Boundaryless Conversations Podcast

Kara Pecknold, VP of Regenerative Design at Frog and a leading voice in sustainable innovation, joined us for a conversation on what it truly means to design for regeneration.She breaks down the challenges and opportunities of embedding regenerative thinking into organisations, helping us explore how brands can move beyond green checklists toward a deeper, systemic approach that lies at the intersection of nature, culture, and business goals.Highlighting that “Regenerative design can help businesses localise,” she also discusses a potential direction to navigate today's global crises, thus requiring a reframing of business as we know it.This episode invites us to imagine futures where businesses give back more than they take, offering a hopeful push we all need.In this episode, Kara draws from her experience of guiding regenerative design with clients across diverse local contexts, helping us imagine the power of viewing business like nature. She speaks on how regenerative design cannot be siloed into CSR activities, and why it's important that it be tied to all parts of the organisation.She also touches upon several frameworks tackling this problem, like biomimicry, the doughnut economy etc. - helping us put a practical approach to regeneration, rather than viewing it as an idealistic utopian future.Tune in to discover how this future-focused approach can guide you through the complexities within the boundaries of today's world.Key Highlights

Strategic tools can help you navigate organisational and market complexities. But how do you even begin to make sense of it all?In this episode, Simon Wardley, the creator of Wardley Mapping and one of the most profound thinkers and influencers in strategy, explains the power of mapping complex ecosystems. He speaks on how building resilient organisations goes beyond clever tactics and requires a deep understanding of the landscapes you're navigating. He highlights how most organisations still struggle to truly understand their customers, and emphasises why it's crucial to realign strategies, foster a shared language, and enable cohesiveness to create true “value.”For leaders, this conversation serves as a call to rethink how you approach both organisational structures and the strategies needed to stay adaptable in a constantly changing landscape.Simon brings a wealth of experiential knowledge in strategy, having contributed to the growth of some of the biggest organisations worldwide. In this podcast, he delves into the evolution of technology, organisational structures, and strategy, with a particular focus on the impact of AI. He challenges our fear of rapid technological advancement by sharing how tech's true development follows a more gradual process, ultimately leading to sudden bursts of change - a more nonlinear growth.He also explores other critical themes like - the evolution of organisational structures, referencing his explorers-villagers-town planners model, the need to have strong guiding principles, and also shares why the engineer is the true architect of a technology.So, for anyone seeking a roadmap to navigate complexity correctly, this conversation is a must-listen. Tune in. Key Highlights

Pete Flint, General Partner at NFX and founder of Trulia, joins us for an expansive conversation on how AI is reshaping the foundations of entrepreneurship, platform economies, network effects, and defensibility strategies.Drawing from his deep experience as both a founder and an investor, Pete breaks down what it means to build in a world where CAC is difficult to change and requires expanding LTV by designing invisible, agent-powered experiences and adopting “stackable” approaches to product development.Speaking on the low barriers to entry for startups, he highlights why speed now trumps precision, saying, “There is no prize for being right, but there is one for being fast.”This conversation is a must for anyone navigating the fast-moving world of AI, platform innovation, and startup strategy.What does it mean to build a startup in a world of frictionless tools and unpredictable technological shifts?In this episode, Pete, one of the world's most prominent internet entrepreneurs, helps us unpack how the dynamics of company-building are being transformed - not just by AI, but by new patterns of behaviour, demand, and value creation. We explore consumers' hyper-personalised requirements and what that means for founders navigating shifting entry points and stackable business models. He also speaks on cultural foundations and how an organisation's ecosystem affects outcomes.For anyone grappling with how to lead or build in this dynamic landscape, this episode offers a take on what truly matters.Key Highlights

In this episode, we welcome Tom Nixon, author of Work with Source, to explore the powerful yet often overlooked idea of “source” - as the person who first conceives and commits to a creative initiative - and the impact such a role has on organizations. Drawing from his extensive experience advising founders and mission-driven projects, Tom helps us unpack what it truly means to hold the role of source - beyond conventional leadership, and as he puts it, “being the author of the story that unfolds.” Together, we explore how organizations can enable a deep human dimension behind all authentic ventures, and work towards a truly regenerative and evolutionary way of organizing.While many conversations around leadership focus on structure, roles, or decision-making, this episode looks at a deeper assessment of where creative initiatives truly begin - and how they should maintain coherence as they evolve. Tom Nixon introduces us to the subtle but powerful idea of “source” as the unique origin point from which meaning, direction, and integrity flow.We explore how the source perspective can help us navigate complexity, and why the source is simply not a “genius hero” figure, as we presume.He also helps us unpack more regenerative, emergent, and resilient ways of working together. So, for listeners looking to understand the creative dynamics that often hide behind hierarchical organizational structures - and why honouring the human in a project is highly strategic - this conversation is a source of guidance. Key Highlights

What does it take for organizations to truly harness the power of AI - not just as a buzzword, but as a transformative force for strategy, culture, and execution? In this episode, Anindya Ghose - Professor at NYU Stern, and one of the world's leading voices at the intersection of AI, economics, and platforms - joins us to explore what it means to adopt AI intentionally and ethically.Anindya presents his “House of AI” framework to cut through the AI hype. This grounded, end-to-end framework helps organizations align their data, models, and ethics for meaningful impact.He also shares his insights on how AI is shifting the nature of management itself - and why the true differentiator in an AI-enabled world will be people, not technology.We go beyond surface-level AI conversations to explore what it really means to embed it within an organization - not just as a tool, but as a force that reshapes how decisions are made, work gets done, and leadership is defined.Anindya is a globally recognized AI advisor who has transformed the journey of over 60 companies worldwide. As the author of Tap and Thrive, he also brings a rare blend of corporate insight and academic depth, helping us break down how AI can elevate both business and human potential.We explore how AI is pushing organizations to rethink core assumptions, what are the cultural and structural implications of AI, how does AI take shape in organizational structure, and why it's important to also see AI as a powerful positive force. This is not an episode to miss, as we explore the tensions around AI and how they can be turned into meaningful opportunities.Key Highlights

What separates organizations that thrive in uncertainty from those that struggle? In this episode, Luca Dellanna - management consultant, researcher, and author - explores how companies can move beyond theoretical decision-making to ensure real-world execution and resilience. In this episode, Luca unpacks key concepts like ergodicity, antifragility, and the role of behavioral dynamics in shaping organizational effectiveness. Stating how “Decision-making is only as good as execution,” he emphasizes the need for organizations to create systems that surface problems early and drive real adaptation.He also challenges the notion that architecture alone can ensure antifragility, suggesting that qualitative insights, cultural alignment, and leading by example are all essential in building adaptable organizations.In this episode, Luca provides a reality check on common management approaches, indicating why many organizations fail to turn strategy into action. He highlights why leadership by proclamation is ineffective without visible commitment, how organizations often create misaligned incentives, and why cultural shifts require more than just top-down mandates. Drawing from real-world examples, he also shares how true organizational change comes from daily, repetitive micro-level decisions.Tune in, as we discuss how to avoid the cost of irreversible consequences, and instead structure for long-term wins that build anti-fragile organizations prioritizing survival over performance. Key Highlights

As AI reshapes industries at an unprecedented pace, Louis-David Benyayer, associate professor at ESCP Business School and a leading researcher and strategist at the intersection of AI, digital transformation, and knowledge work, joins us on this podcast to discuss what it means for the consulting, education, and knowledge work industries.In this episode, Louis helps us explore how Generative AI has the potential to go much beyond automating tasks and fundamentally shifting business models in two very key industries: Consulting and Professional Education.He emphasizes that "AI will likely not replace human expertise but amplify the best experts. " He also states that hybridizing humans and technology allows for deeper insights and more significant impact.During the episode, Louis-David shares tangible examples from his experience of how these industries are evolving: consulting firms moving away from traditional billable hours toward subscription-based and modular services and universities looking to redefine their role in a world where knowledge is highly accessible, among others.He also highlights how AI amplifies expert consultants while commoditizing baseline knowledge and explores why the most skilled professionals benefit from AI's evolution.So, if you're a consultant, educator, or customer looking to interpret and navigate the complex landscape shifts due to AI, this episode is a must-listen.Key Highlights

