Out of Office

Sandro Pierri had no clue what mutual funds were when he first ventured into the world of finance. Today, the boy who grew up in a small Italian village sits at the helm of BNP Paribas Asset Management, overseeing half a trillion euros. He credits people always taking a bet on him early on in his career, and he wants to pay it forward. In this episode, Pierri reflects on his career, lessons from his mistakes, and what he really thinks of the ESG “gold rush.”  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic-induced carnage that swept through live entertainment didn't spare one of the most recognizable names in the industry. Cirque du Soleil's revenues went from millions to zero in two days as lockdowns forced the company to cancel shows. Its executive vice-chair, Daniel Lamarre describes how they got through this difficult time, what years of working in entertainment have taught him about creativity and trust, why it's a good idea to lock creative people in a room – and he tells us what working in the circus has taught him about leadership.Today's episode is a replay from Feb 17, 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A legend in the tech industry, the former CISCO CEO reveals why a chat with a young girl at a work function turned out to be a pivotal moment in his professional and personal life. In this candid and informal chat, John talks about disruption, dyslexia and why he's always motivated to do the right thing. Today's episode is a replay from June 9, 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the start of the pandemic, Julia Hartz realized she might lose everything she had spent 14 years building. So the co-founder and CEO of Eventbrite activated her mamma bear. She got fierce. She moved fast. And she kept the live events platform alive. In this episode, Julia Hartz talks about how she got the publicly traded company back from the brink of shutting down, shares why working at a local cafe as a teenager was transformative, and explains why her North Star as a business leader is the often overlooked quality of consistency.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 30 years ago, a new mom, tinkered with creating lipsticks from her bedroom in a New York City suburb, found a chemist who manufactured it for her and they split the $15 earned per tube, evenly. So it began Bobbi Brown's journey that made her a global, household name. Bobbi sold her company in 1995, and after waiting out a 25-year non-compete period, she is back for her second innings. She recently launched Jones Road, a clean beauty brand. Bobbi admits it is not for everyone. It's for those who want to enhance their natural beauty - the no-makeup-makeup look. In this episode, Bobbi talks about her phenomenal career, why family remains her strength, what makes a woman beautiful and the story behind WTF, her new foundation which is such a rage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early days of her career, Marg Franklin took the formidable CFA exam. It didn't go according to plan. An exhausted new mother, she dozed off, only to wake up two hours later. Eventually, she passed it and today, she's the first woman to be the President & CEO of this 75-year-old institution. In this episode, Marg talks about how courage shapes leadership, what working in a bike store taught her, why she believes neither women - nor men - can have it all and what she really thinks about the CFA exam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Hugh Evans was 14, he spent one night in a Manila slum as part of a school trip.Surrounded by crawling cockroaches and rancid garbage, he tossed and turned while his host, a local boy, slept soundly. Hugh realized the only reason the boy slept there, and not in his comfortable Melbourne home, was a lottery of fate. Hugh made a vow to himself that night - he would dedicate his life to eradicating extreme poverty. As the co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen, Hugh is spearheading a movement to overcome poverty via actions, not charity. In this episode of Out of Office, he explains how Global Citizen operates, the difference it's making, and why celebrities from Chris Martin to Beyonce to Miley Cyrus are supporters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hours after the earthquake that flattened parts of Turkey and Syria, celebrity chef and founder of World Central Kitchen, José Andrés turned up in Istanbul. Since then, he's been driving to the worst-hit areas, collaborating with local restaurants to feed quake survivors. They are currently serving more than 260,000 meals a day. Andres talks to us from Turkey about why he rushes to the frontlines of crises, and the power of sharing a plate with a stranger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carolyn Childers grew up in a town so small it had no traffic lights. Now, the club she co-foundered - Chief - connects more than 20,000 women in business across the US and has 60,000 more on the waitlist. Chief opened its first overseas branch in the UK in January 2023. Childers explains what membership at Chief gets you, learning through failure, and why the notion that women can have it all is a trap.