Out of Office

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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.

Bloomberg Live features Howard Schultz in this special live episode of Out of Office. There’s no corporate talk here. Instead, we ask questions newsmakers usually don’t get asked when they’re in the office. We speak to the former CEO of Starbucks about the influences on his personal life that have defined his views on public service, equality, racial harmony, doing business with China and his vision for America. Too bad, we ran out of time to talk about coffee.

From tutoring a cousin in math to creating an online platform that provides anyone, anywhere in the world a free top-notch education, Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, talks about why money should never come in the way of children’s learning. 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 a dose of meditation.

The entrepreneur who shot to fame with the makeover series “What Not To Wear” talks about founding a makeup business, Trinny London, at 50. With her trademark raw honesty that’s won her a loyal tribe of global followers, Trinny Woodall takes us through her professional journey that took her from a less than exciting stint in commodities to building a beauty empire. She talks about creating stackable makeup, why she isn’t interested in creating a perfect face, and explains why she’s never felt more comfortable in her own skin than she does in her 50s.

Growing up, Rocco Forte knew how well his father’s business was doing by the calibre of their summer holidays. The more successful, the more exotic they were. His relationship with his father moulded him and steered him towards becoming a hotelier. The Chairman of Rocco Forte hotels talks to us about learning the business from the ground up, why one of the most boring periods of his life was ultimately very useful, and the challenges of running luxury hotels during a global pandemic.

Mother, stepmother, entrepreneur, author and globally recognised luxury handbag designer Anya Hindmarch joins Mallika Kapur for this special, live episode of Out of Office. The force behind the iconic "I'm not a plastic bag" tote discusses the accessory she's designed for healthcare workers in the UK, explains why closing stores - while bad for morale - has been good for her business, how the pandemic will reshape the fashion industry, and why the best piece of advice she has for you is, "If in doubt, wash your hair."

A young boy who picked up life lessons from his grandmother, a woman with a limited education, now heads a globally renowned healthcare company. Vas Narasimhan, the CEO of Novartis, tells us why he keeps a picture of his grandmother on his desk and talks about his Indian American identity. He shares how he’s navigating the pandemic and why he jumped into the Rhine River.

We got close. We got personal. And we heard from a wide range of global leaders as they navigated one of the most tumultuous years in memory. During these candid conversations, we heard about the influences that define today’s leaders. Whether it’s dealing with death threats, spending time in a monastery, creating a band with colleagues, an early job on a factory floor, or keeping their businesses afloat during the pandemic, our executives opened up about their lives, hopes, and aspirations as they answered questions they don't typically get asked when they are in the office. Here are some snippets from Out of Office conversations that inspired us in 2020.

The Co-founder and CEO of chocolate brand Hotel Chocolat, Angus Thirlwell talks about going full circle, from growing up in the Bahamas to owning a cocoa plantation in Saint Lucia 30 years later. He talks about retaining that West Indies link, why low-cost travel was a tipping point for premium chocolate, and how the bigger chocolate players need to be taken to task when it comes to paying cocoa farmers a fair wage.

As a young boy, his mother pushed him around in a stroller through civil rights marches. That memory and his parents' activism played a key role in shaping the values of the President and CEO of PayPal, Dan Schulman. He tells us about how those beliefs guide his decisions as a business leader, the benefits of starting his day with martial arts, and why he’s partial to blue jeans and cowboy boots.

This summer, IKEA employees from around the world formed a virtual band and performed together to beat the pandemic blues. On lead guitar was the CEO of Ingka Group, Jesper Brodin. Because that’s how the man at the helm of IKEA leads - with humanity and humility. Brodin speaks about his professional journey, leadership values and how his father, an artist, shaped his views on equality.

When Steve Palmer started off in the hospitality business, he routinely drank and took drugs on the job, during 18-hour, high pressure kitchen shifts. When he turned sober, he didn't know one person in the industry who didn't drink. He went straight back to work after rehab, using iron discipline not to touch a drop. Almost two decades later, the culture in the hospitality industry is changing. There's less bravado, more honesty. Support groups, like Ben's Friends, which Steve co-founded, provide a constructive haven for those struggling to maintain sobriety, and to break the stigma of talking about the dark side of kitchen culture. 

The co-founder of guided meditation app Headspace, Andy Puddicombe talks about the years he spent training to be a monk, how he ended up in Silicon Valley, and why he’s on a mission to take meditation to the masses. He also reveals whether he, the embodiment of calmness, ever gets angry.

Fresh out of college, a job in retail was supposed to be a temporary gig until Celeste Burgoyne got a real job. Twenty years later, she’s the President of one of the most popular retailers, Lululemon. While talking about her career, Celeste tells us how she’s navigating the pandemic, the importance of representation, game night with her two young boys, and why she’ll rarely miss her daily walk.

Passionate about using business as a force for good, Jane Mosbacher Morris left a career in counter terrorism to launch To The Market, a company that connects businesses to goods made in an ethical way. When the pandemic hit, the company pivoted - and its network of global makers switched from making bags and accessories to producing gowns, gloves and masks. Mosbacher, who has been called a hero of the pandemic, talks about consumerism with a conscience - and how we can make a difference, even with the cup of coffee we choose to drink.