In an era where go-to-market strategies are evolving rapidly, Asher Mathew—a veteran in partnerships, ecosystems, and business transformation—makes a case for the strategic role of partnerships in modern business. Asher unpacks how partnerships extend beyond traditional sales and marketing, influencing product development, customer acquisition, and even service delivery. Sharing how “intentionality in design” is at the core of partnership strategy, he explains how organisations can align themselves with customer needs. So, whether you're a startup or an enterprise, this episode will serve as a perfect playbook for leveraging partnership as a key growth multiplier rather than just another channel.Asher, co-founder of Partnership Leaders, has long-standing experience in how modern organizations design partner strategies to enhance product adoption, customer reach, and business scalability.He highlights the importance of identifying core business strengths to determine which capabilities to build, buy, or partner for; and how to balance both horizontal and vertical partnerships.He takes us through different models that serve different objectives, and indicates why it's important for companies of all sizes to develop structured partner programs for scalability.If you're keen on learning how companies could use partnership strategies to function at scale, and get a sneak peek into the future of partnerships, tune in, as Asher shares everything there is to know. Key Highlights

In a world where products and organizational design often take centre stage, Helge Tennø —a long-time strategist and innovation advisor focused on customer-centric transformations— makes the case for redefining and delivering customer value. In this episode, he challenges the conventional reliance on engagement and sales metrics and highlights the importance of measuring real customer value, driving behavioural and strategic change - thus linking customer impact directly to business success. Using a customer-centric four-stack framework that aligns Experience, Data, Strategy, and Culture, he offers a wealth of insights on rethinking organizational design and navigating the future of AI-driven customer experiences. As a prolific writer and practitioner voicing customer-centricity for over two decades, Helge has guided several organizations worldwide in creating meaningful value for customers. In this conversation, he helps us visualize what it means to step out of purely product-centric perspectives, outdated measurement systems, and rigid internal structures. Taking real-world examples, he explores how organizations can build a clear chain of measurement, tracking the real impact of engagement, behavioural shifts, and ultimately, business value. This episode is not missing, as we also touch upon the future of customer centricity, which breaks free from traditional customer journeys – and captures the complexity, helping organizations become intuitive and human-centred. Join us as we refocus on what truly matters: placing customers at the heart of every organization. Key Highlights

Amid technological advancements and shifting organizational landscapes, former CTO of ThoughtWorks, Rebecca Parsons, takes this episode to build the bridge between technology and business impact. Challenging a common fear in the ecosystem of “technology being commoditized”, she explores how it can transcend industries to become a core enabler of differentiation if it's integrated with a deeper sense of understanding user experience and needs. This episode offers a wealth of knowledge and delves into themes such as creating outcome-driven governance models, building unbiased technology, and driving sustainable architecture. As the co-author of “Building Evolutionary Architectures”, and a thought leader in software technologies for decades, Rebecca has had a front-row seat to the transformation of every company into a technology company. Highlighting the unique nature of software—its “softness” and malleability to learn and adapt—she emphasizes that the future of competitive advantage lies in deeply understanding users and building meaningful relationships beyond the software itself. In the episode, she also points to compelling reflections on the democratization of tools, the integration of sustainable practices, and the challenges of navigating AI's energy-intensive demands - leaving you curious and thoughtful about the future. Join along as she sets the tone on how to build an organization that's ready for the complexity of a tech-first future. Key Highlights

In a world of interconnected complexities, where futures can often feel bleak, there's Tim Leberecht, founder of House of Beautiful Business, integrating beauty where we least expect it - business. In this episode, he shares how beauty goes beyond aesthetics and speaks to truth, alignment, and the reminder of what humanity is capable of at its best. Tim highlights the tension many organizations face: on the one hand, movements pushing for visionary changes in value creation, like regenerative economics, participatory design, and co-ops; and on the other, reverting to short-term pragmatism, cutting programs such as DEI initiatives - and, how all of this is inherently a political stance that the organization is taking. This conversation covers multiple themes - how organizations can avoid homogenization, especially at the time of AI; poly-opportunities to tackle the poly-crisis, decentralizing power, and much more. As the author of “The Business Romantic”, Tim has always encouraged businesses to actively design spaces for imagination, emotional connection, and alternative ways of thinking. He explores the importance of fostering rituals like storytelling and resonance inside organizations that can serve as cultural anchors and inspire collective meaning. Taking the example of how energy, mindfulness, and spirituality are now taking center stage in organizations, he states how often, qualities that are hard to quantify can lead to creating a holistic impact. He further advocates for businesses to use technology intentionally for optimization while ring-fencing spaces for human creativity, cultural diversity, and the exploration of “what cannot be measured.” This episode is not one to miss, as Tim explores what it means to be hopeful about the future, where we look beyond binaries. Key Highlights

A visionary community leader and co-founder of Civic Square, Immy Kaur, joins us on this episode, to drive home some ground breaking thoughts on systemic transformation in our everyday living. With deep insights drawn from over a decade of experience, Immy challenges conventional thinking about organizing at scale and highlights the urgent need to reimagine how we live, work, and relate to one another. Touching on the power of unlearning assumptions about systems and authority, she simplifies it for us stating, "we as people build our systems and processes, and to change them, we don't need permission." Known for her ability to connect systemic thinking with tangible, participatory action, Immy Kaur helps us visualize how neighborhoods are a strategic site for change—"big enough and small enough" to demonstrate value creation, while fostering agency in communities. In this episode, she explores critical themes like the fragility of existing systems, and why outdated economic models require a shift. Drawing from frameworks like Doughnut Economics, she unpacks how local, modular prototypes can demonstrate pathways toward systemic change. She takes us through rethinking value and metrics beyond financial systems, prototyping of modular solutions to tackle systemic lock-ins and so much more. Tune in and discover how we can reimagine everything through participatory systems to navigate the complex challenges of our times. Key Highlights

One of the most revered names in research and design, Erika Hall, Co-founder of Mule Design, joins us on this podcast to challenge the role of research as we know it. In this episode, she shares deep insights into the challenges of navigating research in complexity, and, on the backbone of systems thinking, offers thought-provoking perspectives addressing the growing tensions between investor-driven narratives and evidence-based practices. She brings forth some hard truths on how organizations cherry-pick data to justify decisions; and uses this to help us understand why a genuine research mindset is one where you're comfortable being proven wrong. This conversation is a powerful reminder that organizations need to embrace curiosity, to stay grounded and relevant. As the author of ‘Just Enough Research', Erika, has been a revered design consultant, specializing in asking the hard questions to find the right answers. She takes this episode to show that speed does not equate to better decision-making, emphasizing the need for organizations to focus on thoughtful alignment and genuine learning. She explores themes such as the performative nature of modern business practices, the disconnect between financial storytelling and real-world impact, the difference between delegation and democratization, and how organizations can navigate all this in an interconnected ecosystem. Tune in and learn how to ask the right questions and build an organization that's based on evidence. Key Highlights

A popular practitioner of the systemic approach to business, Jennifer van der Meer, founder of Reason Street, joins us on this episode to explore the intersection of business models, capital structures, and ecosystemic value creation. Highlighting how “in business, the challenge is to move beyond the constraints of financial logic and design for broader, systemic impacts that prioritize the health of ecosystems, communities, and bioregions,” Jen challenges to think beyond the existing frames. While tracing the evolution of business models through distinct eras, she reiterates her belief that business modeling is a creative process where new narratives need to be created that redefine how value is created and distributed. It's an eye-opening conversation and an important one to remember in an age when businesses are designed to merely meet investor expectations of financial returns rather than take a holistic approach. Starting from Netscape's IPO in the 1990s, Jennifer highlights the pivotal moments that shifted the focus from static business plans to the dynamic models of today. As an Assistant Professor at Parsons School of Design and an advisor and consultant, Jen always advocates designing purpose-driven systems aligned with larger societal and ecosystemic goals. In the conversation, we touched upon multiple themes, such as the inheritance that financial logic projects on business models, how to look beyond financial capital (and the constraints making it difficult), and the new perspectives likely needed to start designing for a regenerative future. Tune in and join us as we stretch existing business model thinking frames. Key Highlights

