SIGN UP FOR FREE | SIGN IN
Thinkers360
Interested in getting your own thought leader profile? Get Started Today.

Mahan Tavakoli

CEO at Strategic Leadership Ventures

Washington DC, United States

Mahan Tavakoli is a highly accomplished executive with a multi-faceted background in the US and global operations management. Over a 20+ year career at Dale Carnegie Training, Mahan was instrumental in launching, marketing, revitalizing, and turning around underperforming operations on five continents. He is also credited with building the fastest growing, and highest performing operations for Dale Carnegie out of 90+ countries.

He transformed a money-losing operation into a profitability center in less than one year,
expanded Dale Carnegie’s global footprint on four continents, and led a stagnant global region to achieve double-digit growth for four consecutive years. Mahan eventually became the organization’s Chief Diversity Officer and Chief Strategist.

Mahan leveraged his diverse experience to launch a consulting practice focusing on organizational leadership. Partnering with leaders across organizations and various industries,

Mahan has significant experience working with executives from large divisions of multinational
companies, mid-sized organizations, government agencies, and SaaS startups.

The industries and size of the clients he works with vary, however, the needs are similar. The
organizations Mahan partners with all have great leadership, believe in the untapped potential
of their people, and want to get the winning edge as they align the entire organization towards
more effectively achieving their purpose.

Mahan is also a published author, co-author, and contributor to industry-leading publications.

In addition to Mahan’s business and consulting experience, giving back to the community is also a top priority. Among his many awards, Mahan was honored for demonstrating outstanding community leadership by The Greater Washington Board of Trade and was awarded The Golden Links Award.

Currently, Mahan serves as Board Chair of Leadership Greater Washington and has helped lead the board and the organization through a pivot to greater relevance, purpose, and impact through the crisis.

Available For: Consulting, Speaking
Travels From: Washington DC
Speaking Topics: Leadership, Strategy, Management, Culture, Collaboration

Speaking Fee $7,500 (In-Person)

Mahan Tavakoli Points
Academic 0
Author 1464
Influencer 41
Speaker 0
Entrepreneur 30
Total 1535

Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.

Thought Leader Profile

Portfolio Mix

Company Information

Company Type: Individual
Minimum Project Size: Undisclosed
Average Hourly Rate: Undisclosed
Number of Employees: Undisclosed
Company Founded Date: Undisclosed

Areas of Expertise

AI 30.43
Business Strategy 43.10
Change Management
Coaching 31.02
Culture 56.26
Entrepreneurship 30.21
Future of Work 30.05
Generative AI 30.20
Innovation
Leadership 52.37
Management 86.37
Marketing 30.05
Social 30.33

Industry Experience

Publications

3 Article/Blogs
342 Resilience and Brilliance: Unleashing Leadership Potential and Lessons from Disney with Simon T. Bailey | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
September 03, 2024
In this insightful episode of the Partnering Leadership podcast, Mahan Tavakoli engages in a deep and inspiring conversation with Simon T. Bailey, a renowned speaker, leadership expert, and author of Resilience@Work: How to Coach Yourself Into a Thriving Future. Simon is best known for his work on personal and professional brilliance, with a focus on resilience—key themes that he passionately explores in his latest book

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

IT’S YOUR IMPERFECTIONS THAT MAKE YOU BEAUTIFUL!
Mahan Tavakoli
September 05, 2020
For Starbucks fans like me, the Siren logo is a familiar face.

However, some might not know that initially the face had absolutely no flaws. The left and the right side were a perfect match.

Pretty quickly the team that was working on the logo realized why the look was “creepy” and didn’t do well in perception tests.

It was too perfect!

See publication

Tags: Management, Leadership, Culture

ONLY THE PARANOID SURVIVE!
Mahan Tavakoli
September 05, 2020
Organizations need to keep reinventing themselves, not just because of technology, but because that’s the only way to remain competitive in a demanding marketplace.

Some believe Blockbuster failed because of “digital disruption”. I would argue that they failed in part because their business model was based on excessive fees & even when they realized the need to move to streaming, their franchise network & their reliance on fees kept them from changing.

