How Brené Brown and Lumen CEO Kate Johnson Sparked This Telecom Comeback

Transformation & Leadership - The challenge society faces is leadership, not technology, and the best leadership comes from those on the cutting edge of change [1] - Lumen's transformation involves financial, strategic, and cultural shifts, aiming to disrupt the market through innovation, customer experience changes, and investment in people [1] - A key element of transformation is shifting from a "play not to lose" to a "play to win" mindset, which involves risk-taking, learning, resilience, and courage [1] - 80% of transformation is about the people, not process or technology, highlighting the importance of culture [2] - Vulnerability, defined as the emotion experienced in uncertainty, risk, and exposure, is crucial for staying anchored to mission, values, and winning during disruption [10] Strategy & Vision - Lumen's potential lies in its fiber optic network and the increasing demand for data driven by AI, requiring data centers and connectivity [1] - Lumen's North Star is to uniquely connect people, data, and applications quickly, securely, and effortlessly [2] - The company aims to provide an "easy button" for CIOs dealing with complex technology architectures, differentiating itself from legacy telcos [46] - A critical aspect of transformational change involves protecting the core mission while breaking some things and resisting the urge to rebuild with systems that don't serve growth and revenue [14] Cultural & Operational Changes - Systemic thinking is crucial for navigating internal and external complexity, requiring permeable boundaries for feedback between systems [30][31] - Building a culture of candor and honesty is essential, with transparency about existential threats [14] - The company is investing in skills building, including communication, conflict resolution, and tough conversations, to rewire the nervous system to tolerate uncertainty [37]