No Turning Back is a podcast by retired Army Four-Star General Stan McChrystal and former Navy SEAL Chris Fussell. In this series, they explore the future of leadership and teams with the world’s most consequential leaders. From CEOs to political leaders to deep thinkers, Stan and Chris will bring you advice from the brightest minds about how to tackle the most pressing organizational and institutional challenges we face.
Christiana Riley on leading Deutsche Bank USA
Apr 27, 2021
Show notes
This week, Stan and Chris sit down with Christiana Riley, CEO of Deutsche Bank USA Corporation. After a decades-long career in Germany, Christiana moved to NYC to lead the bank's American branch six months before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Christiana shares the power of communication in an essential global bank, why trust is an outcome and not an input, and what American society can learn from the German economy.
Lisa Jaster on "not letting the quit in"
Apr 20, 2021
Show notes
This week, Stan and Chris sat down with Lisa Jaster, a US Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel and Engineer, and one of the first three women to graduate Ranger School. While most candidates go to Ranger School in their 20s, Lisa was 37 when she graduated from the Army's grueling 62-day training course. Lisa reflects on the role of women in special operations, how fitness is key to her lifestyle and leadership in the military and private sector, and how she refuses to "let the quit in" when facing adversity.
Jim Hackett on high ego and high empathy
Apr 13, 2021
Show notes
This week, Stan and Chris sit down with Jim Hackett, former CEO and President of Ford Motor Company. Jim is no stranger to the CEO role: at 39 years old, Jim was the youngest CEO of Steelcase. He brings decades of expertise to the conversation, discussing why leadership is the intersection of high empathy and high ego, how to build precision at scale, and reveals what businesses can learn from mouses and elephants.
Paul Fipps on brand, ambition, and digital transformation
Apr 06, 2021
Show notes
This week, Stan and Chris sat down with Paul Fipps, former Chief Experience Officer at Under Armour and current Senior Vice President of Customer and Partner Excellence at ServiceNow. A former infantry soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division, Paul reflects how the Army shaped his leadership style. Paul discusses taking on "non-obvious roles" in companies to develop new skill sets, how and why you should be creating "epic experiences" for customers, and what questions you should be asking as your teams embark on digital transformation.
Tristan Harris on technology's potential and power
Mar 30, 2021
Show notes
This week, Stan and Chris speak with Tristan Harris, the Co-Founder & President of the Center for Humane Technology, the primary subject of the Netflix documentary, "The Social Dilemma," and former Design Ethicist for Google. He brings years of experience in the technology sector to the conversation, focusing on social media's pervasive influence on how we think and interact. Between the addictive nature of our devices and how much influence something as little as the "like" button has on citizens worldwide, Tristan discusses how the power our technology holds is beyond measure.
We release our McChrystal Group Leader's Journal every other Wednesday with new No Turning Back episodes and thought leadership pieces. Join us for valuable insights on leadership here: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/newsletter/
Atul Gawande on pandemic and healthcare leadership
Mar 23, 2021
Show notes
This week, Dr. Atul Gawande, surgeon, author, and public health researcher, dives into the importance of leadership in the healthcare space. He was a member of President Biden's COVID-19 transition advisory team and shares his unique perspective on the world's response to the pandemic. An expert in his field, Dr. Gawande, discusses the similarities between doctors in the operating room and world leaders responding to COVID-19, why checklists and voicing up save lives, and what questions you should be asking yourself when you choose a physician.
Sam Kennedy on leading the Boston Red Sox
Mar 16, 2021
Show notes
Sam Kennedy, President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, says he works in the "toy of department of life," providing joy, distraction, and excitement for fans nationwide. Stan McChrystal and Chris Fussell sat with Sam at the beginning of the Red Sox's Spring Training and discussed Sam's three priorities for the Red Sox: winning games, preserving Fenway Park, and being active in the community. Sam shares what it's like to lead in a fishbowl with some of the nation's most enthusiastic fans and why the frontline employees at Fenway Park are the center of gravity for the team. As the Red Sox embark on the crucial months of their training, Kennedy shares how the team will make a comeback after COVID-19.
We release our McChrystal Group Leader's Journal every other Wednesday with new No Turning Back episodes and thought leadership pieces. Join us for valuable insights on leadership here: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/newsletter/
Tyson Voelkel on investing in a brighter future
Mar 09, 2021
Show notes
This week, Stan McChrystal and Chris Fussell sat down with Tyson Voelkel, the President of the Texas A&M Foundation. The Texas A&M Foundation aims to build a brighter future for Texas A&M University as its primary academic fundraising institution. Most recently, the Foundation raised over $4.25 billion in Texas's largest higher education campaign - a scale of at least $1.2 million every day, for 365 days straight. Tyson is a thoughtful, adaptable leader who brings his 12 years of leadership as an infantry officer in the US Army to the Texas A&M Foundation. Stan and Chris talk to Tyson about establishing trusted relationships between the fund, the university, and the donors - and learn how listening is crucial to the Foundation's success.
Keith Krach on building networks of trust
Mar 02, 2021
Show notes
Stan McChrystal once told Keith Krach that he was one of the few leaders he's known in business that we could put a uniform on tomorrow and be effective as a general officer in the United States Army. This week, Stan and Chris Fussell sit down with Keith Krach, the former Chairman, CEO, & President of DocuSign, the former Chairman and CEO of Ariba, and most recently, the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. They discuss Keith's leadership across the public and private sectors, how to build trust in new teams, and why we should wear failure like a badge of honor.
Rachel Maddow on the role of political media - then and now
Feb 23, 2021
Show notes
Every night at 9 p.m. EST, Rachel Maddow sits down to discuss the latest in American politics on her award-winning "The Rachel Maddow Show." This week, Stan and Chris explore Maddow's conclusions about leadership after her 13 years of examining the political space - discussing whether Americans overweigh the importance of leadership, as well as the role of media in politics, using history and experience as their guide.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
