Ken Banta is the founder and principal of the Vanguard Group for Leadership.  Ken is a leadership development consultant and executive advisor to both tomorrow’s top leaders and today’s CEOs.

We talk to Ken about:

• Why Ken he become a leadership consultant

• In his article Strategic Side Gig, co-authored with Orlan Boston and published in the HBR recently, Ken argues that executives need to be engaged in the right kind of side work as it can boost their career – why?

• What sort of side activities are productive and helpful for one’s career, apart from the usual, golf, or tennis? 

• How was his research conducted

• How to find time for the outside activities like these? Say most leaders would agree with the argument for a strategic side gig – but would probably put off acting on it. Should they first a book on how to end procrastination? 

• How can one find the right opportunities  - ones that create the kind of virtuous cycle we described earlier?

• One would need an understanding boss and family – how to justify a commitment to the strategic gig in addition to existing responsibilities?

• What are the long-term benefits? 

• Future of work and leadership: Any signs of systemic changes in the way we work due to the pandemic? Will remote working stay for good or not? Will we strive for fully digital processes from end to end? Or will we rush to the old « normal»?

• What are the next steps for you this year and beyond? 

• Where can interested parties reach you and find out more about the Vanguard Group for Leadership?