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)
Listen for free

Board Governance Best Practices and Stories/Experiences Shared©2024-2025 ActionEdge Executive Development Economics Education Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Building an Innovation-Ready Culture with Ed Bernacki

    Building an Innovation-Ready Culture with Ed Bernacki
    Jul 22 2025
    In this episode of Boardroom 180, Munir Haque sits down with innovation strategist Ed Bernacki to challenge the traditional assumptions around innovation. From international consulting to developing idea journals used by thousands, Ed shares how innovation isn’t about flashy tech or radical disruption, it’s a disciplined mindset rooted in trust, collaboration, and a deep understanding of problem-solving.Together, they explore why service-based innovation is often misunderstood, how cognitive diversity drives better decisions, and what it really takes to create value in new ways. Whether you're a board member, leader, or curious thinker, this conversation will reshape how you view innovation in your organization.Innovation Isn’t Disruption, It’s Discipline"About the Guest:Ed Bernacki is an internationally recognized innovation strategist, writer, and developer of practical tools that help leaders turn ideas into action. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Ed has worked across Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and Australia—guiding both public and private sector organizations to build their capacity for innovation.He’s the creator of the Navigator Journal series, has trained over 4,000 professionals in innovation skills, and has worked with governments, cities, and global leadership programs to design systems that support meaningful change. Ed is also one of Canada’s most published voices on innovation—and a passionate advocate for reframing innovation not as disruption, but as a discipline rooted in mindset, structure, and trust.••• Contact Munir Haque | ActionEdge Executive Development:Website: AEEDNow.comLinkedIn: Action Edge Executive Development Inc.Contact Ed Bernacki:Website: http://www.navigatorjournals.com/Podcast Production:Recording: Pushysix StudiosTranscript:innovation is more than improvement.(...)I mean, improvements are important, but innovations are like a quantum improvement that breaks new ground to create value in new ways.(...)And I thought this is just brilliant because it starts a conversation.(...)Hey everyone and welcome to another episode of the Boardroom 180 podcast. I'm your host Manir Haq, an executive coach and senior board strategist. I've 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.Today's guest is Ed Bernanke, an internationally recognized innovation strategist, writer and developer of practical tools that help leaders turn ideas into action. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Ed has worked across Canada, New Zealand, the Middle East, Singapore, and Australia, guiding both public and private sector organizations to build their capacity for innovation.(...)He's the creator of the Navigator Journal Series, has trained over 4,000 professionals in innovation skills, and has worked with governments, cities, and global leadership programs to design systems that support meaningful change. Ed is also one of Canada's most published voices in innovation and a passion advocate for reframing innovation, not as disruption,(...)but as a disciplined, rooted in mindset, structure, and trust.(...) So welcome to the boardroom. Ed, how are you doing?Well, thanks very much. It's doing well, thank you.Sounds good.(...)So I just start a little bit like you were introduced to me and suggested to be on the podcast by Don Jones as he was on our last episode,(...) I think it's episode 24, and he talked a little bit about kind of the human potential. And I think that might be kind of a good segue into the stuff we're working on talking about today.(...)As well, I think during our pre-interview, he kind of said it as a bit of a small world that you knew one of my previous guests as well,(...) Bruce Anderson.Yeah. Yeah.(...) So Bruce Anderson, he was in episode 14, and he talked about nonprofit,(...)kind of nonprofit governance.(...)So are you telling me how, I think there's a bit of a story there on how you know each other and might lead into kind of our first line of questions.(...)Okay, sure.(...)Man, I have to say it's an extraordinary coincidence that two of your previous speakers were in fact, we all went to university together.(...)And all of three of us were in the sports management program at Laurentian University.(...) And basically we went there because it was the only place in Canada that in those days that actually offered a program in sports management. I mean, I had an interest in sport, but I knew I didn't wanna be like a coach. That just wasn't my thing at all.And what we studied essentially was a four year commerce degree.(...)And then on top of that, all our minor courses were essentially the business of amateur and professional sport.(...)And so you kind of learned about associations, nonprofit management.(...)And I think once we got out of there, people kind of went in different directions, but...
    Show more Show less
    55 mins
  • 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 ...
    Show more Show less
    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
    Show more Show less
    45 mins
No reviews yet