See publication

Tags: Management, Leadership, Culture

1 Executive
Founding Executive Director, Genesys Works National Capital Region
Genesys Works National Capital Region
January 04, 2016
Planned and executed launch of social enterprise in the Greater Washington Metropolitan, focusing on establishing partnerships, business development, client service, marketing, sales, fundraising and program management. Successfully launched by recruiting corporate clients, securing funding, program management, social media, PR, networking and partnering with school systems to provide pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences and impactful relationships.

-Fastest first year ramp up with the most first year clients and internships of any site.
-Secured diverse clients including Accenture, AT&T, Intelsat, Kirkland & Ellis, Kratos Defense and Strayer.
-100% intern retention and matriculation to college.
-Successful business marketing and public relations PR/media outreach with coverage on radio, TV and print media including the Washington Post.

Below, you can hear a six minute interview from What's Working in Washington, read one of the articles from the Washington Post or watch a piece that aired on WJLA-ABC.

See publication

Tags: Management, Leadership, Culture

1 Founder
Strategic Leadership Ventures
Strategic Leadership Ventures
January 01, 2018
We help you unleash your team's potential through leadership consulting, coaching, and speaking.

You understand the value of having team members aligned and collaborating to execute effectively.

However, you also realize that team misalignment, lack of communication, and collaboration result in overwork, overwhelm, and poor execution.

We work with clients to help them unleash their teams' potential and turn strategy from well-intentioned ideas to aligned execution producing breakthrough results.

See publication

Tags: Management, Leadership, Business Strategy

487 Podcasts
341 [Best of] Park Howell on Powerful Storytelling and Communication Through the ABT Framework | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader twitter-white sharing button Tweetfacebook-white sharing button Sharesharethis-white sharing button Share
Partnering Leadership
August 27, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Park Howell, host of Business of Story Podcast, author of Brand Bewitchery, and co-author of The Narrative Gym for Business. Park Howell teaches one of the most powerful tools in storytelling: the And, But, and Therefore (ABT), going through the science behind it and how you can start crafting great stories and communicate more powerfully through the use of this framework.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

340 [Best of] Eduardo Briceno on The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Import from wordpress feed
August 20, 2024
In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Eduardo Briceño, author of The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action. In the discussion, Eduardo dives into the transformative power of a growth mindset and how we can apply it to unlock our potential. He

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

339 [Best of] Emily Field on Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
August 13, 2024
Middle managers often get a bad rap, seen as roadblocks to change and innovation. But Emily Field flips this narrative on its head. As a McKinsey partner, Emily saw firsthand how empowering middle managers unlocks an organization’s potential.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

338 [Best of] Jacob Morgan on Why Vulnerability Matters in Leadership and How to Do it Well | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Import from wordpress feed
August 06, 2024
Get ready to climb the mountain of vulnerability in leadership. In this engaging discussion with Jacob Morgan, author of Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization, you’ll learn why vulnerability plus leadership can transform

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

[Best of] Jacob Morgan on Why Vulnerability Matters in Leadership and How to Do it Well | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
August 06, 2024
Get ready to climb the mountain of vulnerability in leadership. In this engaging discussion with Jacob Morgan, author of Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization, you’ll learn why vulnerability plus leadership can transform organizations. In the conversation, Jacob Morgan shares his personal journey of grappling with vulnerability, from a childhood with a “tough guy” father to panic attacks while writing this transformative book.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Marketing

337 Thursday Refresh Garry Ridge, Former CEO & Chairman of WD-40 on Unlocking Growth through Purpose-Driven Leadership and a Culture of Engagement | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
August 01, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman of WD-40. In the conversation, Garry Ridge shared his origin story and how a quote from the Dalai Lama helped him focus on organizational purpose.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

336 Mastering Your Inner Voice and Overcoming the Crab Mentality with Hooman Motevalli | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
July 30, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Hooman Motevalli, the author of, Don’t Be a Crab: A Practical Guide to Building Strong Joyful Relationships. Motevalli’s journey from the tumultuous backdrop of revolution and war in Iran to becoming a transformative thinker in leadership and personal development is nothing short of inspiring.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

