The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast

<p>Episode Description In this episode of The 90th Percentile Podcast, BreAnne Okoren and Jack Zenger sit down with leadership expert Michelle Fabian to explore one of the most overlooked—but critical—elements of effective coaching: presence. While many leadership coaching models focus on goal setting, performance gaps, and action plans, this conversation takes a different approach. Michelle … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-184-coaching-is-connection-first-why-presence-outperforms-advice/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-184-coaching-is-connection-first-why-presence-outperforms-advice/">Episode 184: Coaching is Connection First— Why Presence Outperforms Advice</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Episode Description Gossip may seem like a minor workplace habit, but the research tells a very different story. In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne and Joe Folkman explore new data from Zenger Folkman’s 360-degree leadership assessments revealing how destructive comments about others can quietly undermine a leader’s effectiveness. Based on feedback from hundreds … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-183-the-gossip-trap-one-leadership-habit-that-quietly-destroys-trust/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-183-the-gossip-trap-one-leadership-habit-that-quietly-destroys-trust/">Episode 183: The Gossip Trap— One Leadership Habit That Quietly Destroys Trust</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Episode Description In a time of tighter budgets and higher scrutiny, leadership development is often one of the first investments leaders feel pressure to justify—or cut. But what if that decision is quietly costing organizations far more than they realize? In this episode, BreAnne Okoren sits down with Orin Salas, Vice President of Sales at … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-182-does-leadership-development-actually-pay-off-the-roi-leaders-cant-ignore/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-182-does-leadership-development-actually-pay-off-the-roi-leaders-cant-ignore/">Episode 182: Does Leadership Development Actually Pay Off? The ROI Leaders Can’t Ignore</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman unpack Zenger Folkman’s new Leadership Skills 2026 Report and explore what truly differentiates leaders in an AI-accelerated world. As AI makes information faster and cheaper, one capability is becoming increasingly scarce: human leadership. Drawing on fresh data from tens of thousands of leaders … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-181-highlights-from-the-leadership-skills-report-2026/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-181-highlights-from-the-leadership-skills-report-2026/">Episode 181: Highlights from The Leadership Skills Report 2026</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details Trust in leadership is often framed as a generational issue—older leaders are assumed to be more credible because of experience, while younger leaders are expected to “prove themselves” before earning trust. But Zenger Folkman research challenges these assumptions. In this episode of The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast, BreAnne Okoren sits down with … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-180-the-generational-trust-myth-why-behavior-beats-age-every-time/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-180-the-generational-trust-myth-why-behavior-beats-age-every-time/">Episode 180: The Generational Trust Myth—Why Behavior Beats Age Every Time</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details Emotional intelligence has dominated leadership conversations for years—and for good reason. Leaders who listen, empathize, and build strong relationships create healthier, more engaged teams. But what if EQ isn’t the primary capability driving leadership effectiveness? Drawing on a global dataset of 128,000 leaders and 360-degree feedback from over a million raters, they explore what … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-179-strategic-expertise-vs-emotional-intelligence-which-drives-leadership-success/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-179-strategic-expertise-vs-emotional-intelligence-which-drives-leadership-success/">Episode 179: Strategic Expertise vs. Emotional Intelligence—Which Drives Leadership Success?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we dive into the shifting landscape of Learning and Development (L&D) with Dani Johnson, co-founder and principal analyst at RedThread Research. Dani explores the concerning trend of L&D’s “demotion” within organizations, the rise of federated models, and the opportunities for L&D leaders to adapt and thrive. Together, … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-154-is-learning-and-development-being-demoted/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-154-is-learning-and-development-being-demoted/">Episode 154: Is Learning and Development Being Demoted?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details Trust is the foundation of any high-performing team, but in today’s fast-paced, uncertain business environment, building and maintaining trust has become more challenging than ever. Research shows that trust isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a leadership behavior that impacts everything from team collaboration to overall business performance. So, how can organizations create a culture where … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-157-team-trust-at-bjs-wholesale-club-with-scott-schmadeke/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-157-team-trust-at-bjs-wholesale-club-with-scott-schmadeke/">Episode 157: Team Trust at BJ’s Wholesale Club with Scott Schmadeke</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details Research shows that both giving and receiving feedback triggers stress responses similar to physical threats—but understanding these brain mechanisms can help us build better feedback cultures. Our guest today is Dr. David Rock, who coined the term “neuroleadership” and serves as Co-founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute. This 23-year-old cognitive science consultancy has … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-160-using-neuroscience-to-make-feedback-work-with-david-rock/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-160-using-neuroscience-to-make-feedback-work-with-david-rock/">Episode 160: Using Neuroscience to Make Feedback Work with David Rock</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details The 360-degree assessment is a central component in most leadership development programs. But not all assessments are in the same class when it comes to the value they offer individual leaders and the benefits they offer the organizations using them. In this episode, we will discuss the eight elements that separate the average from … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-25-elements-of-the-best-360-degree-assessments-2/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-25-elements-of-the-best-360-degree-assessments-2/">Episode 25: Elements of the Best 360-Degree Assessments</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details Are workplace