Roger Martin, one of the world's most influential business thinkers and former Dean of the Rotman School of Management, joined us on this episode to talk about all things strategy. He breaks down how organizations can keep up with the dynamism and complexity of it all: the evolution of strategy across the decades, digital transformation, decentralization's impact, and the latest frontier, the rapid adoption of AI and LLMs. He challenges traditional approaches to strategy and impact measurement metrics like OKRs, stating, “Strategy is what you do, not what you say." In this candid conversation, he also dispels the angst surrounding AI taking over strategy roles in organizations, highlighting why AI and LLMs are valuable for rapidly synthesizing information but lack the capacity for generating unique, strategic insights that require human judgment and creativity. Join us for this conversation filled with insights. Known for his practical approach, Roger Martin—who's authored many bestselling books, including “Playing to Win”—has guided thousands worldwide to make clear, actionable choices that drive competitive advantage. In the conversation, we also touch upon themes of risk-taking and the importance of empowering leaders to think strategically at every level of the organization. He argues that teams should be able to challenge ideas and push boundaries, all of which are vital for sparking real innovation. Key Highlights

Have you ever wondered how visualizing complex futures can help you take actions and decisions today? Fabien Girardin and Nicolas Nova, pioneers of the practice of Design Fiction, take us on a journey into it to explain what it is for and what comes beyond it. This episode reveals what it means to create tangible expressions of potential futures while considering its complex relationship with technology, global trends, and societal implications. They share real-world examples of scenario building and discuss how to operationalize future thinking in organizations through the use of co-creation, AI, and other tools. Fabien and Nicolas have spent decades guiding small and large organizations to envision and prepare for future scenarios. They are now working to expand the design fiction practice beyond its initial decades of practice. Their work has helped organizations move beyond abstract predictions by engaging with diegetic and relatable prototypes, creating thousands of tools for strategic reflection. Taking the example of the “IKEA Catalog for the Future,” they highlight how everyday objects can become evocative representations that make future concepts more accessible. This episode will serve as a comprehensive guide to visualizing imagination, including insights into AI's potential role as a creative accelerator in building such prototypes. Tune in to discover actionable methods to help you navigate the complexities of the future before it happens. Discount Code for Listeners! Fabien and Nicolas have been kind enough to offer all our listeners a 20% Discount for the Manual of Design Fiction Book (Paperback Edition): Discount Code: BOUND-7BDS4 Link to the shop with discount: https://books.girardinnova.com/discount/BOUND-7BDS4?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fthe-manual-of-design-fiction Disclaimer: this is not an affiliate link, Boundaryless doesn't monetize your book purchase. Key Highlights

Philippe De Ridder, co-founder and CEO of Boards of Innovation joins us for a conversation on the Autonomous Age and the Age of Creative AI. In this episode, he discusses his popular opinions on how AI will enable unprecedented productivity gains across industries and impact all business arenas, starting from knowledge work. He also shares his perspectives on the fusion of AI and human creativity and how organizations can leverage it to redefine workflows, product development, customer research and overall business strategies. We explore how yesterday's creator will become tomorrow's curator and why it is essential always to keep humans at the core -- especially with AI innovation. As a popular innovation consultant, Philippe is a veteran who has worked with both Fortune 500 companies and agile startups, helping them craft bold strategies for the future. In the episode, he challenges us to think about how innovation, often heralded as a core human endeavor, is increasingly being automated. From using AI to generate product ideas to testing them with synthetic consumers, he highlights the shift towards real-time innovation and its impact on markets and organizations. Talking about how AI is reshaping decision-making in innovation and across various business functions, he highlights the importance of adopting a "future-back" approach, where companies envision their role in a radically changed world and work backward to integrate necessary capabilities today. As leaders face several societal implications and tough decisions due to the increasing integration of AI across the organization, this episode can serve as a backbone upon which they can strategize. Tune in, as this episode will stretch your idea of what AI can achieve already today in your organization. Simply mind blowing. Key Highlights

John Cutler, a veteran thought leader and practitioner in product management, joins us for the first episode of Season 6 of the Boundaryless Conversations podcast. John is popularly known for his work on product development, collaboration, and systems thinking, and has worked with some of the most advanced product-centric organizations like Toast, Amplitude, and Zendesk. Based on his wealth of experience, John runs a thought-provoking newsletter, “The Beautiful Mess”, where he shares deep insights and revolutionary ideas in product and organizational development. During this podcast, we touched on how a founder's belief systems shape product strategies and organizational structures, the differences between single-product versus multi-product companies, and how it's important to consider the various frames through which one designs an organization's dynamics. John also covers the implications of rapid growth versus maturity in organizations and how technology, particularly AI, is reshaping product and organizational thinking. Throughout the conversation listeners will also get some special nuggets on what he looks for, when he first meets with leaders and entrepreneurs and this shapes the work in the related organizational context. This episode - one of the best ones yet - is full of insights on the challenges faced by organizations as they scale, and it's a precious reminder to avoid being elitist in driving organizational change. Tune in for a rich discussion and don't miss out on the shifting paradigms in organizational structure and product leadership. Key Highlights

We want to invite you to listen to our show, the Boundaryless Conversations Podcast, on its upcoming Season 6. On this podcast, tech insights meet deep dives into geopolitics, culture, and policymaking, exploring the fabric of tomorrow's world. Here you can listen to stories from people at the forefront of innovative product and platform development and learn about building resilient and adaptive organizations that can stay ahead through change. The Boundaryless Conversations Podcast will help you stay informed, avoid echo chambers, and be the change-maker in your organization. The new series of the podcast is coming up on October 1st. Subscribe to our channel on  Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5TFF8qgtS1IKMxCEhh3yGU Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/boundaryless-conversations-podcast/id1505530552 Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/boundaryless-pdt and drop us a review In the meantime, remember to think Boundaryless!

We want to invite you to listen to our show, the Boundaryless Conversations Podcast, on its upcoming Season 6. On this podcast, tech insights meet deep dives into geopolitics, culture, and policymaking, exploring the fabric of tomorrow's world. Here you can listen to stories from people at the forefront of innovative product and platform development and learn about building resilient and adaptive organizations that can stay ahead through change. The Boundaryless Conversations Podcast will help you stay informed, avoid echo chambers, and be the change-maker in your organization. The new series of the podcast is coming up on October 1st. Subscribe to our channel  @Boundaryless-pdt-3eo  and drop us a review In the meantime, remember to think Boundaryless!