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 100 years ago, L.L. Bean combined leather with rubber to create a unique shoe that would keep his feet warm when he went fishing. The result? The Maine Hunting Shoe, a functional, innovative boot that changed footwear forever. Today, his great grandson, Shawn Gorman is the Chairman of the family owned business. Shawn talks about his role as a steward of the brand, abiding by a set of golden rules and the restorative power of the outdoors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dropbox is best-known for its service that lets consumers easily sync files between computers. At least, that's how began 15 years ago. Today, it's a publicly-traded company worth more than $8 billion at the time of recording, with consumers and enterprise clients paying for cloud-storage in quantities that makes it one of the biggest competitors to Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Apple's iCloud, Box, and many more besides. Its CEO Drew Houston learned many lessons over that decade-and-a-half, some from his parents, many from the Covid-19 pandemic, and at least one from the late Steve Jobs. How has that informed where he's taking the company next?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marc Lore founded two e-commerce startups and sold them for $550 million and $3.3 billion before spending the last five years running Walmart's online business. Since announcing his departure from Walmart in January, Lore has been on a tear: He bought a stake in an NBA basketball team, launched an upscale food delivery business, and started a venture capital firm that's invested in everything from a nuclear fusion energy startup to a new “stock market” for professional athletes. But all that pales compared to his passion project: A five-million-person, from-the-ground-up city called Telosa that can serve both as a showcase for new technologies and a new form of private-public governance. Can he make all of it work?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catherine Powell draws on her tenure at Disney - and now Airbnb - to explain how vulnerability translates into courage. The head of hosting at the rental giant talks candidly about how that's shaped the way she leads and the gift of a high-powered girlfriends club. And she shares her fun fact: she's given birth in 3 different languages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jim Rogers grew up poor in a town so small that his phone number consisted of one digit: 5. He was desperate to see the world. He gave himself a deadline: he would make a million by the age of 35. He did it at 37 and then went on to visit more than a hundred countries. The veteran investor shares his life story, discusses the experiences that shaped him, and explains why he's sticking to his investment advice: if you want to be successful, be boring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You are not aggressive enough.” That's the feedback banker Lavanya Chari was given early in her career. Over the years, she learned that being empathetic does not mean being weak. And if you lead with empathy, you can still crush it at work. HSBC's Global Head of Investments and Wealth Solutions opens up about learning to bring her whole self to work. Unapologetically so. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Patrick Spence joined Research in Motion, few people had heard of the company. That was before it became a global sensation as the maker of BlackBerry. Remember the BlackBerry? Well, the device faded away but working at RIM had a profound impact on Spence, who then went on to join yet another unknown company called Sonos. Today, he's the CEO of the well-known audio brand and Spence talks about the lessons learned at RIM, about innovation and disruption, taking on tech giants – and reveals what's on his playlist.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A legend in the tech industry, the former CISCO CEO reveals why a chat with a young girl at a work function turned out to be a pivotal moment in his professional and personal life. In this candid and informal chat, John talks about disruption, dyslexia and why he's always motivated to do the right thing.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jim Weber has been the chief executive of Brooks Running since 2001. In his newly released book, “Running With Purpose,” Weber talks about how he turned a company that was on the brink of bankruptcy into a billion-dollar consumer brand. On this episode of Out of Office, Weber talks business, leadership, and how his battle with cancer—which left him unable to run—has shaped his personal story.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From bread-baking to DIY home renovation, many people started new activities during the pandemic. Kağan Sümer started a new company. Over the last two years, his rapid food delivery startup Gorillas blew up to become one of the best funded businesses in an industry that didn't exist before 2020. We get a fascinating look at the story behind Europe's fastest unicorn - and the future of the rapid delivery business.