335 The Power of Strategic Storytelling in Leadership: Making Your Messages Memorable with Andrea Sampson | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Import from wordpress feed
July 23, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli hosts Andrea Sampson, an expert in strategic storytelling and the co-founder of Talk Boutique. Andrea Sampson talks about the fascinating intersection of brain science and storytelling, emphasizing why humans are hardwired to respond to storie

Tags: Management, Leadership, Culture

334 Mastering Leadership Excellence: Unlocking Team Synergy, Innovation, and Strategic Decision-Making, Mahan Tavakoli interviewed by Enrique Acosta Gonzalez on Developing the Leader Within Podcast
Partnering Leadership
July 16, 2024
In this special episode of the Partnering Leadership podcast, Mahan Tavakoli, usually the host, is in the spotlight as he is interviewed by Enrique Acosta Gonzalez for the Developing the Leader Within podcast. Mahan, CEO of Strategic Leadership Ventures and a highly regarded thought leader shares profound insights on leadership, drawing from his extensive experience working with top executives and CEOs globally.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

333 Tailored Self-Leadership: Grant ‘Upbeat’ Bosnick on Customizing Your Style, Overcoming Blind Spots, and Driving Organizational Success | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
July 09, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli welcomes Grant 'Upbeat' Bosnick, an expert in leadership development and the author of Tailored Approaches to Self-Leadership. Grant shares his journey from Toronto, Canada, to his extensive experience in Asia, where he has spent over two decades honing his leadership skills.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

332 Thursday Refresh: Rear Admiral Kyle Cozad on How to be a Relentlessly Positive Leader
Import from wordpress feed
July 04, 2024
Retired US Navy Admiral Kyle Cozak shares his inspiring journey of resilience and leadership in this episode of the Partnering Leadership podcast. From his upbringing in Las Vegas to his life-altering accident, Admiral Cozak's story is a testament to the power of trust, positive thinking, and d

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

331 [BEST OF] Greg Wooldridge on Leadership Secrets of the Blue Angels
Import from wordpress feed
July 02, 2024
In this captivating episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Greg Wooldridge, the only person to have led the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's renowned flight demonstration squadron, three times. With his unparalleled experience and unique insights, Greg Wooldridge shares val

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

330 Leadership Shock: Using Authenticity to Navigate the Hidden Dangers of Career Success with Pete Steinberg | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
June 25, 2024
In this episode of the Partnering Leadership podcast, host Mahan Tavakoli engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Pete Steinberg, a seasoned rugby coach, leadership consultant, and author of the book, Leadership Shock: Using Authenticity to Navigate the Hidden Dangers of Career Success.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

329 The Mentally Strong Leader: Build the Habits to Productively Regulate Your Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors with Scott Mautz | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
June 18, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli welcomes Scott Mautz, a renowned leadership expert and the author of The Mentally Strong Leader: Build the Habits to Productively Regulate Your Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

328 Get Over Yourself: How to Lead and Delegate Effectively for More Time, More Freedom, and More Success with Dave Kerpen | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader twitter-white sharing button Tweetfacebook-white sharing button Sharesharethis-white sharing button Share
Partnering Leadership
June 11, 2024
In this engaging episode of the Partnering Leadership podcast, Mahan Tavakoli hosts NY Times Best Selling author and serial entrepreneur Dave Kerpen. The conversation focuses on Dave Kerpen’s most recent book, Get Over Yourself: How to Lead and Delegate Effectively for More Time, More Freedom, and More Success.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

328 Get Over Yourself: How to Lead and Delegate Effectively for More Time, More Freedom, and More Success with Dave Kerpen | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Import from wordpress feed
June 11, 2024
In this engaging episode of the Partnering Leadership podcast, Mahan Tavakoli hosts NY Times Best Selling author and serial entrepreneur Dave Kerpen. The conversation focuses on Dave Kerpen’s most recent book, Get Over Yourself: How to Lead and Delegate Effectively for More Time, More Freedom, and

Tags: Management, Leadership, Culture

327 Thursday Refresh with Jonah Berger on Magic Words to Unleash the Power of Effective Leadership and Positive Influence | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
June 06, 2024
In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Jonah Berger, Wharton School professor and internationally bestselling author of Magic Words, Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst. In the conversation, Jonah Berger talked about the role of influence in our lives and leadership.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

