ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this episode, Peter Brandenburger speaks with Steve Porter about leading through disruption by strengthening customer relationships. Together, they explore how curiosity, empathy, and courage help leaders uncover what customers truly need, collaborate to innovate, and make confident decisions when the path ahead is uncertain.
Steve reflects on lessons learned from turning discarded components into opportunity, accelerating product launches with small agile teams, and building trust through honest conversations. They also discuss how to stay steady in moments of tension, when “no” is the right answer, and how mentorship and reflection sustain long-term leadership growth.
Resources Mentioned:
- MicroInequities: The Power of Small by Stephen Young – short introduction video
- The Power of the Five Whys: Drilling Down to Effectively Problem-Solve
- How I Did It: William Wang, CEO, Vizio (requires subscription), or LA Times: He lost money as a young CEO. Then he founded TV giant Vizio - Los AngelesTimes (free)
Connect with Steve: LinkedIn
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Roar Mindset
00:36 Personal Stories of Health and Resilience
02:27 Innovative Leadership in Technology
04:03 Navigating Uncertainty and AI Revolution
05:05 Lessons from Vizio Collaboration
09:58 The Power of Face-to-Face Interaction
13:15 Embracing Rotational Roles for Growth
17:28 Building Strong Relationships and Leadership
24:14 The Power of Asking 'Why'
26:03 Building Strong Customer Relationships
27:29 Mutual Value in Relationships
30:26 The Art of Saying No
39:25 Mentorship and Its Importance
44:53 Leadership Lessons and Mindset
47:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
