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Leadership isn’t a destination, it’s a continual act of becoming.In this episode, Janet Foutty, former CEO of Deloitte Consulting and U.S. Board Chair, shares how her three-decade career shaped her understanding of courage, authenticity, and reinvention. From leading one of the world’s largest consulting firms through transformation and crisis to redefining her own path after corporate life, Janet’s story proves that growth doesn’t end when you reach the top, it begins when you choose to evolve.
You’ll discover how surrounding yourself with diverse thinkers strengthens leadership, why courage is often just doing the thing that scares you, and how purpose, not position, defines real impact.
Tune in to hear how bold decisions, diverse voices, and purpose-driven choices can transform your leadership at every stage of your career.
Key Takeaways:
- The Courage to Evolve: How embracing change opens new chapters of influence and meaning
- Leadership Reimagined: Why authenticity and curiosity are the most powerful tools in uncertain times
- Purpose Beyond the Title: How to lead with impact long after the job description changes
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Highlights
The key moments in this episode are:
[00:27] The Evolution of Leadership
[01:13] Janet Foutty's Career Journey
[03:03] Early Life and Family Influence
[04:14] Career at Deloitte
[06:13] Post-Deloitte Chapter
[08:13] Leadership and Personal Growth
[22:18] The Future of Leadership
[26:06] Exploring Life After Deloitte
[27:29] Finding Focus and Impact
[28:25] Academic Fellowship and New Ventures
[38:04] Building and Leveraging Community
[44:26] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts -
Lightning Round
Q: What book has greatly influenced you?
A: Brooks Brothers's booksQ: What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?
A: How you do anything is how you do everythingQ: What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
A: High energyQ: What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?
A: Moving my workouts from after workQ: What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?
A: Run the World (Girls) by Beyoncé -
Quotes
The best leaders today are the ones who are really comfortable with teams around them who have different pedigrees, histories, experiences, and skillsets than them.
Janet Foutty
If I don’t like what I’m doing or who I’m working with, then I can change it. I don’t feel beholden to stay.
Janet Foutty
It has always been about doing things that give me incredible energy, having the impact I want to have, and being around the people I want to be around.
Janet Foutty
The consistent nature of how we show up as leaders is so incredibly important to authenticity, consistency, and to people being able to depend on you.
Janet Foutty
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About
Janet Foutty is a transformational leader with over 30 years of experience driving growth and innovation in business, technology, and public service. She culminated her career at Deloitte as CEO of Deloitte Consulting and U.S. Board Chair, where she led the strategic transformation of Deloitte to be the leading technology centric professional services firm.
Today, Janet focuses on advancing women’s health through her role as a Leadership Fellow at the University of Chicago and as Chair of Bright Pink, a nonprofit dedicated to young women’s health. She also serves on the boards of Insight Enterprises (NSIT), Argonne National Laboratory, Quiver Biosciences, and The Chicago Network. She also spends time advising venture-backed healthcare companies.
Janet has been a featured speaker at the World Economic Forum on advancing women’s opportunities and health. Her work in this area has also been published in Fortune, where she explores the intersection of women’s health, careers, and economic growth.
Janet is also a frequent speaker on leadership in dynamic business environments, addressing audiences at events such as CES, Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit, and other global forums. Her writing has appeared in top publications, including Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal. She is the co-author of the bestselling book Arrive and Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership.
Janet has been recognized for her leadership by Fortune, Crain’s, and Chicago Magazine, among others. She holds a Bachelor of Science and an MBA in finance from Indiana University, where she serves on the Dean’s Council and was the 2023-2024 Poling Chair of Kelley School of Business.