Episode 101

Klaus Kleinfeld: How to lead at work and thrive in life

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Has your job become all-consuming as a leader in your organisation? Whether it’s organisational transformation, doing big M&A deals or handling a crisis, your health and relationships can be the things most impacted.

In this episode I am joined by Klaus Kleinfeld, former CEO of Siemens, and author of Leading to Thrive. He emphasises the importance of energy management for sustainable success, highlighting four energy sources: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Leaders need to balance both work and personal life to thrive in their roles, while maintaining their wellbeing. Klaus explores how to do this through dual mastery of the inner and outer game of leadership. This conversation challenges orthodoxy and sets out a manifesto for aspiring and experienced leaders alike.

You’ll hear about:

Making sure leadership isn’t all-consuming and impacting your health
How mastering the inner game involves managing energy and mindset
Trust and conflict management being vital for high-performing teams
Diversity should be tied to performance, not just a goal
Effective leadership cascades practices throughout the organisation

More about Klaus

Dr Klaus Kleinfeld is the only leader to have successfully served as CEO of two Fortune 500 giants on different continents: Alcoa in the US, and Siemens in Germany. With a near 40-year career spanning multiple industries, from established businesses to tech start-ups, he has advised US presidents and global leaders across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

As the founder of K2Elevation, he invests in North American and European tech and biotech firms. Actively engaged in the private sector, public affairs, and cultural boards, Dr Kleinfeld, a dual US and European citizen, enjoys work, life, and family, near New York.

Klaus’s LinkedIn profile
Klaus’s book Leading to Thrive

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“Too many leaders ignore themselves for too long. Then they burn out.”

Dr Klaus Kleinfeld — twice Fortune 500 CEO, company founder, and author

VIEW RUNNING ORDER

02.05	Challenging CEO narratives.
05.13	The application of energy management.
07.45	Introducing the issue of energy management.
12.30	CEOs and leading a healthy life with family.
16.10	Role modelling and cascading energy management.
20.44	Transitioning between roles.
25.41	Working with a team that isn’t working together.
29.46	Klaus on the backlash against DEI.
35.19	The impact Klaus wants to have on the world.