We reviewed all the 20 episodes from Season 5, and shared some much needed look back and key highlights. While the learnings are an abundant treasure trove, we handpicked a few and categorized them into 4 sections:  Dystopian aspects of current socio-technological trends with Sangeet Paul Choudary, James Currier, John Robb  and Jeremiah Owyang Visions that resist the dominance of powerful technological forces with Alex Komoroske, Kelly Sarabyn and Scott Brinker, Jesse Walden , Jason Fried and Arvind Gupta Doctrine and organizing for a multiplicity of teams and products with Craig Strong, Teresa Torres, Charles Betz, Susanne Kaiser and Cliff Berg Visionary perspectives that think beyond the rules and push boundaries with Yolanda Martin, João Rosa and Trond Hjorteland, Indy Johar, Milica Begovic and Giulio Quaggiotto, Mark Lambertz and Amber Case   This wrap-up is a quick look back into what happened all season, and will give you a peek what to expect for the next one. We hope that these episodes have brought you value in re-imagining ecosystems as you know it, and trust that you will continue to support us in the seasons to come.   Topics /chapters (00:00) Season 5 Wrap-Up - Intro (00:43) Dystopian aspects of current socio-technological trends (05:11) Visions that resist the dominance of powerful technological forces (10:52) Doctrine and organizing for a multiplicity of teams and products (15:41) Visionary perspectives that think beyond the rules and push boundaries (22:50) What's Next: Embrace a Boundaryless Future   Remember that you can always find transcripts and key highlights of the episode on our website: https://www.boundaryless.io/podcast/season5-wrap-up/   Get in touch with Boundaryless: Find out more about the show and the research at Boundaryless at https://boundaryless.io/resources/podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundaryless_ Website: https://boundaryless.io/contacts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundaryless-pdt-3eo   Music Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music #Podcast #WrapUp #Platform #Ecosystem

James Currier, co-founder of NFX and veteran venture capitalist, joins us as our final guest for Season 5 of the Boundaryless Conversations podcast.  In this gripping discussion, we go through the current and future states of Venture Capital and startups, the role and impacts that AI will have in these ecosystems, and the incumbents' seemingly dominating position in this market.  James takes us through NFX's investment strategy and breaks down what it means to be living in a world of AI omnipresence. He covers how AI impacts investment size and deals and shares key ideas about integrating startup solutions into the customer's workflow as a key defensibility - and thus value - driver. Tune in for fascinating and deep insights into the future of ventures. Currier is a five-time Founder and an angel investor in companies such as DoorDash, Lyft, and Patreon. Before becoming an investor, he co-founded Tickle, one of the internet's first successful user-generated companies.  With his deep understanding of the mechanisms driving innovation and growth in the tech industry and his passion for mentoring founders, he shares a wealth of knowledge on this podcast episode.  One of the key elements of our conversation is the significant advantages that incumbents hold in the future of markets impacted by AI in various industries. He touches upon some tried and tested strategies that help startups create sustainable competitive advantages, whether they operate in traditional or emerging industries. James also shares his thoughts on the risks and opportunities of emerging markets such as China and India. This episode is really packed with strategic insights.    Key Highlights

“Viable System Model” expert Mark Lambertz joins us on today's podcast to help us unfold organizing in complex ecosystems.  Mark, a long-time Agile practitioner and a renowned expert on the Viable System Model has a deep understanding and a curious mindset toward all things organizing. We met Mark as an Organizational Coach at Bosch, where he's driving the adoption of key concepts of the VSM. From his extensive experience, Mark has helped us understand how to use the VSM lens to build autonomous and self-sustaining organizational systems.  He takes us through the model's components and practical applications and compares it with other organizational frameworks that we use widely, more specifically, Boundaryless' Rendanheyi-inspired implementation of the Platform Organization with the 3EO Framework.  The conversation - where we discover a lot of resonance between the two perspectives - is filled with valuable insights from the ground and helps you move towards a more inclusive model that balances operational efficiency with strategic adaptability. Tune in, and don't miss out.  As one of the first attempts to use cybernetics in organizational management, the Viable System Model was conceived by Stafford Beer in his book - “The Brain of the Firm” in the 70s. Mark connects the dots in this podcast and explains why cybernetics is important for building adaptive organizations. The podcast highlights the importance of viewing organizations as adaptive, complex ecosystems emphasizing decentralization, coordination, and collective and emergent strategic planning.  He takes us through the depths of VSM, explaining how it starts with an outside-in perspective, focusing on the environment, and then further breaks down the 5 systems within VSM.  In this conversation, you get practical insights into incorporating a VSM informed perspective in your organization, helping you stay dynamic and ever-evolving.   Key Highlights

Yolanda Martin Olivas, Global VP of Design, ClearScore, joins us on this episode to talk about the challenges and strategies involved in building platform capabilities within organizations.  From her experience of building platforms at companies like Farfetch, Hearst, Canonical, Kaluza, and ClearScore etc., she takes us through the realities (sometimes difficult) of what it's like to enable platform transformation and growth. She argues for organizations to rethink the “growing through acquisition” approach while reiterating the need to focus on a strong infrastructure layer. As a passionate learner, practitioner, and enabler of platform design; Yolanda is one to take tune into.  Being one of the earliest learners of the Platform Design Toolkit, Yolanda has been a staunch practitioner of the platform business model and has played a pivotal role in enabling it in several organizations.  In this episode, we talk about organizational motivations to shift towards platform design models, primarily driven by the need for economies of scale and new growth opportunities, and why focusing on your “why” is important.  From her experience as a Design Director, she further shares practical advice on fostering a broader ecosystem perspective among design teams. She underscores the need for strong leadership commitment to enable this.  In this conversation we get insights into what made organizations “make it or break it”, so tune in, and get ahead of the curve.    Key Highlights

Indy Johar, Mission Steward of Dark Matter Labs, joins the podcast to help us rethink how we organize ourselves and our systems, addressing inadequacies of traditional business models that are no longer sufficient for managing complexities. Bringing light to how “risk management should be localized, with decision-making power and accountability being as close to the problem as possible,” Indy argues for an organization that encourages participants to be citizens rather than employees and fosters continuous and accountable learning among individuals. Tune into this episode and learn from Indy, a veteran in building mission-driven organizations, who has always stayed ahead of the curve. Indy - who joins the podcast for the 3rd time - besides stewarding the mission at Dark has also recently joined RMIT University, teaching no less than “Planetary Civics”, a testament to his influence in the space of social innovation. As always, Indy comes with a profound understanding of designing complex organizations for the 21st century, from his hands-on experience in creating radical innovations in governance, architecture, and social systems, particularly in sustainability and collaborative economy.  He starts the podcast with philosophical considerations about the nature of complex organizations and then highlights the need for a radical shift toward a learning-centered organization. In the conversation, we question the traditional metrics of productivity and value, and further advocate for new metrics that account for collective intelligence and systemic contributions rather than individual output.  There was no better way to celebrate our 100th episode because this one is a landmark. Grab a notepad and pick a pen, because there's much to pin down. Key Highlights

In today's episode, we have Kelly Sarabyn and Scott Brinker from HubSpot, who take us through their latest report on the State of Platforms in 2024.  HubSpot has always considered industry education as central to developing its business and brand, and - in combination with some of its partners - released this great report earlier this year. The report profoundly covers how firms now adopt platform strategies to thrive in a digital economy ranging from app ecosystems to services marketplaces. Having spearheaded this, Kelly and Scott shared some insider information with us.  During the conversation, they highlight the evolution of platforms, from mere technical infrastructures to complex ecosystems, and then further delve into how understanding the intricacies of platform models is crucial for tech companies and all businesses looking to leverage the interconnected nature of modern markets. This episode has something for everyone, so don't miss out on hearing from two of the most prominent experts in the field. Tune in.  Some of our ardent followers will know that this is the 2nd time we have Scott, Vice President of Platform Ecosystem, at HubSpot. Kelly, instead, works as a Platform Ecosystem Advocate, at the same company.  We are thrilled that they wanted to share the key learnings from co-authoring the “State of Platforms 2024” report - a tremendous piece of work that examines the evolving dynamics of the platform businesses, with a keen focus on the B2B SaaS industry. In the conversation we explored the implications of evolving platforms for business strategy and operations, emphasizing the necessity for companies to continuously adapt and leverage these opportunities effectively, regardless of the role and business model.  Our guests further touch upon how companies need to modulate around proliferation and nichification, integrations across sectors, and even look into these retributions' ethical and social aspects from a community-building perspective.  This episode is a crucial one and a much-needed dialogue to take platform ecosystems forward, so join in.  Key Highlights

