What Leading IBM in China Taught Frances West About Inclusive Leadership | Frances West, Founder of FrancesWestCo
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Description
What does it really take to lead across cultures, adapt to change, and create genuine inclusion?
In this episode of the Create the Future Podcast, Rick Williams sits down with Frances West, veteran technology executive, author, and founder of FrancesWestCo., to explore the leadership lessons she learned from navigating complex cross-cultural environments.
Frances shares insights from her experience in global technology leadership, including her time leading IBM’s expansion in China. She discusses why leaders must adapt their approach, understand different lived experiences, and create environments where people feel genuinely included.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why great leaders must have the courage to adapt
• What cross-cultural leadership can teach us about inclusion
• Why shared language and heritage don’t always create understanding
• How curiosity, courage, and confidence shape effective leadership
• The importance of listening, learning, and understanding lived experiences
• How inclusive leadership can drive innovation and long-term impact
• Why human-centered thinking matters in technology and business
Whether you’re a CEO, executive, entrepreneur, technology leader, or aspiring leader, this conversation offers valuable insights on adaptability, inclusive leadership, cultural intelligence, innovation, and leading in a rapidly changing world.
Guest: Frances West
Founder of FrancesWest & Co.
Former IBM Chief Accessibility Officer
Author of Authentic Inclusion™
Learn more about Frances:
https://franceswest.co
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About Create the Future with Rick Williams Podcast
Rick Williams, hostCreate the Future with Rick Williams is a leadership podcast focused on real-world decisions that determine the future of companies, non-profits, and public agencies and the careers of the individuals making the decisions.
Hosted by Rick Williams, the podcast gives leaders an opportunity to share the stories behind the difficult decisions and tough calls they have made — for their companies, their organizations and sometimes for themselves.
Rick wrote Create the Future — your essential leadership guidebook for making difficult decisions. In this best-selling handbook, Rick gives the principles and leadership team exercises leaders use when faced with major choices for their organization and themselves.
Rick’s goal with the Create the Future Podcast is simple: to share practical leadership lessons from real life experiences so that today’s leaders can become better decision-makers and more effective leaders.
Rick Williams is a deeply experienced corporate leader, management consultant, company founder, board member, and author. He works with leaders through his speaking, newsletter, and board service, with a particular focus on helping leaders make difficult decisions.
“You create the future for the organization you lead by the decisions you make today.”Rick Williams
Learn more about Rick Williams and his leadership guidebook Create the Future.
Go to: RickWilliamsLeadership.com