #futureofwork #artificialintelligence #careergrowth #mindsetshift #reinventyourself #leadership #aijobs #careeradvice #personalgrowth #workplacetrends #mentalhealthatwork #resilience #lifelonglearning 🚀 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.