We have a three-time returning guest on the podcast today, Sangeet Paul Choudary - certainly one of the most influential minds in the world of modern business. Sangeet, an advisor and best-selling author, known for his work on platform economics and network effects, joins us to take us through the next era of competition in business: Sandwich Economics. He speaks on the principles of the new phenomenon and shares insights into how organizations are now increasingly  "sandwiching" markets vigorously consolidating profits and power. As this happens, Sangeet argues, it's not always a driver of quality improvement in services and products. Sangeet's episodes are always packed with insights on the future, and this conversation is no different - in the closing, we even walk through AI agents, AGI, societal and ethical considerations, and much more. Tune in, this is not an episode to miss.  As our close followers and general practitioners of Platform Ecosystems know, Sangeet is not only one of the most distinguished thought leaders, renowned for his pioneering work on platform economics but also someone who can spot the intricacies of the impacts that such phenomena have on society.  He has authored two bestselling books, "Platform Scale" and "Platform Revolution," and comes with over a decade of expertise in advising global firms and governments on crafting effective platform strategies through his organization, “Platformation Labs”. His work has also been featured on leading platforms such as Harvard Business Review, The Economist, and the World Economic Forum, to name a few.   Sangeet always has golden insights, and this episode is packed with them. He takes us through the new term he coined to describe dangerous market dynamics that key players use to “sandwich” value across multiple layers of value chains and grounds them on examples from various industries. He further challenges conventional thinking and brings fresh perspectives on the ongoing dynamism and complexity of the market.  So, if you wish to learn what's really happening in platforms and ecosystems and how markets are evolving…Tune in!   Key Highlights

On today's podcast, we host someone who - has been at the forefront of the Agile revolution, and, at the same time, became one of Agile movement's most vocal critics, to the extent, that he dared to say: “R.I.P Agile”. Cliff Berg, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Agile 2 Academy, and a leading figure in Agile and DevOps advising joins our podcast bringing his fresh perspectives on the decline of Agile. He also gives us a peek into the story of a book he recently co-authored, ‘Agile 2: The Next Iteration of Agile'. Cliff takes us through what it means to re-imagine organizational practices and challenges the conventional framework-oriented approach, that often needs more contextualization and grounded action-based research. Join us, as we discuss balancing leadership and self-organizing, and explore pragmatic approaches to operating successful businesses with agility and accountability.  This episode goes through a journey - we talk about Cliff's viral post on the demise of Agile, and what he and a team of co-authors have done to consciously course-correct it, and publish a whole set of new ideas on how to approach Agile with a more contemporary and less ideological stance: Agile 2.  Cliff dismisses the narrative of “You don't need managers”, and challenges why it's important to reel our thoughts back in when it comes to decentralization of organizations.  He lays it out as it is: structure is not a bad thing per se, and the conversation goes through healthy ways of administering structure in organizations. Tune in, if you're interested in non-ideological ways to embrace agile practices, mixed with some of Boundaryless's staple topics: building optionality, entrepreneurial organizations that go big with skin in the game, and more.   Key Highlights

We rarely (if ever) get to host a cyborg anthropologist on our podcast, so we are thrilled to have Amber Case join us as a special guest for this episode.  Amber, who works at the intersection of human and technology interactions, shares her journey into envisioning what a calm technology is. Calm Technology is a design philosophy that advocates for technology to integrate into our lives, enhancing our ability to focus rather than distracting us. She takes us through everyday objects that have been designed this way and leaves us challenging what's really “transparent technology”? We stretch the boundaries to include a conversation on organizations and governance: a leading thread is that of keeping asking questions and not drinking the kool-aid of truthiness in how we think about tech and organizing.  Tune in to this provocation that leaps into the future of technology, its impact on society, and how you can navigate these landscapes with mindful intent. This podcast started on a personal note - Amber shared her experience being a child of engineers, and also having early exposure to the natural world - both of which she believes set the precedence for what she does today.  She takes us through a wealth of experience she gained in her multifaceted career - having been a renowned book author, TED speaker, serial startup founder, advisor, co-founder of DAOs, Research Director at the Meta Governance Project, and most recently the founder of the Calm Tech Institute. Amber advocates for a future where technology "gets out of your way and lets you live your life." This episode will elicit new questions for you and your career.   This episode has been occasionally recorded as “sound only”.   Key Highlights

In today's episode, we are joined by João Rosa and Trond Hjorteland, two organizational consultants with a unique point of view, who take us through the depth of Open Systems Theory, and what it means to be socio-technical practitioners, passionate about transitioning democratic organizations to fast-flowing operational models.  With many years of experience in large and complex contexts, they delve into what it means to create a collaborative and democratic organization, and how to balance mission, business outcomes, and cognitive load. Join us on this episode, as we debate the role of “purpose”, entrepreneurship, and autonomy and learn how to avoid the creation of agile bureaucracies. Tune in, and get inspired. In the conversation with Rosa and Hjorteland we started from an original question that Simone threw out at a small conference recently: how do we avoid building Agile Bureaucracies?  What does it mean to develop a business that achieves agility without having to exert total control on flows and processes? With increasingly complex and dynamic environments, it becomes pivotal for organizations to recognize and adapt to change, if not stay ahead of it and rigidities are more than dangerous - even the cultural ones. Emphasizing learnings from different methodologies like Open Systems Theory, Domain Driven Design, and Team Topologies; our guests advocate a team-centered, and democratic approach over industrial and hierarchical practices.  A unique episode to look out for.  Tune in.   Key Highlights

An independent tech consultant with over 20 years, Susanne Kaiser joins the podcast and shares her insights on what makes a robust socio-technical system. Integrating takeaways from different approaches like Wardley Mapping, Domain Driven Design, and Team topologies, she helps the listeners understand how to mold systems into ones that are adaptable to change, how to invest in the right things, and how to avoid wasting resources on things that do not make a competitive advantage.  We further touch upon topics like building in bounded contexts and unbundling the right way. This episode has an ocean of information, which can help listeners achieve better strategic awareness of their company, products, and initiatives. Grab a coffee cup and a notebook and listen.  In this episode, Susanne takes us through what it means to operate a business with a strategic perspective.  An organization's evolutionary journey goes through high levels of change and uncertainty. With insights on bounded contexts and evolution, Susanne takes us through how you can enforce modularity and cohesion among the different parts of the system, to deal with such a journey. With significant experience working as a consultant in the software development world, Susanne shares real-world examples of how organizations can create architecture and team structures that are dynamic and play to an organization's competitive advantage.   Key Highlights

Jeremiah Owyang, a veteran with a vantage point of Silicon Valley and current General Partner at Blitzscaling Ventures joins us for the second time on the podcast. While he is now working on identifying and nurturing AI startups, this episode reflects his art of captivating audiences. He takes us through the exponential growth of AI startups, its implications on creativity, health, wellness, and productivity, the ethical considerations surrounding its adoption, and the potential of AI to democratize professional skills. We even touch upon what's next with AI in this thought-provoking discussion, so tune in and get listening into the future. In this episode, Owyang demystifies complex technologies - a skill that has made him a sought-after speaker, capable of creating context and setting standards for the adoption of advanced technologies in Business, globally.  Jeremiah takes us on a journey from the inception of predictive AI to the emergence of ChatGPT the moment it was made ubiquitous. This episode is special since we go beyond the technology - through the socio-economic impacts of AI - with a bonus live demo of scenario-based voice interaction with an AI.  This episode is a deep dive into the future of AI and the sheer power of its technology from one of Silicon Valley's most influential voices. Don't miss out.    Key Highlights