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has been rough on everyone, but women in particular have suffered as they try to juggle Zoom calls with their endless responsibilities at home. More than two million American women have left the labor force, and many struggle to return due to difficulties finding care for children or elderly parents. And it's not just working moms: Younger women are also leaving employers who fail to provide flexibility, meaningful work and opportunities for advancement. Right now honest, real-world career advice is in short supply, and that's where Cate Luzio comes in. Her professional growth network, Luminary, provides women in more than 30 countries an opportunity to grow, learn and meet others.       Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The CEO of Visa often talks about the 3 C's of leadership: courage, curiosity and communication. He talks about the myriad influences that have shaped him over the years – being the eldest of seven children, leading a church choir (unexpectedly), running technology for the Reagan administration and being driven by faith.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The CEO of British fintech company, Atom Bank, Mark Mullen moved his company to a four-day work week last year. Employees work fewer hours, for the same pay. It's a bold move but, according to Mullen, it's common sense. His costs haven't changed, he hasn't lost any customers and he says his staff is more productive. Plus, at the end of one's career, who regrets not having spent more time at work? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The pandemic-induced carnage that swept through live entertainment didn't spare one of the most recognizable names in the industry. Cirque du Soleil's revenues went from millions to zero in two days as lockdowns forced the company to cancel shows. Its executive vice-chair, Daniel Lamarre describes how they got through this difficult time, what years of working in entertainment have taught him about creativity and trust, why it's a good idea to lock creative people in a room – and he tells us what working in the circus has taught him about leadership. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The pandemic-induced carnage that swept through live entertainment didn't spare one of the most recognizable names in the industry. Cirque du Soleil's revenues went from millions to zero in two days as lockdowns forced the company to cancel shows. Its executive vice-chair, Daniel Lamarre describes how they got through this difficult time, what years of working in entertainment have taught him about creativity and trust, why it's a good idea to lock creative people in a room – and he tells us what working in the circus has taught him about leadership. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Best Buy announced that it hired Hubert Joly to turn around the struggling consumer electronics retailer in 2012, the stock tanked as investors questioned why the company would hire a Frenchman with no experience in big-box retailing. But Joly proved to be up to the turnaround task, winning over employees, customers and shareholders with a strategy that fended off competition from Amazon and pushed Best Buy into new areas like healthcare. Now, he's teaching the next generation of corporate leaders how to put people at the center of their business, and radically rethink how we view work.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Told she was too nice to be a successful leader, Barbara Humpton reflects on her trailblazing journey to the top job of a global tech giant. She's carved her own unique path. In this episode, she tells us how growing up in a family of lively rule breakers, passionate problem solvers — and nice people — defines her. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The CEO of Pfizer recalls the moment he realized Pfizer had the first Covid vaccine — it was emotional. Albert Bourla believes nothing is impossible if you have faith, believe and try... an optimistic view shaped by his family's experience of surviving the Holocaust. Bourla opens up about his parents, becoming a household name, his life as a veterinarian, and his journey from academia to the corporate world. This conversation was recorded in October 2021. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Chris Hyams did not have the typical journey to the c-suite. Over the years, he aspired to be an architect, a professional musician, and a software engineer. But it was the time he spent teaching kids with emotional challenges that shaped his approach to leading a large company like the job site Indeed, where he's been CEO since April 2019. His management style, steeped in empathy, has not only helped him tackle the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, but also gives him unique insights into what jobseekers want right now. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Academy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Eva Orner's latest documentary, Burning, takes an unflinching look at the devastating wildfires that ravaged parts of her home country, Australia. Now Orner wants audiences to do something to tackle climate change: she wants you to vote.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

