In this illuminating episode, host Chad Hesters sits down with global advisor Xenia Wickett to explore the evolving demands of modern leadership. Drawing from her extensive experience across government, academia, and business, Xenia shares powerful insights on developing a generalist mindset, the critical importance of curiosity and determination, and how leaders can effectively navigate today's complex geopolitical landscape. Whether you're a seasoned CEO or an aspiring leader, discover why being uncomfortable is essential for growth, how to build valuable networks, and why the ability to adapt and learn continuously is more crucial than ever in our rapidly changing world.

Xenia Wickett is the founder of Wickett Advisory, a boutique consultancy providing executive coaching, geopolitical advisory services, and strategic leadership facilitation. With an extraordinary career spanning roles at the U.S. State Department, White House National Security Council, Harvard Kennedy School, and Chatham House, she brings unique insights into global leadership and complex decision-making. Her expertise combines deep understanding of geopolitical dynamics with practical leadership development, having served as Dean of the Academy for Leadership in International Affairs at Chatham House and led strategic initiatives at major institutions worldwide.

In this episode, Wickett shares valuable perspectives on the importance of cultivating curiosity and determination in leadership, the balance between specialist and generalist approaches, and how leaders can navigate increasingly complex global environments. Her combination of diplomatic experience, academic credentials from Oxford and Harvard, and extensive work with global executives makes this conversation particularly relevant for senior leaders seeking to enhance their strategic thinking and leadership capabilities in today's dynamic business landscape.

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Xenia Wickett reveals that curiosity and determination, not technical expertise, are the fundamental drivers of leadership success. In today's complex business environment, leaders must constantly explore new information sources and persist through challenges. While specific skills can be learned, the ability to remain intellectually curious and resilient is crucial for long-term growth. Leaders should actively cultivate a mindset of exploration and steady resolve, even when facing unfamiliar territories. For C-suite executives, these traits enable adaptation to rapidly changing business landscapes while maintaining strategic focus.

Modern leaders must balance specialist expertise with broad generalist capabilities to succeed. The ability to connect developments across sectors and geographies has become increasingly valuable as business environments grow more interconnected. Mid-career executives should actively expand beyond their core expertise to develop a more comprehensive leadership perspective. This broader viewpoint allows leaders to better understand how different business elements affect each other globally. CEOs and senior leaders who can effectively translate between specialist and generalist perspectives are best positioned to guide organizations through complexity.

Successful leaders recognize they can't be experts in everything and instead focus on building strong networks of diverse expertise. This approach requires both confidence in one's core knowledge and humility about limitations - a balance that enables better decision-making. Leaders must cultivate relationships with subject matter experts while maintaining enough understanding to ask intelligent questions and integrate various perspectives. For C-suite executives, the ability to leverage external expertise through strong networks is often more valuable than trying to develop comprehensive internal knowledge.

Drawing from extensive research across sectors, Wickett identifies four essential elements for leadership success: skills, knowledge, network, and self-awareness. This framework helps leaders systematically develop their capabilities while recognizing their natural strengths and limitations. For executives, the key is finding the right balance of these elements based on their specific context and organizational needs. Senior leaders should regularly assess their development across all four pillars to ensure continued growth and effectiveness.

Wickett introduces a powerful distinction between experimenting and prototyping as approaches to innovation in risk-averse environments. By framing initiatives as experiments rather than prototypes, leaders create space for multiple attempts and learning from failure. This approach helps organizations maintain innovation while managing risk expectations effectively. The strategy particularly benefits C-suite executives working in conservative industries or cultures where failure is traditionally viewed negatively.

Today's business environment requires leaders to simultaneously understand broad global trends and make specific operational decisions. This dual focus helps executives better navigate uncertainty while making practical day-to-day choices. Senior leaders must develop the ability to translate macro insights into micro actions that drive organizational success. For C-suite executives, mastering this macro-micro connection is crucial for effective strategic planning and execution in an increasingly complex world.

"The two characteristics of mine that I think have got me to where I am aren't South Asia expertise, aren't ability to communicate or to analyze. It is curiosity and determination." - Xenia Wickett

"I never knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. I still don't. I'm early fifties, and I still don't know what I wanna do when I grow up." - Xenia Wickett

"In the context in which we're now operating in this hugely complex environment, yes, we need specialists, but it's the generalists who can translate from one sector to another." - Xenia Wickett

"The best leaders are the ones who will say, I cannot know everything." - Xenia Wickett

"Confidence in the stuff you know, humility in the stuff that you don't." - Xenia Wickett

"If I'm not learning every day, then maybe I'm doing something wrong." - Xenia Wickett

"Regrets come from the stuff you don't do, not from the stuff you do. Because the stuff you do, you learn from." - Xenia Wickett

"Always experiment, don't prototype. Experiment with ten experiments all at the same time. And then once you've figured out what works, then prototype." - Xenia Wickett

"If you can't listen, you're unlikely to be able to gather the best information to make the best decisions." - Xenia Wickett

"What makes America so incredibly strong is it has a culture of failure actually makes you a success." - Xenia Wickett

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