Episode 34: Becoming a Chief Reinvention Officer with Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva in Dov Baron Leadership and Loyalty Podcast by Dov Baron

The Leadership Wake-Up Call Every Executive Needs

In this special two-part appearance (Part 1, Part 2), Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva joins Dov Baron for a masterclass on leading through chaos. Across both episodes, they confront the outdated myths of leadership, expose the dangers of complacency, and lay out a roadmap for transforming disruption into opportunity.

Dr. Nadya shares deeply personal stories, global research, and real-world tools for making reinvention a repeatable practice inside any organization—no matter the size or industry. This isn’t just about adapting. It’s about leading with clarity, courage, and a future-ready mindset.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll learn why reinvention is now a survival skill—not a luxury—and how the pace of change has shifted from decades to months. Dr. Nadya explains how 20th-century tools like static budgeting and top-down planning are failing us, and why we must rethink leadership itself. You’ll discover how to anticipate disruption, embed agility into your systems, and build a leadership identity that can pivot without losing core values. From the “Kill the Company” exercise to dynamic strategy canvases, this episode delivers both inspiration and implementation.

Who This Is For

• Executive leaders navigating high-stakes change
• Mid-level managers looking to lead with more confidence
• Change agents inside traditional or bureaucratic cultures
• Entrepreneurs and consultants ready to reinvent their value
• Anyone still waiting for the world to “go back to normal”

3 Key Takeaways from This Episode

1. Stop Waiting for Normal—It’s Not Coming Back

The most dangerous question leaders ask today is, “How do we survive until things go back to normal?” Dr. Nadya reframes the mindset: thriving now means preparing for constant volatility, not resisting it.

2. Reinvention Is a Daily Practice, Not a One-Time Project

Gone are the days when change came once every few decades. With over 1,000 global crises since 1980, the new leadership mandate is to build a repeatable reinvention process—just like finance or marketing—not a one-off transformation.

3. Your Identity Must Be Stronger Than Your Job Title

Real leadership today begins with knowing who you are beyond your role or niche. Dr. Nadya shares her own story of ancestral resilience and explains why leaders must reinvent from a foundation of self-awareness and clarity—not ego.

Resources Mentioned

• Learn2Reinvent.com – Free tools, templates, and reinvention programs
• The Chief Reinvention Officer Handbook – Dr. Nadya’s bestselling playbook for thriving in chaos
• Kill the Company Exercise, available in the book
• Stellar Strategy Canvas – Available inside the book preview on Learn2Reinvent
• Follow Dov Baron and the Leadership & Loyalty podcast