The President of FILA, North America accepted this role when her predecessor died suddenly in 2019. She had no time to grieve. Jennifer Estabrook soldiered on as she always has since her mother abandoned the family when she was a little girl. Estabrook opens up about her unusual childhood, the subject of both a book and a movie. She talks about how her circumstances have equipped her to become a business executive who can manage most of the curveballs life throws at her.

A self-made entrepreneur, John Roa was riding high. In his early 30s, his days were packed with power meetings, parties, photo shoots and trips on private jets. It was the quintessential life of a young tech superhero. Until, it wasn't. Roa opens up about his battle with depression, a near death experience and talks about why we urgently need to address mental health amongst entrepreneurs.

Twenty years after a Hollywood film made her a household name, Erin Brockovich is continuing to fight for water safety. Her new book, Superman's Not Coming, argues the onus is on us, the people, to agitate for change. No magician will solve the water crisis. Erin talks about her activism, the movie, living with dyslexia, the importance of stick-to-itiveness and remembers a song her dad used to sing, which always makes her teary. It was about water.

Gigi Chao made international headlines when her father offered a one-billion-Hong Kong dollar marriage bounty to any man who would marry her. Her response? She penned a public letter in the newspaper titled: “Dear Daddy, You Must Accept That I Am a Lesbian.” The executive vice chairman of Cheuk Nang (Holdings) Ltd. shares her coming out story, her LGBTQ activism, and life lessons from flying a helicopter. Correction: A previous version of this description misspelled the name of Gigi Chao's company.

He likes working with cars and with people. But a headmaster’s son who used to restore bikes for friends in Liverpool, never imagined he would end up becoming one of the most influential people in the global car industry. The CEO of McLaren Automotive, Mike Flewitt speaks about navigating the company through the pandemic, starting his career on the factory floor, and why he’s an eternal optimist.

Uber’s Chief D&I officer shares the dramatic story of her family’s escape from North to South Korea and how that’s shaped her attitude towards equality and acceptance. Plus, she opens up about leaning in, stirring the pot, balancing a career with motherhood, and being her father’s daughter. (Rebroadcast)

With no formal training and an all-women crew of South Asian immigrants in her kitchen, Asma Khan is redefining the culinary scene in the United Kingdom by serving up nostalgia-soaked dishes from her childhood in India. The chef behind “Darjeeling Express” talks about sexism in the industry, being a second daughter, and tells us why she left a light on when she closed her first restaurant.

The Digital Minister of Taiwan talks about the role technology and trust played in Taiwan’s handling of the pandemic. The world’s first openly transgender Minister, Audrey Tang opens up about her personal journey, problem solving in her sleep and why she insists on using a flip phone.

Leading lawyer, wife of a former British Prime Minister and committed campaigner for women's rights, Cherie Blair says she won’t wait for her granddaughters to become grandmothers to see equal opportunities. The first person in her family to attend university, she talks about being passed over for a job because it was earmarked for a boy (later, he became her husband), why Downing Street can be lonely, and explains why she considers Hillary Clinton a mentor.

A young boy from Hong Kong who was denied a visa to attend high school in the US went on to have a wildly successful career as a technology executive and venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. Dubbed “the greatest CEO of our time,” Alfred Chuang talks about the American Dream, how crisis leads to innovation and what makes a great CEO.

Julie Deane wanted to send her children to a better school. To fund their education, she launched a business from her kitchen table with 600 pounds and help from Mum. Today, The Cambridge Satchel Company is a multi-million pound business and its bags are spotted on arms of A-list celebrities. Julie spoke to Bloomberg’s Ed Stapley about her entrepreneurial journey, the difference between style and fashion, and why curly wurly chocolate bars are important to her company’s culture.

Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia has always challenged established norms. But by being different, she's often mistaken for being difficult. In this wide ranging conversation, one of the most successful women in Britain’s financial services industry talks candidly about her career and opens up about her struggle depression, dealing with racism and explains why not fitting in, whether in school or during one’s career, is a good thing.

The killers of Berta Caceres had every reason to believe they’d get away with murder. More than 100 other environmental activists in Honduras had been killed in the previous five years, yet almost no one had been punished for the crimes. Bloomberg’s Blood River follows a four-year quest to find her killers – a twisting trail that leads into the country’s circles of power. Blood River premieres on July 27.

The thirteen-year-old boy who started his first business selling iPhone cases from China, is now the thirty-year-old CEO of Codecademy - one of the world's most successful online learning platforms. Zach Sims shares his mixed feelings with success during the Covid-19 pandemic, how he worked too hard during his twenties, and why everyone needs to be part of the coding revolution.

Sixty years ago, a young woman ventured into the Tanzanian forest and made a groundbreaking discovery: that wild chimps can use tools. It challenged conventional belief that this was uniquely human behavior and thrust Jane Goodall into the spotlight. At 86, Goodall reflects on her lengthy and legendary career as a primatologist and tells us that everything she’s learned about leadership, she’s learned from chimps.

