The Boardroom 180 Podcast Podcast By Munir Haque (ma-near hawk) cover art

The Boardroom 180 Podcast

The Boardroom 180 Podcast

By: Munir Haque (ma-near hawk)
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 Board Governance Best Practices and Stories/Experiences Shared©2024-2025 ActionEdge Executive Development Economics Education Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • The Architecture of (Human) Potential

    The Architecture of (Human) Potential
    Jun 3 2025
    In this episode, the host’s guest is Don Jones, a human potential architect and experiential learning pioneer who has designed immersive behavioral simulations for more than 40,000 leaders in over 70 countries. The conversation delves into the concept of “Human Potential Architecture” and how organizational systems, culture, processes, and structure, either amplify or suppress individual and team potential. Don explains why most companies remain stuck in an industrial-era model, limiting agility and engagement, and outlines how immersive simulations (like Mission Possible) allow leaders to confront real-world challenges in a safe yet high-stress environment. They discuss the pitfalls of large-scale technology transformations that overlook employee insights, the importance of reducing friction between insight and impact, and why AI can’t replace a thriving, well-architected human workforce.Through real-life examples, from a Fortune 500 tech-upgrade that wasted over a billion dollars when employees were excluded, to the transformational story of a public utility that used simulation to rewire its culture, listeners hear practical lessons on redesigning systems to unlock creativity and adaptability. Don also shares a powerful vision for re-centering humanity in the age of AI by “putting Marissa on Time Magazine’s cover” as a metaphor for valuing every person’s innate brilliance. This episode challenges executives to rethink governance, job design, and leadership frameworks to create environments where people thrive rather than simply execute.About the Guest: Don Jones is the founder and chief experience designer at Experience It, Inc., where he has spent over three decades crafting story-driven behavioral simulations and distributed immersive reality experiences for clients such as Boeing, Microsoft, Cisco, and American Express. He is the author of the forthcoming book The Architectural Potential, a researcher on organizational design, and a sought-after speaker on human potential, leadership, and experiential learning.••• Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development: Website: AEEDNow.com LinkedIn: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Contact Don Jones: Website: ExperienceIt.comPodcast Production: Recording: PushySix StudiosTranscript:Today on the Boardroom 180 podcast, I'm joined by Don Jones, a pioneer in experimental learning and human potential design. For over three decades, Don has been crafting immersive story-driven behavioral simulations that have transformed leadership development across the globe. He's the founder and chief experience designer at Experience It, Inc.(...)And he's a thought leader, author, and keynote speaker whose work has shaped how Fortune 500 companies think about human systems and transformation.(...) Don, welcome to the show.(...) Thanks so much, Manera. It's a pleasure to be here. I appreciate meeting you and the team actually.(...)Well, thanks. You know, I, you know, as I often do with previous guests, I reach out and ask who they, who would they suggest? And, you know, your recommendation came from Phil DeMont.(...) You know, he's episode, I think he's episode 16.(...)And, you know, Phil's a freelance broadcast journalist. In fact, I actually heard him on the radio this morning. So did I. Talking about Tesla sales and Fortnite, yeah. Okay, heard him this morning.He does a very nice job of that. I listened this morning as well.Yeah.(...)And what he, he said two things about you. He said, reading it verbatim, really smart, dot, dot, dot. Also world ranked sailor.(...) So like Phil, I kept your introduction relatively short. And I thought I would let you unpack it a little bit. I mean, maybe that maybe to kind of lead off what I want you unpack is I went to LinkedIn and I looked at, you know, essentially what your profile tag is, or, you know, kind of the description that you use right at the top of the page. And it says,(...)human potential architect, 30 years creating behavioral learning simulations and distributed immersive reality experiences for global clients. So there's a bit to unpack there for those of us who, you know, don't understand all the lingo here. Sure. So, I mean, the question is like,(...)what's that mean?(...) Sure. First of all,(...) yes, Phil's a long time friend of mine and we used to play a lot of basketball together. And I do not sail at all, zero.(...)Would like to. So I am not, I am neither a world-class sailor or really smart. So I would like to be one of those, but let's just start base level.He never said you were highly ranked. He just said you were ranked, maybe you're ranked at the bottom.Yeah, listen,(...)I really loved basketball, played it a lot of my life, worked for Canvas Olympic teams, did a lot of stuff that was interesting before I started my company. But to your great question, what does all that jargon mean on LinkedIn, human potential architect? You don't hear that every day. And honestly, I ...
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    52 mins
  • AI Governance, Board Risk, & The Innovation Imperative w/ Yusuf Azizullah

    AI Governance, Board Risk, & The Innovation Imperative w/ Yusuf Azizullah
    May 20 2025


    In this episode, the host’s guest is Yusuf Azizullah, a board governance expert and advisor who works with companies and directors around the world on the fast-moving landscape of AI oversight and organizational risk. The conversation explores the growing responsibilities of boards as artificial intelligence transforms every sector, from finance and healthcare to mining and entertainment, and how leaders can strike the right balance between innovation and compliance.


