The Leadership Skills We’ll Need Most When Everything Is Changing: Me2We 2026

We got four of Stanford GSB's most sought-after thinkers to explain exactly what today’s leaders are getting wrong about leadership. In this special episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, recorded live from the Me2We on-campus event of Stanford GSB’s Executive Education LEAD Program, host Matt Abrahams brings together four renowned experts in leadership management, team culture, communication, and coaching: Huggy Rao, Tara VanDerveer, David Dodson, and Celine Teoh. Together, they unpack the hidden habits, communication mistakes, and decision-making traps that define modern leadership styles. Here’s a (very) small sample of what you can expect to find in this episode: • Celine Teoh’s 5 A’s framework for healthy disagreement • Huggy Rao’s concept of ‘Jargon Monoxide’ • Tara VanDerVeer’s practical strategies on how to give feedback • David Dodson’s thoughtful take on why advances in AI will require a change in your leadership styles From building a stronger workplace culture and improving feedback at workplace communication to learning modern leadership training principles, this episode offers practical wisdom that can only come from people who've actually been in the arena. About Matt Abrahams: Matt Abrahams is a leading communication expert, Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford GSB, and host of the award-winning Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. He has coached presenters at TED, the World Economic Forum, and the UN Secretary General's office, and his online talks have garnered millions of views worldwide. He is the author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter and Speaking Up without Freaking Out, two bestselling guides to confident, spontaneous communication. Key Quotes • “American organisations pyschologise this and say ‘Oh my God! They have a work-life balance issue. Let’s give them a meditation app.’ The real problem is the lousy way in which work is designed.” - Huggy Rao (06:17) • “Be someone that makes it better. Be someone that makes a difference.” - Tara Vanderveer (09:17) • “The great danger with speed is, good people can do very bad things very quickly!” - Huggy Rao (16:51) • “Be the last one to speak. Let the junior people speak first. And then don’t shoot them down.” - Celine Teoh [Quoting another leader she met] (19:53) • “A lot of people give bad news and they ramble on and go back and forth, and nobody knows what’s happening and they’re apologising. Just do it like this: This is what happened. This is the implication. This is what I learned from it. This is what I’m doing differently going forward.” - David Dobson (27:54) Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:28 Celine Teoh: The 5A’s 03:52 Huggy Rao: “Add Less, Not More!” 07:08 Tara VanDerveer: “Be Someone That Makes It Better!” 09:22 David Dobson: “Technology WILL Be A Disruptor!” 13:24 The Best Leadership Advice 21:48 What Is “Jargon Monoxide”? 23:48 How To Give Great Feedback 26:14 What Helps You And Your Audience 28:40 ONE Skill Leaders Must Develop In 2026 34:52 Conclusion Relevant Links: Celine Teoh: https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/c... Huggy Rao: https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/h... Tara VanDerveer: https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/t... David Dodson: https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/d... Huggy’s book: https://www.fastersmarter.io/thefrict... David’s book: http://fastersmarter.io/the-manager-s... Episode References: 093. All the Feels: The Personal and Professional Power of Emotional Awareness Website: https://www.fastersmarter.io/93-all-t... YouTube:   • All the Feels: The Personal and Profession...   131. Stanford Professor Reveals Why Your Organization Is BLOCKED by Invisible Obstacles Website: https://www.fastersmarter.io/131-fric... YouTube:    • Stanford Professor Reveals Why Your Organi...   153. How to Lead Like a Winner: A Legendary Coach’s Advice Website: https://www.fastersmarter.io/153-list... YouTube:    • How to Lead Like a Winner: A Legendary Coa...   098. Give It to Me Straight: How to Give Honest, Constructive Feedback Website: https://www.fastersmarter.io/98-give-... YouTube:    • Give It to Me Straight: How to Give Honest...   Connect with us: Premium Signup: https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/ Email Questions & Feedback: [email protected] LinkedIn: (  / think-fast-talk-smart  ) Instagram (  / thinkfasttalksmart  ) YouTube (   / @thinkfasttalksmart  ) Matt Abrahams on LinkedIn (  / maabrahams  )