Leading 65,000 People while Staying Human with Dave Penski

What does it take to lead tens of thousands of people without burning out or becoming a robot?

In this episode of Lead Human, Jack Myers and Tim Spengler sit down with Dave Penski, Global CEO of Connected Media, Publicis Groupe, to talk about leadership at massive scale, three-part happiness at work, and why “winning at work means nothing if you lose at home.”

Dave breaks down how he thinks about his career in thirds (pay, the work itself, and how it fits your life), why he refuses to sacrifice his family for more travel, and how his job didn’t really change from leading 1,000 people to overseeing 65,000—so long as the right 12–15 leaders are in the right seats.

He shares the inside story of the COVID decision not to lay off thousands of people, how that became a long-term advantage, and the simple culture mantra he uses to run a giant organization: “No silos. No solos. No bozos.”

Dave also explains his “Take Four” mentoring program for diverse talent, why he answers every hard question in town halls, and what he thinks leaders owe the people who bet their careers on them.

If you’re a manager, executive, or ambitious human trying to grow without losing yourself, this conversation is a masterclass in leading big while staying human.

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