Can you drive high performance without sacrificing your team’s well-being?. In this episode of The Secret Life of Great Leaders, host Michael Bunting speaks with Ahmed Moussa, General Manager at Sanofi UK & Ireland, to unpack how he led a massive cultural transformation that boosted engagement by 40% while simultaneously increasing revenue. They explore the “tough vs. nice” paradox, the discipline of weekly reflection, and why the most dangerous thing a leader can do is pretend they don’t have a “Red Zone”.
The conversation dives deep into the necessity of self-regulation and the “Triple Goal”, balancing performance, learning, and joy at work. Ahmed reveals his team’s “Friday Ritual”, a space dedicated to vulnerability where leaders own their mistakes and provide real-time feedback to stay in the “Green Zone”. From his military-influenced childhood to navigating the rise of AI in the workplace, Ahmed offers a raw, honest look at what it takes to lead with both a head and a heart.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to reframe “tough conversations” as acts of kindness
- Why pausing and reflecting on your behavior is the cornerstone of leadership development
- The “Fast Brain vs. Slow Brain” framework
- How to create psychological safety through vulnerability
- The Triple Goal formula for sustainable organizational culture
- Why identifying your “Red Zone” is actually a “Green Zone”
Ahmed Moussa is the General Manager for Sanofi’s General Medicine portfolio in the UK and Ireland. With a career defined by transformational leadership, he previously led Sanofi Canada through a benchmark cultural shift that resulted in a 40% increase in engagement and significant revenue growth. Ahmed is a dedicated advocate for “Green Zone” leadership, focusing on self-regulation, vulnerability, and the pursuit of the “Triple Goal” in business.
Episode Highlights:
- [00:00] Intro
- [02:39] The Willingness to Grow:
- [04:02] The Tough vs. Nice Paradox
- [06:47] Military Lessons
- [10:47] The Sanofi Canada Case Study
- [13:36] Balancing Tough and Kind Leadership
- [16:29] The Importance of Practice
- [21:47] The Power of Friday Rituals
- [28:21] Meditation, Gratitude, and Positivity Crackers
- [33:16] The Darkest Red Zone
- [44:51] Leadership in the Age of AI
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