410 Ram Charan on Leading When Uncertainty Is Permanent: Strategy, Execution, and AI as the New Business Model

Partnering Leadership

In this compelling episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by one of the most sought-after advisors to Fortune 100 CEOs and boards—Ram Charan. Named “the most influential consultant alive” by Fortune, Charan draws on decades of boardroom experience and over 30 books—Execution, What the CEO Wants You to Know, The Amazon Management System, and more—to offer a timely and provocative leadership lens.

As the global environment becomes permanently uncertain, Charan urges leaders to stop relying on outdated models of strategy and execution. Instead, he argues, CEOs must build adaptive systems—grounded in real-time data, rapid decision-making, and leadership accountability. And if you're still thinking of AI as a support tool rather than a core business model, you may already be falling behind.

Throughout the conversation, Charan shares why execution—not strategy decks—is the true differentiator of high-performing organizations. He explains how to identify and elevate the top 2% of talent that drive exponential value. And he doesn’t shy away from calling out boards that repeatedly miss critical cues in CEO succession and pivot capability.

This episode is essential listening for CEOs, senior executives, and board leaders who want a sharper edge in today’s environment. If you’re ready to rethink how your organization operates—and leads—in real time, Ram Charan offers a clear-eyed, actionable framework that cuts through the noise.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Hear why Ram Charan believes uncertainty is now the default—and what that means for how leaders must think and act.
  
• Learn why strategy without execution is useless, and what it takes to lead execution at the pace of change.
  
• Discover how AI is becoming a business model, not just a technology platform—and what CEOs must do to embrace this shift.
  
• You'll learn how to identify and invest in your top 2% of talent—those who drive outsized returns in an AI-powered world.
  
• Hear how to build real-time execution systems that outperform lagging, traditional performance reviews.
  
• Explore why CEO succession often fails—and what boards consistently overlook in evaluating pivot capability.
  
• Gain insight into why fast feedback loops and live dashboards are now essential for senior teams and boards alike.
  
• Hear how Ram Charan thinks about amplifying imagination through AI, and why efficiency alone isn’t enough.
  
• Understand the behaviors that distinguish leaders who “get it” when it comes to execution, talent, and transformation.
  

Connect with Ram Charan

Ram Charan Website

Ram Charan LinkedIn

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn
Partnering Leadership Website