Join us on this episode as we sit down with Charles Betz, a leading authority in enterprise architecture-related research. With a career dedicated to understanding how digitally enabled organizations (should) operate at scale, Charles is the VP and Research Director of Enterprise Architecture at Forrester. Tune in as he discusses the evolution of technology, the challenges faced by enterprises as they integrate digital, and the critical and evolving role of enterprise architecture in modern business. This is an all-encompassing episode featuring Charles Betz, the VP and Research Director of Enterprise Architecture at Forrester. With over two decades of experience in the field, Charles is a seasoned expert in enterprise architecture, digital transformation, and organizational strategy, making this a perfect episode for those looking to operate digitally enabled organizations, at scale. With his wealth of knowledge, Charles takes us on a journey through the historical evolution of computing, tracing the path from the early days of digital challenges to the present era of cloud computing and platform capabilities. He shares perspectives on the evolving and pivotal role of enterprise architecture, a once technical role now increasingly in charge of facilitating technology alignment with product portfolios and business goals.  He introduces the concept of Outcome-Driven Architecture, emphasizing the principles of adaptability, creativity, and resilience, and prepares us as we explore together the digital landscape.   Key Highlights

Join us as we delve into a thought-provoking conversation with Milica Begovic and Giulio Quaggiotto, current and former Head of Strategic Innovation at the UNDP, as they shed light on how they are reshaping the approach to global development by transitioning from traditional project methods to a portfolio approach. Tune in as we unpack the need for this systemic change and recognize how deep organizational shifts are required to the complexities of today's most pressing challenges.  At Boundaryless, we always believed in the power of learning from parallel avenues, and this episode with Milica Begovic and Giulio Quaggiotto sharing their experience in the development sector, is a testament to that. Milica, known for her innovative drive, and Giulio, with his extensive experience in public sector innovation, share their insights on UNDP's recent shift from a project-based to a portfolio approach in tackling global challenges. They explore how to address systemic changes, emphasizing the importance of broadening strategies to create sustainable impacts.  Taking practical examples from the ground, they discuss the role of cities in driving community-focused innovation, demonstrating the power of portfolio governance in achieving shared goals. This episode is a compelling call to action for rethinking not just development work, but also what startups and corporates alike could learn to imbibe, in an increasingly complex ecosystem. Key Highlights

We are truly honored to host Jason Fried, co-founder of 37Signals and the mastermind behind Basecamp, and Hey for one of our deepest episodes. A leading critical voice in startup culture and product design, Jason delves into challenging conventional business approaches with a focus on simplicity, enjoyment, and nimbleness. In the second part of the conversation, Jason also hints into what he calls a Post-SaaS era that he intends to kickstart with a new suite of products called Once. This is a landmark episode for us, as we're joined by Jason Fried, co-founder of 37Signals and the creative force behind Basecamp and Hey.  A true critical thought leader in startup culture, product design, and organizational development, Jason shares his deep insights into the transformative power that comes from challenging traditional business norms - be it bootstrapping, subtracting, restraining, or creating shorter cycles - in a world where increasingly, “more” is considered better.  As an acclaimed author of International Bestsellers -  like “Rework”, “Remote” and “It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work” - Jason offers unique perspectives on customer and product strategies, intuition in decision-making, and the importance of human touch in technology. He also shares insights on 37Signal's multi-product strategies and touches on their upcoming product "Once", which promises to be the first post-SaaS product.  This episode has got it all, and speaks on untouched conversations like never before. Don't miss out.   Key Highlights

We talked Web3 with Jesse Walden, a true veteran in the crypto and blockchain space. All the conversation revolves around a deep question: why should we build on chain? Join us as Jesse shines a light on the path forward - and on the key outstanding questions for  Web3.  In this episode, we discuss the future of the internet with Jesse Walden - Founder of Variant Fund and Web3 legend. Jesse - is one the most pivotal shapers of the landscape of user-owned internet - and an early-stage crypto funding pioneer - and we are truly honored to have him speak with us. Before spearheading Variant Fund, Jesse had a notable tenure as Program Director at Crypto Startup School—one of the earliest startup accelerators in Crypto and Web3. Before this, he pioneered work at Mediachain Labs, later acquired by Spotify, which underscored his foresight in harnessing blockchain's potential. In this deep discussion, we riff with Jesse around the fundamental elements of the question: “why should we build organizations and products on the blockchain”?  Among the depths discussed, he spoke to us on how crypto isn't merely about currencies but rather about owning a slice of the internet. He helps us revise the structural shifts that this technology affords: from independent digital asset ownership to the idea of complete contracts, and we stretch the surface of what's only possible to build if we embrace this new perspective.  Towards the end of the conversation, we also dive into what's the role of venture capital in a different landscape such as that of web3.  Tune in to this engaging conversation as Jesse navigates the realms of crypto, blockchain, and ownership, unveiling their profound implications for the future of the internet.   Key Highlights

We discuss India's digital evolution with Arvind Gupta, exploring the country's unique approach to digital inclusion and decentralized networks. Arvind shares his experiences from academia to the key ideas behind Digital Public Infrastructure, emphasizing digital empowerment.  Tune in, and discover how India's digital model is not only redefining technology as we know it, but also setting a precedent for the global landscape. In this episode, we sit down with Arvind Gupta, Head and Co-Founder of the Digital India Foundation and deep dive into India's recent bubbling digital story. As a key shaper of the India Stack, he shared his insights on the country's unique approach to digital inclusion, and its unwavering commitment to serving the bottom of the pyramid He reinstates India's position as the "data capital of the world" and the transformative power of data in the nation's journey and its crucial potential for empowerment. But what makes India's journey so unique? Well, India's approach has been about innovating building open networks and decentralized systems - something that we're learning to call Digital Public Infrastructures and Arvind has been instrumental in shaping such a strategy.  Arvind Gupta has held several roles, ranging from being an Adjunct Professor at IIT-BHU, to serving as the CEO of MyGov, a platform championed by PM Modi for inclusive digital governance. His writings have been featured on platforms like the Harvard Business Review and the World Economic Forum, and his accolades, such as the Eisenhower Global Fellowship for Innovation, speak volumes about his commitment to the digital realm. In this thought-provoking conversation, Arvind calls for a reimagining of the internet's original promise—to empower every individual and truly sparks a sense of deep hope.  Join us for this deep dive with Arvind Gupta, as we explore the intricacies of India's digital revolution, its global implications, and the future of technology.   Key Highlights

John Robb, an expert in networked societies and tribal dynamics, returns to the podcast after more than three years, with some thought-challenging discussions.  In this episode, Robb takes us through the inherent destructive nature of networked tribes and provides a unique perspective on our global civilizations trajectory. He touches on dissent dynamics driven by social media, the danger in the concentration of power due to the transformative effect of AI, all while resonating its impact on business and organizational operations. This is a special episode, and Robb leaves no leaf unturned. Tune in. In today's open world, managing networked politics has become increasingly complex for brands, requiring proactive measures from the outset. John Robb, a renowned author and expert in the field of global security, networked societies, and tribal dynamics, helps us unlock this and other topics on our podcast.  Through popularizing concepts like "Global Guerrillas", where small, loosely connected groups use modern technology to disrupt traditional power structures; he has influenced several entrepreneurs and decision-makers with his thought-provoking insights and predictions.  He discusses the importance of cultivating a corporate culture rooted in civility, introduces profound perspectives on global civilization, and even urges us to consider where we want to be in 200 years, given the limitations posed by Earth's energy and social entropy. This podcast episode offers a deep exploration of such critical themes, providing valuable perspectives on the future of society and the influence of networks. Listen in, and join the conversation.   This episode also introduces a new format:  #BeyondFrames, occasional podcast episodes where we'll extend the view beyond product and org design, to look at the context of our work and organizations    Key Highlights

We are elated to host Teresa Torres, the renowned product discovery coach behind Product Talk, on our podcast. Drawing from her vast experience, from her collaborations with industry giants like Spotify and Tesco, but also with small, nimble startup teams we discuss about implementing continuous discovery inside organizations, across teams, driven by business outcomes. Together, we explore the intricacies, challenges, and opportunities of coordinating in complex product landscapes and what it means for organizations navigating these rough waters. Teresa's insights are simple, yet profound and that makes this episode a must listen! As the mind behind Product Talk, there's arguably a handful who understand the intricacies of continuous discovery better than Teresa Torres does. Her straightforward style and work has set benchmarks in the industry of product design and development. In our conversation, we venture beyond the usual. We discuss the science of maintaining coherence in a portfolio of products, what it means to ideate within the constraints of an organization, and what are some artifacts and visualization tools that can help product development. She also shares her thoughts on the delicate balance of power, as the scales tip in the age of personal technology, highlighting what GenAI and NoCode could mean for the future of the product.  With her foundational education from Stanford University and Northwestern University, combined with her hands-on experience, Teresa brings a unique blend of academic rigor and practical insights to the table.  Give this episode a listen, and you are sure to walk away with points to ponder.   Key Highlights

