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#151 The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone's Gain
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What if the real secret to exceptional leadership isn’t control, charisma, or even performance—but generosity? Could the “soft stuff” like listening, empathy, and vulnerability truly drive the hardest results in business?
In this episode of the Delighted Customers podcast, I dig into that very question with Joe Davis, legendary former Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, co-founder of BCG’s Washington D.C. office, and author of “The Generous Leader: Seven Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain”. Joe shares his own journey from traditional, results-driven leadership to a generous, people-centered model—and why unlocking your team’s full human potential just might be the most powerful business move you can make. We explore how the traits of generosity drive not only team happiness and loyalty, but also real bottom-line outcomes, making this conversation essential listening for leaders and aspiring leaders at every level.
Why should you tune in to this episode? Joe has four decades of hands-on experience innovating in both the private and public sectors, founding major business initiatives within BCG, and working closely with Fortune 500 C-suite leaders. He distills this wisdom into practical strategies—whether you’re leading a team of three or a global enterprise of 100,000. His stories from the front lines of consulting, combined with actionable steps for building trust and humanity in the workplace, will change the way you think about leadership forever.
Here are three compelling questions Joe answers on the show:
Why should organizations and their C-suite invest in “generous leadership” when they’re held accountable for hard business outcomes, not just a healthy culture?
What are the seven key traits that separate good leaders from exceptional, generous leaders—and how do they play out in real-world scenarios?
How can listening, vulnerability, and small acts of recognition dramatically improve your team’s performance and engagement?
Listen now and subscribe to the Delighted Customers podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! You’ll find this episode—and every episode—on all your favorite podcast platforms. If you find value in these conversations, please leave a review and share with a friend or colleague who wants to rethink what great leadership really looks like.
Meet Joe Davis
Joe Davis is a veteran senior partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he spent 37 years shaping strategy, developing talent, and transforming organizations at the highest level. Joe co-founded BCG’s Washington D.C. office and launched the firm’s North American Public Sector business, as well as leading BCG North America. Passionate about advancing equity and inclusion, he also founded and chaired BCG’s Center for Inclusion and Equity.
Joe is a Harvard Business School graduate and has been at the forefront of helping organizations evolve from top-down, authoritarian structures to cultures of trust, inclusion, and generosity. His experience spans advising CEOs of major corporations to hands-on coaching with emerging leaders. He is the author of “The Generous Leader: Seven Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain,” a groundbreaking book that reimagines the connection between caring leadership and delivering results.
Joe is currently an advisor and coach to BCG’s rising partners, teaching them how to inspire, motivate, and build lasting client relationships. You can reach Joe and learn more about his work via his LinkedIn profile or his website at joedavis.com.
Show References and Resources
“The Generous Leader: Seven Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain” by Joe Davis Amazon Link
Joe Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-davis-bcg/
Joe’s personal website: https://joedavis.com
Harvard Business School: https://www.hbs.edu
Boston Consulting Group (BCG): https://www.bcg.com
Michigan State University’s Trust and Leadership Education: https://broad.msu.edu
CEO Joaquin Duato, Johnson & Johnson: https://www.jnj.com/leadership/joaquin-duato
Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/company/about/leadership.html
Sheila Bair, former FDIC chair: https://www.fdic.gov/about/leadership/sheila-bair/
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