531
Downloads
8
Episodes
Dan Jenkins & Gaurav Khanna: Leaders in the Loop Podcast. Helping leaders navigate AI effectively.
Episodes
8 hours ago
8 hours ago
Dan Jenkins and Gaurav Khanna are joined by Dr. Jonathan Reams, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at the Center for Transformative Leadership, founder of Adeptify, and author of Maturing Leadership, to explore what leadership development looks like in an AI-saturated environment—especially when information is abundant but developmental capacity is not.
Episode Overview
This episode frames leadership growth as a developmental process rather than a knowledge-transfer problem. Drawing on adult development theory, neuroscience-informed models of prediction and emotion, and applied AI practice, the conversation explores how leaders expand capacity, interrupt reactivity, and remain accountable in complex systems.
Topics Covered
- Leaders “create the weather” through emotional and relational climate
- The bricoleur mindset and adaptive learning
- Predictive processing and constructed emotion
- Horizontal vs. vertical development
- Downward assimilation of complex concepts
- Psychological Aikido and interrupting reactive cycles
- Learning loops and dynamic skill theory
- Context windows and attention (human and AI parallels)
- Intentional AI collaboration and ethical acceleration
Key Takeaways
- Leadership behavior reflects predictive models shaped by early experience.
- Capacity expansion—not content accumulation—drives developmental growth.
- Complex ideas degrade when leaders lack the capacity to hold them.
- Iterative learning loops enable meaningful skill development.
- AI tools require deliberate framing and human accountability.
- Ethical maturity must keep pace with technological capability.
Examples & References Discussed
Adult Development & Learning
- Robert Kegan – Harvard profile
- Jean Piaget – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Kurt Fischer – Dynamic Skill Theory
- Theo Dawson – Lectica
Neuroscience & Psychology
- Lisa Feldman Barrett – Official site
- Benjamin Libet – readiness potential research
- Andy Clark – University of Edinburgh profile
Leadership & Organizations
- The Leadership Circle
- Arbinger Institute
- Amy Edmondson – Harvard Business School
- Peter Senge – The Fifth Discipline (Publisher page)
AI, Technology & Culture
- Google AI Studio (Gemini)
- Claude (Anthropic)
- Visual Studio Code
- Kilo Code (VS Code extension)
- The Coming Wave – Official site
- Co-Intelligence – Publisher page
- Algorithmic Justice League
Stay curious. Stay human.
Tuesday Jan 20, 2026
Tuesday Jan 20, 2026
In this episode, Dan and Gaurav are joined by Kathy Guarini to discuss how leadership must evolve as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in everyday organizational decision-making.
Kathy brings extensive leadership experience in enterprise technology and research, including serving as Chief Information Officer at IBM, where she led large-scale technology, AI, and digital transformation initiatives.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
In this episode, Dan and Gaurav are joined by Ryan Low, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Strategic AI Integration at the University of Maine System, for a deep dive into what it takes to lead AI adoption across a large, multi-campus organization. Ryan shares how AI is moving beyond pilots and experiments into core operational workflows, reshaping shared services, financial planning, faculty engagement, and leadership practices across the system.
Read the rest of this entry »Monday Jan 05, 2026
Monday Jan 05, 2026
In this episode, Dan and Gaurav sit down with futurist and market intelligence expert Mandy Steinhardt to explore the intersection of leadership, AI, and future trends. The conversation delves into the evolving role of the futurist, how technology is reshaping organizations, and what authentic leadership looks like in an AI-driven world.
Topics Covered
Read the rest of this entry »
Monday Jan 05, 2026
Monday Jan 05, 2026
Join hosts Dan Jenkins and Gaurav Khanna as they dive into AI, data literacy, and change management in education with Dr. Nicholas McGehee, Senior Data Scientist at Michigan Virtual, adjunct faculty at Trevecca Nazarene University, and founder of Capstone Solutions Consulting. This episode is a practical guide to helping educators and leaders embrace AI, featuring insights from Dr. McGehee’s influential research and real-world teaching experience.
Key Topics Covered
Read the rest of this entry »Monday Oct 13, 2025
Monday Oct 13, 2025
In this episode, Dan and Gaurav are joined by Gary Lloyd, a seasoned change leadership expert and the creator of the Leadership Skills Lab. Gary shares his journey from leading the Warwick Business School mentoring program to pioneering AI-powered leadership coaching tools.
Through his signature metaphor—“Gardeners, Not Mechanics”—Gary explains how leaders can cultivate adaptive, resilient teams in complex environments. The conversation explores how AI can enhance leadership learning through realistic simulations and feedback loops, while keeping human judgment at the center of growth.
Listeners will hear about Gary’s collaboration with Rice University’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders, where he’s developing an AI coaching tool that helps undergraduates practice essential skills like giving feedback, negotiating, and delegating—all in a low-risk, supportive virtual space.
The episode wraps up with a thoughtful discussion about AI’s impact on critical thinking, the importance of maintaining human-centered leadership, and Gary’s favorite tools, books, and playlists for continuous learning.
Topics Covered
Read the rest of this entry »
Monday Oct 13, 2025
Monday Oct 13, 2025
Welcome back to Leaders in the Loop! In this episode, Dan Jenkins and Gaurav Khanna pull back the curtain on their recent article published in the Journal of Leadership Studies. The discussion dives deep into how generative AI is reshaping leadership education, training, and development across sectors.
Join us as we explore the intersections of leadership, learning theory, and cutting-edge AI tools—showcasing real-world applications, wins, and the ongoing challenges of bringing AI into the heart of leadership development.
In This Episode
Read the rest of this entry »Sunday Oct 12, 2025
Sunday Oct 12, 2025
Welcome to the very first episode of "Leaders in the Loop," where we’re exploring the intersection of leadership, learning, and the rapidly evolving landscape of AI. In this debut episode, your hosts Dan Jenkins (leadership professor and development expert) and Gaurav Khanna (Cisco AI Executive and AI educator) lay the groundwork for their unique partnership—and the podcast itself.