    Yusuf outlines the key pressures facing directors today: reputational risk, litigation exposure, ethical AI use, and the need for clear oversight of data, vendors, and autonomous systems. They emphasize the importance of AI literacy at the board level, the role of AI ethics officers, and how even smaller companies need to think critically about transparency and bias mitigation. Drawing on real-world examples from Royal Bank of Canada, Deep Genomics, and Aramco, the conversation illustrates how emerging technologies are reshaping strategy, governance, and even merger and acquisition valuations. This episode challenges boards and executives to stop lagging and start leading—and to understand that AI oversight is no longer optional.


    About the Guest:
    Yusuf Azizullah is a global advisor on board governance, artificial intelligence, and risk oversight. His work includes direct consulting with public companies and nonprofit organizations, and the development of over 120 training programs focused on board responsibilities, AI governance, ESG, and cybersecurity. They are the founder of Global Board Advisors and BoardroomEducation.com, offering on-demand governance education for directors and executives around the world.


    •••

    Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:


    Website: AEEDNow.com

    Linkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.


    Contact Yusif Azizullah


    Website: BoardroomEducation.com


    Podcast Production:

    Recording: PushySix Studios
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    45 mins
  • Leadership & Organizational Mental Health Strategy w/ Stacey Adelman

    Leadership & Organizational Mental Health Strategy w/ Stacey Adelman
    May 6 2025
    In this episode, Munir Haque’s guest is Stacey Adelman, an organizational psychologist and mental‑health advocate whose work reframes resilience and vulnerability in leadership. She joins the show to explore the hidden costs of “surviving” in high‑stakes roles—from the panic that strikes before every presentation to the isolating myth of “bouncing back.” Stacey reveals why traditional resilience advice can leave leaders feeling alone, and how simple acts of recognition can spark genuine connection and adaptive change.Stacey Adelman describes how executives often feel they must “be strong all the time,” even under pressure. She challenges the notion of resilience as a return to “normal,” reframing it instead as ongoing adaptation and growth. Stacy highlights the critical role of psychological safety.About Stacey Adelman:Stacey Adelman is an organizational psychologist who consults with boards and executive teams on mental‑health strategies and culture change. She developed the “Rose Call” recognition strategy to foster connection and well‑being in high‑pressure environments. Her research and practice focus on reframing resilience as adaptive growth rather than mere recovery, and she speaks widely on leadership vulnerability and psychological safety.•••Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development: Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedin: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Contact Stacy Adelman: Website: https://joshuatreelearning.com/meet-stacey/Linkedin: (linkedin.com/in/stacey-adelman-31539288) to learn about her programs.Podcast Production:Recording: PushySix Studios •••Transcript:You know, when we think of resilience, and how do people, you know, work through or, you know, difficult things in their lives, you will often hear the term bounce back, right? How do we bounce back or how do we push through, for example, and I don't always see resilience as that. I think that's a bit of a myth. I think we need to look at it more in terms of adaptation and change, rather than bouncing back toto the way things were.(...)I'm your host, Munir Haque, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I have partnered with Action Edge Executive Development to lead their governance and political acumen division. In each episode, we meet with governance leaders and step into their boardrooms where decisions shape the world around us.(...) We'llguest today is Stacey Adelman,(...)a registered psychologist and expert in mental health and education with a master's in education and special education and intensive experience in both clinical and school settings. Stacey has spent her career supporting individuals across all ages, helping leaders, employees, and students navigate psychological challenges.(...)She has worked as a teacher, mentor, and coach, and her expertise spans psycho, psycho-educational assessment, counseling, and organizational mental health strategies.(...)Stacey is passionate about breaking the stigma about mental health, particularly in leadership and corporate settings. And she brings a wealth of knowledge to how organizations can better support their people.(...)Stacey, welcome to the boardroom one eight podcast.Good morning. Thank you so much for having me.Well, thanks for, thanks for making the time to be with us today. I know that one of our mutual connections, Subi had reached out and she's a supporter of the podcast and highly recommended that I, that I reach out to you and, and set up a, set up an interview with you. And I'm glad that, glad that we had the opportunity, we have the opportunity to do this.(...)Yeah. That's, it's great to connect with you. And she's spoken very highly of you as well, in the near.That's good.(...) I paid her well.Yeah.(...)Anyway, so we're here to talk a little bit about mental health and I, you know, admittedly I probably fall into that category of somebody who has never been overly comfortable talking about it. I find, I find now that my, my, my children are getting older, that it is something that is talked about a lot more. Yes. And, and you say, you know, when you're, when you're dealing with, with your kids as the age, you see it more, you know, from their perspective, or from your perspective as a parent.(...)And, you know, I've, I've been in organizations and, and had had to deal with, with staff that had, you know, whether, whether it's, you know, kind of mental health issues or other personal health issues, you see, I saw over time that, you know, it became something more talked about.(...)And, you know, as it is, as it is becoming a kind of less, less taboo and acceptable,(...) you have to talk about these in business settings.(...)But, you know, from your perspective, how have you seen it change over the last, you know, decade or so?(...) Oh, I would agree with you. I, I think this younger generation is light years ahead of us. And I get really excited when I talk with youth, because they have so much ...
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    54 mins
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