In this episode, we explore what a product centric organization looks like, with our guest Craig Strong. Sharing his experience from being a Global Practice Leader at AWS (Amazon Web Services), a seasoned Chief Technology & Product Officer, he helps us dive deeper into the nuances of adopting organizational designs, cultures, and practices that cater to product-customer centricity.  A true product operating model specialist, he has helped countless startups and enterprises to modernize and evolve to become more customer-centric. From bio-mimicry to hands-on experience, learn what inspires him everyday, to design some of the most robust and adopted organization structures in the world. This podcast is just not one to miss! In this insightful episode, Craig Strong, co-author of The Lean Product Lifecycle, explores the future of product-centric organizations. With over 18 years in the tech industry, Craig has worked with startups, SMEs, and global enterprises, guiding them through growth and transformation. Craig shares profound insights on this podcast, emphasizing the importance of life cycles in product development and the dangers of prescribing defined frameworks. We dive into the significance of asking timely questions, what questions to ask, and the necessity of flexible frameworks that cater to the emergent needs of complex organizations. He touches upon his infamous concept of viewing taxonomies and ontologies as products, and so much more.  As a Forbes Technology Council member and co-author of “The Lean Product Lifecycle”, Craig provides a blend of theoretical and practical insights on this podcast. This episode is a must-listen for those seeking clarity and inspiration in product operations and organizational design. Tune in for a highly engaging discussion with Craig Strong!  Key Highlights

In our first episode this season, we dive into the world of open platforms and the future of organizing. With his thought-provoking presentation of “Gardening Platforms”, our guest Alex Komoroske, helps create a shift in mindset towards a more achievable and sustainable approach in creating impactful technology solutions. We explore his key learnings from leading products at Google Chrome, and how he continues to implement these in his own journey today. Talking on questions of morality, control, and designing for the nefarious users, there's so much Alex offers in this podcast, and we hope you take from it, as much as we did.  Alex Komoroske, is truly one to get inspired by when we think of the potential that powerful technology solutions can create. For 13 years, he worked with Google, building some of the most cherished products that came from the organization. Heading product for a company that affects billions of lives is no easy feat, and Alex did just that for Google Chrome. He took his vast ocean of knowledge, and for the last two years has helped shape Stripe, as their Head of Strategy. In his flip-book style presentation, aptly titled, “Gardening Platforms”, he discusses the fundamental emergent power dynamics of platforms, how to evolve an existing platform to continuously improve it, and how to create a new platform from scratch. This got us truly hooked, and we are glad that Alex joined us to discuss this, and many more mind-tinkering concepts in our podcast. We touch upon the inherently complex and evolutionary  nature of platforms, the role of composability and modularity, and what it means to be sensitive to socio-technical implications of your solutions.  Get ready to be inspired by his high-impact journey, brutal honesty, and some remarkable recommendations of books and concepts that have shaped his thoughts and processes.   Key Highlights 

We're back at the Boundaryless Conversations Podcast, with an all new Season No. 5.  Join us, as we bridge the worlds of technology, geopolitics, culture, and policymaking. We take a dive deep into the fabric of tomorrow's world, sharing inspiring stories from innovative organizations leading the way in product and platform development. Learn how to build resilient, adaptable entities that thrive amidst change. Stay informed, break free from echo chambers, and become a change-maker in your organization.  Subscribe to our podcasts on your favorite podcasting platforms, and help us shape a richer, more democratic dialogue about the future of organizing.  Explore our vision at boundaryless.io as we bring to you - Platform and Ecosystems, from the edge to the core. For more information: https://boundaryless.io. Get in touch with Boundaryless: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundaryless_   - Website: https://boundaryless.io/contacts   - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundaryless-pdt-3eo  Find out more about the show and the research at Boundaryless at https://boundaryless.io/resources/podcast/ Music  Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music

We're back at the Boundaryless Conversations Podcast, with an all new Season No. 5.  Join us, as we bridge the worlds of technology, geopolitics, culture, and policymaking. We take a dive deep into the fabric of tomorrow's world, sharing inspiring stories from innovative organizations leading the way in product and platform development. Learn how to build resilient, adaptable entities that thrive amidst change. Stay informed, break free from echo chambers, and become a change-maker in your organization.  Subscribe to our podcasts on your favorite podcasting platforms, and help us shape a richer, more democratic dialogue about the future of organizing.  Explore our vision at boundaryless.io as we bring to you - Platform and Ecosystems, from the edge to the core. For more information: https://boundaryless.io. Get in touch with Boundaryless: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundaryless_  - Website: https://boundaryless.io/contacts  - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundaryless-pdt-3eo  Find out more about the show and the research at Boundaryless at https://boundaryless.io/resources/podcast/ Music  Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music

In this season wrap up, podcast hosts Simone Cicero and Stina Heikkilä talk about the new research compass of Boundaryless and ruminate on some of the gems of the season. Simone and Stina also share some highlights from the long list of episodes of the Boundaryless Conversations podcast — almost 90 and counting! — and provide some pointers for future research. It's worth catching up with the ideas in the recent blog A Research Compass: Platform-Ecosystem Thinking in 2023 when listening to the wrap up. Some of the topics that stood out forming the substance of the new compass include: AI and other technological enablers A new product management framing Building Ecosystemically Software-powered Organizational Evolutions A new Organizational Focus on Resilience The wrap up provides a good appetizer for the upcoming season, which will have some novelties and more co-hosts in store. A special shout-out to Stina who won't be co-hosting the next season of the podcast. It's been a great ride and we're sure that she'll be back co-hosting more episodes in the future! Get in touch with Boundaryless: Find out more about the show and the research at Boundaryless at https://boundaryless.io/resources/podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundaryless_ Website: https://boundaryless.io/contacts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundaryless-pdt-3eo Music Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music 

In this season's final episode, we talk to Bill Fischer and Lisa Gansky about how our old ideas of what's normal are disappearing. There is a need to bridge the gap between old and emerging systems, encouraging exploration and experimentation to unlock our Ecosystemic Future. Bill Fischer has spent his entire career involved in innovation, from being a practicing development engineer in industry and government; to being an academic researcher, teacher and writer; to being involved in several startups. He is presently a Senior Lecturer at the Sloan School of Management, at MIT, and an Emeritus Professor of Innovation Management at IMD, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Lisa Gansky is a social provocateur, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, advisor, international keynote speaker and author of the bestselling book, “The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing”. Her work on trust, the sharing economy & innovation has been central in rethinking 21st century governance, business models & community dynamics.   The challenges organizations are facing in adapting to rapid change show how traditional organizational structures are no longer working. To adapt to the changing landscape, a mix between AI, Web3 technologies and new ways to governance can allow for flexible and modular ways of organizing.  New promises emerge through the overlap between organizations and software that can unlock new ecosystem potential where different players and customers come together, focusing on local relationships and embracing transience for more innovative solutions.  Beyond all, it's important to keep up with optionality and dynamism, both key to the nature of Ecosystemic thinking: co-creation and increasing diversity and variance are going to be key in the markets of the future.  These elements provide the backdrop for this Situational Update on our Ecosystemic Future. Key Highlights 

