This week on the Positive Leadership Podcast, I amjoined by Professor Durreen Shahnaz, a pioneering social entrepreneur, impact investor, and relentless advocate for women’s empowerment.

From growing up in a post-war Bangladesh to becoming the first Bangladeshi woman on Wall Street, Durreen’s journey defies conventions. She left investment banking to join Grameen Bank, and went on to found Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)—home to the world’s first social stock exchange and the groundbreaking Women’s Livelihood Bond.

In this powerful conversation, Durreen shares:

• How her upbringing shaped her belief in using finance for good
• What it means to be a defiant optimist in a system built for exclusion
• The bold vision behind IIX and the practical ways it's transforming lives across the Global South
• How young leaders can challenge the status quo and lead with purpose

Durreen’s work has shifted the paradigm of global finance—proving that profit and purpose can coexist, and that real change comes from the margins.

🎙️ Want more inspiring stories of courageous leadership and positive change?
Check out these standout episodes:

• Indra Nooyi – Driving performance with purpose: https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/14002537-driving-performance-with-purpose-with-indra-nooyi
• Hannah Ritchie – Not the End of the World: https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/15848278-not-the-end-of-the-world-with-hannah-ritchie
• Daniel Goleman – Optimizing your performance with emotional intelligence: https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/14940410-optimizing-your-performance-with-emotional-intelligence-with-daniel-goleman

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

Barbara Martin Coppola, former CEO of Decathlon, joins us for a powerful conversation on what it means to lead with purpose in today’s fast-changing world.

From her early career in tech at Google and Samsung to leading IKEA's digital transformation and then guiding Decathlon through cultural and strategic reinvention, Barbara shares the lessons she’s learned across continents, industries, and leadership roles.

In this episode, we explore:

• How to navigate and inspire across cultures
• What it takes to transform a legacy brand into a global innovation powerhouse
• The mindset needed to embed sustainability and impact into business strategy
• Her personal leadership principles shaped by experiences in 8 countries

🎧 If you enjoy this episode, you might also like:

• Jesper Brodin (CEO of Ingka/IKEA) - Learning to embrace risk: https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/13835787-learning-to-embrace-risk-with-jesper-brodin
• Hubert Joly (former CEO of Best Buy) - Libérer la magie humaine pour réussir: https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/10861128-fr-liberer-la-magie-humaine-pour-reussir-avec-hubert-joly
• Whitney Johnson: Growing through personal disruption: https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/10797020-growing-through-personal-disruption-with-whitney-johnson

Tune in for a masterclass in global leadership, reinvention, and impact.

▶️ Listen now on your favorite podcast platform.

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/

In this episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Rana el Kaliouby, AI scientist, entrepreneur, investor and thought leader in the field of artificial emotional intelligence.

From growing up in Cairo to studying at MIT and co-founding Affectiva, Rana has spent her career bridging the gap between human emotions and technology. Today, as Deputy CEO at Smart Eye and founder of the ethical AI venture fund Blue Tulip, she continues to champion a more empathetic, inclusive, and human-centered approach to innovation.

Together, they explore:

• Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever in today’s AI-driven world
• How leaders can foster trust, diversity, and belonging through empathy
• What it means to be a humanist in a digital age

Rana’s story is one of bold vision, resilience, and a deep belief in technology as a force for good.

🎧 Tune in for a conversation that will inspire you to lead with both head and heart.

You might also enjoy these episodes:

• Finding meaning in your work (with Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO): https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/8966432-finding-meaning-in-your-work-with-satya-nadella-microsoft-ceo
• Empowering people with AI (with Kevin Scott): https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/14764673-empowering-people-with-ai-with-kevin-scott
• Optimizing your performance with emotional intelligence (with Daniel Goleman): https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/14940410-optimizing-your-performance-with-emotional-intelligence-with-daniel-goleman

One shot, Long Life! is a podcast focused on The Global Health Advocacy Incubator's...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Subscribe now to JP's free monthly newsletter "Positive Leadership and You" on LinkedIn to transform your positive impact today: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/