

Klaus Kleinfeld
Former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, and author of the book Leading to Thrive: Mastering Strategies for Sustainable Success in Business and Life.
Top 10 podcasts with Klaus Kleinfeld
Ranked by the Snipd community

99 snips
Sep 1, 2025 • 1h 3min
#318 Master Your Inner Game to Avoid Burnout with Klaus Kleinfeld, Former CEO at Alcoa and Siemens
Klaus Kleinfeld, an international executive and former CEO of Alcoa and Siemens, dives into the inner game of avoiding burnout in the modern workplace. He shares insightful parallels between elite athletes and professionals, emphasizing energy management over sheer productivity. Practical techniques like compartmentalization and breathing exercises can significantly enhance emotional resilience. Kleinfeld also discusses the importance of aligning personal values with professional goals, advocating for a purpose-driven approach to maximize engagement and productivity.

90 snips
Jul 31, 2025 • 53min
Why Productivity Is Burning You Out w/ Klaus Kleinfeld | Ep 367
Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld, a seasoned CEO and leadership expert, shares his journey from leading global companies to mentoring future leaders. He emphasizes the crucial connection between energy management and productivity, challenging the belief that burnout is admirable. The discussion dives into finding purpose, the power of mindset, and simple daily habits to enhance well-being. Klaus highlights cultural differences in work values and offers practical strategies like breathwork for maintaining mental clarity and stamina, providing a blueprint for sustainable success.

45 snips
May 30, 2025 • 42min
The Economic Mood Brightens
Asit Sharma and David Meier, both seasoned analysts, delve into rising consumer confidence and its implications for investors. They discuss corporate strategies, like Okta's cautious outlook and Abercrombie's surprising comeback. Klaus Kleinfeld, former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, shares insights from his book on sustainable business strategies. The trio examines Southwest Airlines' baggage fee policy and highlights innovative companies like SoundHound AI and SentinelOne in the evolving tech landscape.

41 snips
Nov 26, 2024 • 1h 16min
#083 Klaus Kleinfeld: How to Lead Fortune 500 Companies, Manage Energy, Inspire Teams
Klaus Kleinfeld, the former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, shares his journey from East Germany to leading Fortune 500 companies. He discusses the pivotal moment of watching the moon landing, which ignited his belief in innovation. Klaus emphasizes the shift from time management to energy management, advocating for finding purpose as a way to channel energy effectively. He provides insights on balancing stakeholder needs and instilling a sense of purpose within teams, emphasizing that transformative leadership relies on emotional intelligence and proactive engagement.

22 snips
Oct 22, 2025 • 1h 2min
596: Ex-Siemens & Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld on AI, Energy & Leading at the Highest Level
Klaus Kleinfeld, former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, shares insights from his 40-year leadership career. He argues that energy management surpasses time management for performance. Leaders must embrace AI or face obsolescence, with skills like creativity and relationship-building remaining vital. Klaus highlights the importance of purpose in focusing energy and discusses practical steps for staying current with AI. He offers techniques for overcoming burnout and warns about the societal disparities widening between those who leverage AI and those who don't.

20 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 1min
#257: Klaus Kleinfeld, Former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa – Purpose channels your energy
Klaus Kleinfeld, the former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, shares his insights as an author and advisor on purpose-driven leadership. He discusses how to channel energy towards meaningful objectives rather than just pushing harder. Klaus reveals a simple way to assess one's sense of purpose and offers a two-pronged approach for effective decision-making. He emphasizes the importance of kindness, transforming challenges into opportunities, and managing energy across various facets of life. His personal anecdotes enrich the conversation, highlighting leadership principles in both business and family.

10 snips
Jul 29, 2025 • 53min
#73 Klaus Kleinfeld: Leading to Thrive
Klaus Kleinfeld, former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, shares wisdom from his book 'Leading to Thrive.' He discusses how his upbringing in Germany shaped his leadership style and the critical role of energy management in productivity. Klaus emphasizes the importance of work-life integration and effective communication between CEOs and boards. He also explores diverse ventures in health and technology, advocates for morning routines, and highlights impactful leadership literature, making this conversation a treasure trove for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs.

7 snips
Jan 13, 2026 • 54min
Klaus Kleinfeld On Leading Two Fortune 500 Companies And Lessons From His Leadership Career
Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld, former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, shares his journey from academia to leading major corporations across different cultures. He discusses how personal resilience shaped his leadership style and the importance of restoring purpose in struggling organizations. Klaus highlights the need for separating innovation units in hardware firms, strategies for navigating financial crises, and building high-performance teams. He emphasizes managing energy and the importance of experimenting to find one's passion and purpose.

Aug 25, 2025 • 59min
Energy Beats Strategy — Fortune 500 CEO REVEALS Burnout Myths
Klaus Kleinfeld, the former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, shares his insights on energy management as the key to overcoming burnout. He emphasizes that leaders should harness energy over tactics for peak performance. Klaus discusses turning purpose into a laser focus, controlling emotions under pressure, and the importance of routines in chaotic times. He also covers strategies for building team buy-in without formal authority and the impact of emotional intelligence on leadership effectiveness.

Jul 1, 2025 • 32min
The Inner Game of Creative Leadership
Klaus Kleinfeld, former CEO of Alcoa and Siemens, shares his expertise on integrating personal and professional life for sustainable success. Eric Liedtke, former brand president at Adidas, discusses his journey towards aligning brand values with sustainability. They explore the subtle nature of leadership drift and emphasize the importance of self-awareness. The conversation delves into balancing ambition with well-being and the transformative impact of small, intentional actions in driving change, especially in the fashion industry.