In this episode we dive into the world of smart contracts and their remarkable impact on organizational design. Our guest Justice Conder provides a thought-provoking introduction to what he calls the third law of nature of smart contracts. We explore the transformative journey from traditional corporations to the realm of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) keeping a non ideological mindset and examining the challenges of bridging the gap between the two paradigms. Justice Conder does DAO Ecosystem Development at Polygon Labs. Before this he was a full-stack developer and Agile practitioner for over ten years and entered the world of DAOs through BanklessDAO, where he contributed as a governance solution engineer. With Justice we explore the disconnect between DAOs and traditional organizations, investigating how smart contracts - as a conceptual evolution of DevOps - could play a pivotal role in driving organizational transformation. We also discuss how pioneering transformations such as the one with Haier's management model, Rendanheyi, has a symbiotic relationship with the on-chain revolution, offering insights into the future of organizational design and management. Get ready to be inspired by the immense potential of Web3 capabilities in product development, and discover how these capabilities can be harnessed to unleash innovation, foster user engagement, and shape the future of products and organizations. Key Highlights 

Join us in our latest podcast episode as we delve into the world of design with Dr. Christian Bason, CEO of the Danish Design Center. We explore the crucial role of how we think - the “thinking” part of design thinking - in addressing global challenges. Drawing from one of his latest books "Expand: Stretching the Future By Design", co-authored with Jens Martin Skibsted, Christian introduces the concept of six expansions: time, proximity, life, value, dimensions, and sectors. These expansions encourage designers to break free from traditional boundaries and tackle complex issues like climate change, pandemics, and digitization. We also discuss the dynamic nature of design modes and methods, highlighting the importance of agency and adaptability in diverse contexts. Dr. Christian Bason brings his expertise in innovation, design, policy and leadership to enrich our conversation. Before becoming CEO of the Danish Design Center, Christian gathered a wealth of experience leading organizations such as MindLab, the Danish government's innovation team, and Ramboll Management Consulting. He has published in amongst other Harvard Business Review and Stanford Social Innovation Review and has taught executives at Oxford Saïd Business School, Henley MBA, the European School of Administration and Copenhagen Business School.  With Christian, we dive deep into the ethical considerations surrounding technological innovation and the responsibilities of designers and developers in the digital space. Our conversation examines the impact of technology on society and emphasizes the need for governance mechanisms to keep up with rapid advancements. The podcast further explores the role of designers as decision-makers and their responsibility at various scales. We look into the transformative power of unlocking individual creativity and cultivating innovative cultures within organizations. Lastly, we confront the current state of the world and examine the rise of autocracies and surveillance societies, questioning why top-down control has become such a prevailing force. Christian proposes that we have agency to create more sustainable and human-centered organizational forms that can effectively navigate complexity and build alternative futures. Join us for this captivating podcast episode as we navigate the future of design, highlighting the transformative power of agency, and embrace a world where creativity and collaboration pave the way for a better tomorrow. Key Highlights 

Dr. Nafeez Ahmed joins the show to share his insights about the disruptive nature of technological progress and how it impacts society. He brings our attention to how the transformation of five fundamental production sectors - energy, transport, food, information, and materials - urges organizations to prepare for a decade of global phase shift.   In this episode, Dr Nafeez Ahmed helps us gain a better understanding of how exponential technological advancements and economic factors are reshaping our civilization, leading us towards a more decentralized organizing system in a pivotal decade. Nafeez is a systems theorist with over 20 years experience, and works as change strategy consultant and investigative journalist. He is the Creator of the Age of Transformation newsletter where he writes about systems thinking for what he calls 'the global phase shift'. He is Director of the Futures Lab at United Communications Ltd where he leads on system transformation advisory services for governments, businesses and charities. Nafeez is also a Distinguished Fellow at the Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems and a Commissioner at the Club of Rome's Transformational Economics Commission. In this episode, we uncover the challenges faced by established industries in light of the rise of new technologies. With Nafeez, we explore strategic approaches to successfully navigate this phase shift, including basing decisions on the best available empirical evidence and data, and the need for new ways of collaborating in the face of increasing convergence across different sectors under transformation. Nafeez shares his insights about the economic implications of AI and the exciting possibilities of reimagining our future organizing system to fit new systems of production. Get ready to delve into the next decade's phase shift and discover the significance of strategic pivoting in response!    Key highlights

Špela Prijon and Sascha Kellert join us to share the latest news from Ownco - a platform that combines the best aspects of cooperatives, DAOs, and traditional startups to make shared ownership and the ownership economy more fluid and accessible. Ownco's approach to distributing ownership moves along four key dimensions - Upsides, Status, Influence, Redemption - and is an approach born through testing hypotheses and assessing the actual results produced by early adopters.  For example, through Ownco's credit system companies can issue ownership credits that can be backed - through a legal bridge - with exit proceeds, providing ownership-backed incentives for contributors. Ownco believes that achieving ownership sharing can be done with existing legal contracts, while at the same time the potential impacts of Web 3 may be important for the long term. Špela Prijon and Sascha Kellert are the co-founders with Harry Wilson (not on this podcast) of Ownco. Špela Prijon has been active with startups for a long time, as a founder and team member. Most recently Špel awas Head of CX at Ledgy, leading implementation of all types of equity plans for 100s of startups from seed to IPO stage, in jurisdictions all over the world and it was with such an intimate knowledge of the processes of sharing ownership. Sascha Kellert is a serial-entrepreneur who studied Systems Theory at Bayes Business School in London with a thesis exploring how to design viable businesses using patterns and blueprints from nature. Over the last decade he has been developing practices and tools for the alternative ownership economy, while building his last two VC-funded SaaS/platform startups. In this episode, we delve into several practical use cases, talk through regulatory and governance issues, and explore Ownco's vision of boundaryless, networked organizations, with micro-teams connected through smart contracts and programmable ownership sharing.  Enjoy this both practical and inspiring conversation with two of the passionate founders of Ownco.  Key Highlights 

In this new episode of the Boundaryless Conversation Podcast, Mark van Rijmenam examines the hype cycle surrounding AI and the perceived decline of interest in the Metaverse. He argues that these emerging technologies are not mutually exclusive and that the Metaverse still has significant potential for development with the application of AI.   Dr Mark van Rijmenam is an international keynote speaker, author and entrepreneur. He is a leading future tech strategist who thinks about how technology changes organizations, society and the metaverse. Globally recognised speaker and expert on disruptive innovation and how we can benefit from emerging technologies such as big data, blockchain, AI and VR/AR, Mark wrote “Step into the Metaverse: How the Immersive Internet Will Unlock a Trillion-Dollar Social Economy”, detailing what the open metaverse is and how organizations and consumers can benefit from the immersive internet. Mark stresses the importance for organizations to develop digital capabilities (which he refers to as “DNA”), to stay ahead of technology trends and avoid getting caught up in hype cycles. We also discuss the challenge of developing responsible and ethical technology, with suggestions for oversight boards and regulatory requirements to ensure alignment with ethical values.   Key highlights 

Most software architects represent the environment in a very static way, and from that static representation, produce static software. As a result, the software structure they create is like a picture of a picture…used to describe what is actually a movie. This problem, rooted in a mechanistic worldview, is where Barry O'Reilly's Residuality Theory was born. Residuality Theory - in very few words - is a method of designing software architectures inspired by how the most talented architects do it: i.e. starting from the stress conditions that the system could eventually face as it operates. Barry O'Reilly is a software architect with 25 years of experience in the IT industry. He has held leading roles at global software companies and has spent many years educating architects and he is currently pursuing a PhD in Complexity Science and Software Engineering at The Open University. Residuality theory looks at the world not as a bunch of static things or still pictures, but as a constantly moving set of processes which we can't really see and grasp. It requires designers to move away from a static view of the system: by letting the architecture design be inspired by its “stressors”, O'Reilly thinks that not only can we design more resilient systems but also more efficient ones. In this episode Barry also describes the philosophical background behind the theory and why Residuality can be a viable approach to designing organizations too.  Remember that you can always find transcripts and key highlights of the episode on our website: https://boundaryless.io/podcast/barry-oreilly‎   Key highlights