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Sapient Leadership: Navigating rapid changeIn 2019, at Stanford University, I embarked on a mission to understand how leaders can effectively navigate an era characterized by perpetual, pervasive, and exponential change—what we termed “3D change.” I joined forces with Aneel Chima and through extensive interviews with leaders across various sectors and in-depth research, we observed that traditional, linear approaches to leadership were insufficient in addressing the complexities of this new reality.This realization led us to develop the Sapient Leadership framework—a model emphasizing humility, empathy, trust, and collaboration as essential qualities for leaders facing rapid and multifaceted change. Our work culminated in the creation of a Stanford University course designed to explore and impart these principles to the next generation of leaders.What Is Sapient Leadership? Ron Gutman's Call for More Humility, Empathy, and Collaboration To Navigate 'Three-Dimensional Change'In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the very changes we sought to address, our course transitioned into a widely attended online lecture series. This platform facilitated in-depth discussions with prominent figures from business, healthcare, government, and social sectors, examining leadership theories and practices in the context of real-time 3D change.The insights gained from these engagements have been instrumental in refining and advancing the Sapient Leadership framework, equipping leaders with the tools necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.
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Harvard Business Review features our Sapient Leadership framework“What emerged in the face of a perpetual, pervasive, and exponential change, was a new vision of leadership, which we called Sapient Leadership — a humble, nimble, and value-driven vision for leadership. Leader humility, authenticity, and openness instills trust and psychological safety. In turn, trust and psychological safety empower individuals and teams to perform at their highest capabilities. Additionally, continuously learning teams are essential for keeping pace with and effectively navigating 3-D change. Finally, shared purpose and common values enhance focus, cohesion, and resilience in the midst of 3-D change.”
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Life lessons from leaders and change-makersWhen we started getting strong demand from everywhere to get access to this knowledge we decided to open the doors to the entire Stanford community and eventually the general public, and delivered the lecture series Life Lessons from Leaders and Change-makers.Sapient Leadership is a humble, nimble, and value-driven approach to leading through 3D change — where trust fuels performance, learning drives adaptability, and shared purpose powers resilience.
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Whistleblowing the perils of sugarWhat if the real threat to our health wasn't hidden — just quietly accepted?This year, I teamed up with longevity expert Dr. Mark Hyman to sound the alarm on one of the most dangerous ingredients in our modern diet: sugar. In an open letter published in TIME Magazine, we called on the FDA to take decisive action — starting with clear, mandatory front-of-package labeling.Our message was simple: just like we did with cigarettes, it's time to confront sugar with truth and transparency — so people can finally make informed choices about what they eat, and how they live.
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Teaching our machines to smileAI is on everyone's mind these days, and rightfully so. This is the fastest, most significant technological breakout of our lifetime. On my mind however, AI has been for more than a decade now. Already in 2017 I had the privilege to participate in a World Economic Forum panel on artificial intelligence alongside Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, and MIT Media Lab's Joi Ito.I was thrilled when Fast Company gave me the opportunity to write about it. The article discusses embedding compassionate behaviors into AI, teaching models what is emotional intelligence and how that can reconnects us to what it means to be human.
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Repairing the world with Tikkun OlamThe concept of Tikkun Olam, an ancient Jewish teaching that the world was given to us in an unperfect state and it is our obligation to fix it, has been close to my heart since childhood.It's a beautiful tradition of altruism in its purest form. When we are actively improving the world around us, it serves as a powerful antidote to the helplessness and anxiety many people feel today. Helping others installs a sense of purpose, and as the article explains, significantly reduces stress and improves mental health, benefiting you as well.
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The answer to blitzscaling — Silicon Valley PodcastWhat does it really take to build products that scale with purpose — not just speed?I had a great time joining Julie and Jimmy on the Silicon Valley Podcast to reflect on lessons from my two decades in the Valley: launching companies, shaping transformative technologies, reaching hundreds of millions of users — and saving lives along the way.We talked about the power of mission-driven innovation, why scaling impact beats scaling hype, and how to build with heart in a world that often moves too fast.
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Building smarter systems — before the next crisisI believe in being proactive — and in inspiring others to act before we're forced to react. The pandemic taught us hard lessons, and it's up to us to make sure we don't repeat them.By breaking down silos and working collaboratively across sectors, we have a real opportunity to build a next-generation COVID infrastructure — one that's data-driven, agile, and designed to protect lives, not just respond to emergencies. If we get it right, we won't just be reacting to future threats — we'll be ready for them.
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My Stanford talk on how to create success for everyone while enjoying the journeyEntrepreneurship isn't just about building something big — it's about building something meaningful. In this Stanford Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders (ETL) talk, I share lessons from my journey in Silicon Valley and beyond: how to create lasting impact by deeply understanding human needs, and how to find joy in the process — not just the outcomes.When I mentor founders, I always emphasize this: value creation should be a source of fulfillment, not burnout. When you align your work with purpose, and genuinely care about the people you're serving, success becomes something you share — not just something you chase.
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Unlocking new and exciting pathways to a healthier lifeAt our recent Live Long & Flourish Club meetup at Stanford University, we delved into an eclectic mix of topics aimed at enhancing well-being and longevity. From the algorithmic analysis of blood and DNA biomarkers to simple strategies for maintaining focus in a world full of distractions, the discussions were both enlightening and practical.We explored the benefits of monitoring glucose levels, indulged in the rich flavors of 100% chocolate, and examined the intriguing healing powers of the placebo effect. Each subject offered unique insights into optimizing our health and happiness.For a comprehensive recap of these discussions and to discover actionable strategies for your own life, I invite you to read my detailed article on Medium.
Enriching the community with important lessons, inspiration, and collaborationTEDx Silicon Valley: As curator and host of one of the first independently organized TED events at Stanford University, I had the privilege of featuring visionary thinkers like Peter Thiel and Reid Hoffman, fostering dialogues that inspire innovation and positive change.
Live Long and Flourish (LL&F) Club: Founded to explore, test, and validate the most effective health and wellness optimization solutions, the LL&F Club is a community dedicated to helping individuals lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
FestiHealth: During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, we introduced FestiHealth—a virtual platform designed to help individuals discover and connect with virtual care services, providers, practitioners, and trainers, promoting well-being during challenging times.
Hacking 4 Health: In the nascent days of smartphones, I produced the first digital health hackathon to catalyze innovation in mobile health applications, encouraging developers to create solutions that empower individuals to take control of their health.
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I'm into solving hairy audacious human challenges that have the potential to help people everywhere.
I build, run, and grow companies that move fast and create solutions geared toward saving lives.
My philanthropic endeavors are meant to help those in need to live healthier happier lives.
I can't get enough of the astonishing powers of smiling and how it transforms our mind & body.
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