evaluations truly objective—or do subtle perceptions still shape how we see male and female leaders differently? In this episode, host Bre Okoren sits down with leadership researcher Joe Folkman to unpack one of the largest real-world analyses ever conducted on gender and leadership effectiveness. Drawing from 12,000+ 360-degree evaluations, Joe reveals a … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-178-the-hidden-truth-about-gender-and-leadership-ratings/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-178-the-hidden-truth-about-gender-and-leadership-ratings/">Episode 178: The Hidden Truth About Gender and Leadership Ratings</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details What’s the main thing for leadership development? Is it excelling at selecting the right people? Is it a well-funded corporate learning center with renowned faculty? Is it using the most powerful learning technologies? Worse yet, what if we’ve been missing the main thing? In this episode, we are looking at the development industry and … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-109-transforming-leadership-development-are-we-missing-the-main-thing/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-109-transforming-leadership-development-are-we-missing-the-main-thing/">Episode 109: Transforming Leadership Development—Are We Missing The Main Thing?</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details Consider this episode your Strengths-Based Leadership 101. BreAnne and Joe revisit the foundation of Zenger Folkman’s entire leadership philosophy — the data-driven insight that extraordinary leaders are not well-rounded; they’re exceptional in a few distinctive areas that matter most. Drawing from over 100,000 leadership assessments, Joe explains why traditional development programs focused on fixing … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-177-why-strengths-based-development-outperforms-transitional-methods/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-177-why-strengths-based-development-outperforms-transitional-methods/">Episode 177: Why Strengths-Based Development Outperforms Traditional Methods</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details In this special episode of The 90th Percentile, we unpack how Jotun—the Norway-based, family-owned paints and coatings company operating in 100+ countries—elevated leadership effectiveness using Zenger Folkman’s Extraordinary Leader program. Partnering with Arcadia Consulting, Jotun moved from a baseline well below industry average to outperforming peers, all by doubling down on a strengths-based approach … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-176-jotun-case-study-in-extraordinary-leadership/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-176-jotun-case-study-in-extraordinary-leadership/">Episode 176 Jotun: A Case Study in Extraordinary Leadership</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details What separates the best decision-makers from the rest? In this episode, Joe Folkman shares research on nearly 16,000 leaders to reveal seven key qualities that enable effective decision-making. Discover why information overload slows decisions down, how to balance speed with quality, and the surprising link between decision-making effectiveness and employee engagement. If you’re struggling … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-175-7-key-leadership-behaviors-of-the-most-effective-decision-makers/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-175-7-key-leadership-behaviors-of-the-most-effective-decision-makers/">Episode 175: 7 Key Leadership Behaviors of the Most Effective Decision Makers</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we sit down with Kathleen Crenshaw and Christopher Bisgrove from Desert Financial Credit Union to explore how they are rethinking leadership development and investing in people. From building programs that reach leaders earlier in their careers to making learning opportunities more accessible, Desert Financial shares the principles … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-174-making-development-popular-with-deseret-financial-credit-union/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-174-making-development-popular-with-deseret-financial-credit-union/">Episode 174: Making Development Popular with Desert Financial Credit Union</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details What if great leadership could go viral? In this episode of The 90th Percentile Podcast, Dr. Jack Zenger joins BreAnne Okoren to explore how positive leadership behaviors—like openness, respect, and accountability—spread through organizations and transform cultures. Drawing on decades of research, Jack reveals why developing leaders at scale creates psychological safety, sparks innovation, and … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-173-the-surprising-way-leadership-behaviors-go-viral-at-work/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-173-the-surprising-way-leadership-behaviors-go-viral-at-work/">Episode 173: The Surprising Way Leadership Behaviors Go Viral at Work</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details Psychological safety is not a new term anymore, but it has matured into a foundational leadership capability, much like communication or trust no longer a “nice to have,” but a critical driver of collaboration, retention, and innovation. Drawing on Amy Edmondson’s groundbreaking research and Zenger Folkman’s data from 18,000 employees, they unpack the eight leadership behaviors that … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-172-why-psychological-safety-matters-more-than-ever/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-172-why-psychological-safety-matters-more-than-ever/">Episode 172: Why Psychological Safety Matters More Than Ever</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details Dr. Susan David is a founder and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital of Harvard Medical School and an Instructor in Psychology at Harvard University. In this episode, Susan discusses her research on emotional agility and how to master challenges without getting derailed. Download the eBook of her full interview here. Guest … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/bonus-episode-susan-david-emotional-agility/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/bonus-episode-susan-david-emotional-agility/">Bonus Episode– Susan David, Emotional Agility</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>

<p>Details In today’s episode, we’re unpacking the results of a massive leadership study — over 63,000 assessments — to answer one key question: What makes certain leaders truly unforgettable? We’ll explore the 10 specific behaviors that set the most exceptional leaders apart, backed by real-world examples from sports, business, and history. Whether you work in … <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-171-memorable-leadership-10-behaviors-that-make-leaders-unforgettable/">Continued</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com/episode-171-memorable-leadership-10-behaviors-that-make-leaders-unforgettable/">Episode 171: Memorable Leadership—10 Behaviors That Make Leaders Unforgettable</a> first appeared on <a href="https://zengerfolkman.com">ZENGER FOLKMAN</a>.</p>