What if the way our organizations are designed is the root cause of our biggest social and environmental crises?

Shann Turnbull challenges conventional governance ideas, revealing how shifting from top-down control to decentralized, self-governing structures can unlock resilience, equity, and sustainability at scale.

If you're questioning the status quo of corporate power or seeking practical paths to reimagine management, this episode will expand your understanding of governance as a living, adaptive system—one that aligns business with human dignity and nature’s rhythms.

Discover how Eleanor Ostrom’s groundbreaking research on self-governance applies beyond communities, pointing toward a future where companies are nested networks of autonomous units, each rooted in local ecosystems. We break down the social science behind polycentric governance and how it can be embedded into corporate law through simple but revolutionary reforms—like giving corporations a limited lifespan and rewarding stakeholder ownership.

Shann shares real-world experiments where shifting legal structures enabled organizations to flourish by redistributing power and fostering bottom-up decision making.You’ll explore: the paradox of hierarchical versus self-organizing systems, inspired by biological principles like tensegrity—where tension and compression create resilient, adaptable structures.

We discuss how organizations can embrace complexity, staying flexible and innovative through distributed decision-making that mirrors nature’s own design. This isn’t just theory—Shann recounts how he transformed Australia’s skiing federations and company boards into self-governing entities, providing a blueprint for global change.The stakes are clear: without embracing self-governance, corporations will remain disconnected from the natural endowments they depend on, reinforcing inequality and environmental degradation. But with this new approach, there’s an unprecedented opportunity for resilience, democracy, and long-term flourishing—if leaders are willing to rethink basic assumptions about governance, ownership, and lifecycle.

Perfect for entrepreneurs, managers, students, and anyone hungry for a smarter, more sustainable future, this episode will challenge how you see organizational design—and reveal that the boundaries of what’s possible are only limited by our imagination.

The Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.

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Most of us underestimate just how many choices we really have—especially when it comes to acting with integrity in complex systems.

Mary Gentile reveals how understanding our deep human desire for meaning and belonging can unlock the courage to voice our values, even in the most intimidating environments.

Through powerful stories from classrooms, boardrooms, and global crises, Mary breaks down how small shifts—like rehearsing your response or reframing the narrative—can transform moral dilemmas from impossible to inevitable opportunities for impact.

You'll discover: the neuroscience behind ethical action, the role of storytelling in changing perceptions, and practical tools to build confidence and community around doing the right thing. She shares examples from fraud prevention in Moscow to healthcare innovation in Massachusetts, illustrating how ordinary individuals become extraordinary moral architects.

The stakes are clear: ignoring this capacity for moral action leaves us disempowered and disconnected. But embracing it offers a path to collective resilience, trust, and a more humane future.

This episode is essential for leaders, educators, and anyone committed to transforming moral intent into decisive action. If you believe that doing good is possible—even within imperfect institutions—this conversation will inspire you to see ethical choices not as constraints but as the very foundation of a thriving human society.

Mary Gentile is the founder of Giving Voice to Values and a pioneering advocate for reimagining ethics as a practiced, empowering skill. Her work combines insights from psychology, neuroscience, and real-world stories to show that moral action is accessible and essential in shaping a better world.This episode challenges you to see the moral universe not as a fixed set of rules but as a landscape of unlimited choices—if only you know where to look.

Perfect for leaders, students, and anyone eager to bridge the gap between values and action. Hit play to start reimagining what’s truly possible when ethics becomes your everyday practice.

The Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.

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Many believe that business success and human dignity are mutually exclusive — but what if they’re not?

Michael Posner’s life’s work proves otherwise. With over four decades at the forefront of human rights and corporate responsibility, he shares how organizations can create real economic value while respecting human rights — transforming how the world thinks about business and morality.In this episode, discover how a young lawyer's impulse to take action led to groundbreaking shifts in policy and corporate practice across the globe. Michael recounts pivotal moments, from the fight against Idi Amin’s atrocities in Uganda to shaping the legal framework for refugees in the US.

His story is a masterclass in seizing opportunities, forming strategic alliances, and turning moral conviction into tangible progress. You'll learn about key initiatives like the Fair Labor Association, the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, and innovative approaches to supply chain integrity. Michael emphasizes that meaningful change is possible when we combine pragmatic listening, strategic positioning, and a relentless focus on accountability. He challenges long-held assumptions, showing how businesses can thrive by doing good—particularly in a polarized, complex world where the true levers of influence often go unnoticed.

Why does it matter? Because ignoring this potential risks sustaining harmful practices while missing out on exponential opportunities for social impact and long-term success. In a time of crises—climate, inequality, technological upheaval—the ability to align profit with principle isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s a strategic necessity. This is essential listening for business leaders, students, and anyone eager to see proof that responsible business isn’t just a utopian ideal but a practical, proven pathway to a better future. Michael’s insights on how to cultivate trust, turn adversity into opportunity, and influence global change will leave you inspired—and ready to act.

Michael Posner is a globally recognized thought leader on business and human rights. His leadership at Human Rights First, in the Obama Administration, at NYU’s Center for Business and Human Rights and his work influencing corporate standards make him a definitive voice at the intersection of purpose and profit. Ready to challenge what you think business can be?

Hit play, and prepare to see how reality often proves possibility.

The Executive Wins Podcast features inspiring Executives who share their biggest wins.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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