326 From Bad to Worse: How to Break Free from the Grip of Toxic Leadership and Cultivate a Thriving Organization with Barbara Kellerman, Founding Executive Director of the Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership | Partnering Leadership
Import from wordpress feed
June 04, 2024
In this compelling episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli engages in a deep and insightful conversation with Barbara Kellerman, a renowned expert in leadership, Harvard Kennedy School Professor, and a prolific author. Kellerman's latest book, Leadership from Bad to Worse: What Happens

Tags: Management, Leadership, Culture

325 Unlocking the Power of Proximity: How Coming Breakthroughs in Just-in-Time Delivery are Transforming Business, Society and Daily Life with Robert Wolcott | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
May 28, 2024
In this insightful episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Robert Wolcott, a renowned expert on innovation and the co-author of Proximity: How Coming Breakthroughs in Just-in-Time Transform Business, Society, and Daily Life. In the conversation, Rob Wolcott shares his groundbreaking insights on how digital technologies are revolutionizing industries and reshaping the future of work, healthcare, and beyond.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

324 Adapting to the Seismic Shift in Work: The Role of Flexibility and the Future of the Office with Rob Sadow, Co-Founder & CEO of Scoop and The Flex Index | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
May 21, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Rob Sadow, the co-founder and CEO of Scoop and the mastermind behind The Flex Index. As a leading expert on the future of work, Rob shares his invaluable insights on navigating the seismic shift towards hybrid and flexible work arrangements. Drawing from his extensive experience and data-driven approach, Rob goes into the challenges and opportunities that come with this transformative change in the workplace.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

323 Collaborative Entrepreneurship: Leading Advertising's Adaptation to Disruption with Tim Ringel, Global CEO & Co-Founder of Meet The People | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Import from wordpress feed
May 14, 2024
In this insightful episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Tim Ringel, the visionary CEO of Meet the People, a trailblazing agency that's reshaping the advertising and marketing landscape. With a career spanning decades and continents, Tim Ringel brings a wealth of exper

Tags: Management, Leadership, Culture

323 Collaborative Entrepreneurship: Leading Advertising's Adaptation to Disruption with Tim Ringel, Global CEO & Co-Founder of Meet The People | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
May 14, 2024
n this insightful episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Tim Ringel, the visionary CEO of Meet the People, a trailblazing agency that's reshaping the advertising and marketing landscape. With a career spanning decades and continents, Tim Ringel brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing businesses in the digital age.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

322 Leveraging the Yin and Yang: Secrets to Building a High-Performing CEO-COO Partnership with Cameron Herold, Founder of COO Alliance | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Import from wordpress feed
May 07, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Cameron Herold, a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the book The Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO. With a wealth of experience as a COO and having coached numerous companies worldwide, Cameron shares

Tags: Management, Leadership, Culture

322 Leveraging the Yin and Yang: Secrets to Building a High-Performing CEO-COO Partnership with Cameron Herold, Founder of COO Alliance | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
May 07, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with Cameron Herold, a seasoned entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the book The Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO. With a wealth of experience as a COO and having coached numerous companies worldwide, Cameron shares his invaluable insights on the critical role of the COO and how to create a high-performing CEO-COO dynamic.

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

Thursday Refresh with Dave Ulrich, Father of Modern Day HR on Leading the Organization of the Future | Partnering Leadership Global Thought Leader
Partnering Leadership
May 02, 2024
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Dave Ulrich. Known as the Father of modern-day HR, Dave Ulrich is the Rensis Likert Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and a partner at the RBL Group, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations and leaders deliver value. Dave Ulrich has published over 30 leadership, organization, and human resource books. The discussion with Dave Ulrich touches on measuring a leader's effectiveness, the difference between being a leader and leadership, and how HR has evolved to become more crucial to company succes

See publication

Tags: Culture, Leadership, Management

Thinkers360 Credentials

8 Badges

Radar

Blog

Opportunities

Add to Shortlist View Shortlist »

Contact Mahan Tavakoli

Book Mahan Tavakoli for Speaking

Book a Meeting

Media Kit

Share Profile

Contact Info

  Profile

Mahan Tavakoli

Latest Activity