Leadership is shaped by perspective, not titles.

In this episode, Anand Jha and Heather Cykoski, CCO Knauf, discuss leadership beyond bias, from embracing difference as an advantage to building teams, culture, and adaptability in a changing world.

Key Takeaways

• Being different can become a leadership advantage

• Diverse teams consistently outperform homogeneous ones

• Strong leaders balance soft skills with execution

• Continuous learning keeps leaders relevant

• Self-reflection helps uncover and overcome bias

• Skills transfer across roles and industries

• Growth happens outside comfort zones

• Mentorship accelerates leadership development

• Representation inspires the next

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Heather Cykoski's Journey

03:03 Overcoming Biases in the Energy Industry

05:32 The Evolution of the Energy Sector

06:54 The Role of Female Leaders in Energy

07:41 Learning from Diverse Experiences

09:03 Transferable Skills in the Energy Sector

10:50 The Importance of Continuous Learning

13:42 Opportunities and Challenges in the Energy Industry

15:37 Investing in Self-Development

16:49 Reflecting on Career Choices

20:08 Rapid Fire Round with Heather

24:49 Key Takeaways for Aspiring Leaders

26:29 Addressing Biases in Leadership

Keywords

energy industry, female leadership, overcoming bias, transferable skills, continuous learning, AI in energy, diversity in teams, personal growth, professional development, mentorship