Future-Proof Leadership: AI, Entrepreneurship & the Stories That Shape Us – DisrupTV Episode 293

In Episode 293 of DisrupTV, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar engage with three visionaries exploring how technology, history, and narrative shape our future of leadership:

  • Byron Reese, CEO of JJKent and author of Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think, who offers a futurist's view of AI and how technology will usher in a new golden age for humanity. 
  • John Landry, author of Launchpad Republic and former HBR editor, who illuminates how entrepreneurial revolutions have repeatedly reshaped economies throughout history. 
  • Howard Wolk, author and entrepreneur, co-president of Cross Country Group, and former senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, who discusses the intersection of entrepreneurship, society, and scalable leadership. 

Key Takeaways

1. AI as Humanity’s Next Golden Age

Byron Reese argues that AI has the potential to catalyze a “new golden age of humanity” by transforming work, education, and culture— provided we guide it reflectively. 
Takeaway: Forward-thinking leaders must shape AI's development to maximize its human and societal potential.

2. Historical Cycles of Innovation

John Landry traces how entrepreneurial booms have defined economic eras—from early industrial revolutions to today—and how understanding these patterns can inform modern strategy. 
Takeaway: Leaders who learn from entrepreneurial history can better anticipate and leverage future waves of innovation.

3. Leadership Through Storytelling

Howard Wolk emphasizes the power of storytelling in entrepreneurship and leadership, asserting that narratives give context, inspire, and build trust. Constellation Research Inc.
Takeaway: Storytelling isn’t just communication—it’s a leadership tool that drives alignment and innovation.

Standout Quotes

“Technology, when guided well, can usher in a new golden age for humanity.” — Byron Reese 

“History teaches us that entrepreneurial revolutions always lead to more inclusive economies.” — John Landry 

“The stories we tell as leaders become the scaffolding upon which innovation is built.” — Howard Wolk 

Final Thoughts

DisrupTV Episode 293 offers a powerful lens for leading through change: Byron Reese calls us to steer AI toward a human-centered golden age; John Landry invites us to draw from entrepreneurial history to inform future strategy; and Howard Wolk reminds us that storytelling is foundational to influential leadership. Together, their insights provide a strategic playbook for navigating transformation with vision, wisdom, and narrative power.

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