As a kid, Sebastian Siemiatkowski often felt life was unfair. The son of immigrants, he watched his parents struggle to find work and pay for groceries. Today, he runs a highly successful business that allows you to “buy now, pay later” and his company Klarna is one of the most valuable fintech startups in the world. Originally recorded as part of the 2021 Bloomberg Equality Summit. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Italian couture house Valentino's sales are almost back at pre-pandemic levels. With a renewed focus on its iconic rock studs and V-logo, Jacopo Venturini has started to turn things around after just one year as CEO. The star merchandiser fell in love with fashion early. As a young boy, he would devour fashion magazines for inspiration and pick out clothes for school before going to bed. Not one to conform, he says being different was challenging but also a gift. Venturini continues to lead with his own unique style — maintaining a low profile while leading one of the world's most recognizable fashion brands. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

In one of our most popular episodes from this year, the poster boy for online education talks about remote learning during the pandemic, the social return on education, why parents around the world use his videos - Bill Gates included - and why he doesn't go a day without meditating. Out of Office brings you all that with Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Kamal Ahmad is the founder of the Asian University of Women. Based in Bangladesh, it's for students from displaced communities - a large number come from Afghanistan. As the Taliban took over, Ahmad had one goal: to evacuate students and alumni who were back in Kabul. We hear the extraordinary story of escape from Kamal and one of the students. Both insist they'll never give up on educating and empowering the women of Afghanistan. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Qatar Airways is rated the world's best airline. Behind its success: boarding school discipline and no bullshit. The Group CEO, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker brings his trademark candor to this podcast. He talks about customer service, rebuilding after the pandemic and why he is OK with some employees being scared of him. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

PBS CEO Paula Kerger is pressing ahead with some of the most ambitious changes in programming that the public television network has seen in years. A harsh open letter from filmmakers prompted most of the change. A Nebraska rancher took care of the rest. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

One of Europe's most successful entrepreneurs, Mark Dixon talks about the importance of starting early. The founder of the serviced office group IWG shares the lessons learned from running his first business: “Dial A Snack.” As a teenager, Mark would bike around his village selling sandwiches made in a rented kitchen. Mark explains how that experience, plus stints as a miner, farmhand, and bartender in various parts of the world, shaped him as a businessman and a leader. He talks candidly about failure, the future of work, and why the ocean is the one place he feels free. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Sonu Shivdasani, the Founder and CEO of the sustainable luxury resort group Soneva, says he has been fortunate enough to experience many crises in his life. Having lived through SARS, the tsunami, a cancer diagnosis and now the pandemic, Sonu opens up about the power of positive thinking and explains how that influences him and his business, which offers guests the ultimate luxury: a chance to slow down, live sustainably and get sand between their toes.

Author and Bloomberg journalist Brad Stone takes us behind the scenes of a company that changed the world. In his new book, Amazon Unbound, Stone tracks the most important business story of our time — the unprecedented rise of Amazon and its billionaire founder Jeff Bezos. He talks about writing during the pandemic, what surprised him about the company he knows inside out, and achieving a personal goal: gifting his book to his 103-year-old grandmother.

The President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation has had a tough year. Covid-induced lockdowns brought the hospitality industry to its knees. But, there are green shoots of recovery. Mark Hoplamazian tells us why he is optimistic about the new era and explains why he will continue to lead his giant workforce the only way he knows how to: with empathy. He says it’s a quality he developed through a close relationship with his mother, the rock who guided and supported him through the loss of his father, and whose deep influence helped make him the success he is today.

As a second wave of Covid-19 ravages India, one of the country’s best known journalists, Barkha Dutt, continues to shine a light on the pandemic's grave impact on the marginalized. Dutt recently lost her father to the disease. Covering this story is now personal. Through her exhaustive reporting from the frontlines, she’s giving voice to the hundreds and thousands of others who don't have one. She says it’s the best way to honor her father.

The founder and CEO of luxury skincare brand, Tatcha, speaks about the importance of starting a conversation about uncomfortable topics. Racism. Sexism. Invisibility. Vicky shares her personal and professional story of being an Asian American entrepreneur, citizen, and mom and explains why, for the first time in her journey, she’s done being invisible.

The President and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise talks about his journey from call center to the corner office. A multi-faceted personality, Antonio Neri discusses how his experience in the Falklands war has shaped his views on life, why connectivity is the world’s greatest equalizer and, though he's also a professor of art, explains why being a CEO comes first. At least for now.