Radical Candor author Kim Scott joins Amy and Meg for one of the most candid conversations about leadership, courage, and what it really means to care in an era of AI disruption and rising authoritarianism. From managing diamond cutters in the Soviet Union to coaching CEOs at Google, Apple, and Twitter, Kim shares the personal stories behind her frameworks — including the moment a colleague's feedback made her rethink everything and write Radical Respect. Plus: what Kim would tell Workday's returning founder Aneel Bhusri, why Steve Jobs argued against himself, and how to give feedback when AI did half the work. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Radical candor is about praise, not just criticism 00:47 From Moscow diamond cutters to first management lessons 02:59 How Kim discovered Kieran Snyder and the power of candid praise 06:15 Silicon Valley's silence: Kim's New York Times op-ed 10:44 "Too much money in too few hands" — what history tells us 13:41 Courage and wealth are negatively correlated right now 14:12 The competence-likeability story: tight pants and a demotion 17:10 The ROI of speaking up vs. staying silent 19:27 Susan Fowler, regret, and the cost of going quietly 22:03 "Casually cruel in the name of being honest" — radical candor misused 26:49 The dog story: "It's not mean, it's clear" 28:48 Andy Grove's cab ride and the two-minute conversation 34:51 The four realizations that led to Radical Respect 39:10 Leadership skills vs. leadership qualities in the AI era 42:23 The Compass: AI role-play for practicing radical candor 44:59 "We don't know what's going to happen — that's it" 47:15 The SaaSpocalypse: What Kim would tell Workday's CEO 48:34 "You are not your stock price" 50:52 Steve Jobs argued against himself — and saved Apple 54:30 Leadership Corner: Giving feedback when AI did the work 🔑 KEY INSIGHTS: - Why self-censorship is the real goal of authoritarianism — and it's happening in tech - The difference between radical candor and obnoxious aggression in the "founder mode" era - Kim's four realizations that transformed Radical Candor into Radical Respect - How to evaluate and develop people when AI is producing their work - Why the best leaders argue against their own positions - "You are not your stock price" — leading vs. lagging indicators for founders in crisis - The Compass tool: using AI to practice hard conversations, not replace them 📚 RESOURCES: - Radical Candor Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@RadicalCandor/ - Compass AI Role-Play Tool: compass.radicalcandor.com - Lenny's Podcast: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/podcast - Kieran Snyder Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFqdGDylL6I - New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/opinion/trump-silicon-valley-state-meda-putin.html - Andy Grove: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Grove - TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/kim_scott_how_to_lead_with_radical_candor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmxHUiiHgNk 🔗 CONNECT: Kim Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimm4/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megandamyshow/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-meg-amy-show #RadicalCandor #Leadership #AI #AITransformation #FounderMode #SiliconValley #FutureOfWork #MegAndAmyShow
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