Adam Neumann had a vision: to make his startup WeWork a wildly successful company that would change the world. He convinced thousands of other people -- customers, employees, investors -- that he could make that dream a reality. And for a while, he did. He was one of the most successful startup founders in the world. But then, in the span of just a few months, everything changed. Foundering is a new serialized podcast from the journalists at Bloomberg Technology. This season, we’ll tell you the story of WeWork, a company that captured the startup boom of the 2010s and also may be remembered as a spectacular bust that marked the end of an era. Foundering premieres June 25, 2020. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

A smart young executive was once told he has no leadership skills. Today, he is a wildly successful business executive known for his grit, humility and serving others first. "We eat last," he says. Strauss Zelnick talks about his journey from making balloon animals at birthday parties to his current role as Chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive and founder and Managing Partner of ZMC Media. Dubbed America's fittest CEO, he also shares some secrets from Becoming Ageless, the title of his book.

A prominent technology leader is a student of history. The son of artists. And an optimist. Mark Foster, the Senior Vice President of IBM Services talks about getting through the pandemic and shares highlights from his prolific career. It’s never linear, he says, it’s about taking the opportunity in front of you.

The CEO of Yum China on steering the restaurant chain through the pandemic. She kept stores open so customers could get a meal and employees could keep their jobs. Having worked in factories and as a waitress herself, Joey Wat shares her guiding philosophy: do the right thing, even when it’s not the easiest thing.

The Chairwoman of Booking.com talks about her journey from her first job, picking apples in the Dutch countryside, to her current role at one of the largest ecommerce companies in the world. She shares the value of taking risks, even as she wonders, what can go wrong? Plenty has, as they often do in any career. And that’s ok. Because mistakes are an opportunity to learn.

An online book selling platform has earned over $1.6 million for its network of indie book stores since the pandemic started, eating into Amazon’s business. The CEO of Bookshop.org Andy Hunter talks about his unique business model, tells us why books saved his life and why he welcomes a David vs Goliath story.

The 26th Prime Minister of Australia, usually based in New York, is enjoying a few months at home, close to the Queensland farm he grew up on. Now the head of a global think tank, Kevin Rudd reflects on a childhood spent in a rural community, discusses the highs and lows of his political career and reveals how he reduced US President Barack Obama to tears of laughter.

A young boy who grew up in the middle of corn fields dreamed of belonging to the razzle dazzle world of entertainment. Currently the Chairman of Warner Media Entertainment, Bob Greenblatt is the kingmaker behind some of America’s most successful and wildly popular TV hits. In this episode, Bob talks about his guiding business philosophy, being openly gay, why diversity matters and playing the piano for Dolly Parton. And he plays for us too.

If it wasn’t for his job working at a student union bar, Kevin Sneader may never have landed one at the most powerful management consulting firm in the world. Now the Global Managing Partner, he tells us how he’s steering McKinsey & Company through the crisis, how his wife has shaped his views on equality, the deep influence of his Scottish heritage and what makes him grumpy.

The CEO of a 100-year-old airline on navigating it through its worst crisis yet. From his early days supervising cargo loading to his current position as chief executive of the Dutch flag carrier KLM, Pieter Elbers opens up about his leadership style, army training, having royalty on his staff and being true to oneself.

Co-founder and CEO of London based healthy fast-food chain Leon, John Vincent talks about his current priority - providing free hot meals to Britain’s frontline healthcare workers. He also opens up about being an entrepreneur, an author and explains why he’s inspired by wing tsun, an ancient Chinese martial art that advises against conflict.

The co-founder of fashion technology startup Zilingo, one of Asia’s hottest unicorns, is refocusing her business to help close the jarring gap between demand and supply of protective apparel for healthcare professionals. Driven by a huge sense of purpose, she says, “If I can do my job well, maybe we will save one more life.”

The current pandemic has crippled the global travel and tourism industry and China’s largest online travel agency, Trip.com is feeling the heat. Its CEO, Jane Sun, responded by slashing her salary to zero. She talks to us about selflessness, how her career has mirrored China’s rise, the power of travel to unite the world, and running half marathons on weekends (except when it’s raining).

The Mayor of Miami, who tested positive for Covid-19 on dispelling myths, running the city from home and becoming the 'face of the virus.' The son of the first Cuban-born Mayor of Miami, he talks about politics, immigration, faith and the creative solutions his community is offering in a time of social distancing. One example? Drive-through confessionals.

CP Gurnani used to watch his grandfather come home bone-tired and greasy after working at a peanut oil farm all day. Half a century later, the grandson of an immigrant sits at the helm of a five-billion-dollar firm with over 120,000 staff around the world. The CEO of Tech Mahindra talks about humility, hard work, and why the best advice is usually served with a good meal.

The powerful story of a gay Asian kid in the US who has committed his life and career to encouraging people to bring their "full self" to work.