Podcast appearances and mentions of Martin Reeves

Great strategy starts with a question—and a story worth believing in.A good strategy isn't just built—it's told. For Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute and author of The Imagination Machine and Like: The Button That Changed the World, strategy and imagination are both deeply communicative processes, rooted in storytelling, curiosity, and the courage to reframe assumptions.“A strategy is really just a special kind of story,” Reeves explains. “It begins with the present and aspires to a different future—it's fiction made actionable.” To bring that fiction to life, leaders must involve their teams in a co-creative journey and use thoughtful questions to shape not just ideas, but belief and action.In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Reeves joins Matt Abrahams to explore how communication fuels strategic thinking, innovation, and organizational reinvention. He outlines his six-step framework for imagination—from embracing anomalies to codifying and continuing ideas—and underscores the role of reframing, deep listening, and even levity in solving complex problems. Together, they unpack how a single “like” button changed our digital behaviors—and what it teaches us about influence and attention today.Episode Reference Links:Martin Reeves Martin's Books: Like / The Imagination Machine Ep.71 Strategy Success: How to Communicate Your Gameplan Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:19) - Using Story in Strategy (05:00) - Questions as a Communication Technology (06:15) - The Six Steps to Harnessing Imagination (10:36) - The “7 Cs” of Imagination and Communication (12:08) - Reframing as a Creative Tool (14:11) - The Like Button: Origin and Evolution (16:14) - Brain Chemistry Behind Digital Liking (18:12) - The Final Three Questions (22:59) - Conclusion    *****This episode is sponsored by Stanford. Groundbreaking research happens everyday at Stanford, learn more here.Support Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.       

Martin Reeves is chairman of the Boston Consulting Group's Henderson Institute, a think tank dedicated to developing new insights from business, technology, economics, and science. He is a coauthor of several books, including his most recent book, Like, which describes the genesis of the Like button, which was created in part, by his co-author Bob Goodson. In this episode we discuss the following: Though we often think of innovation is heroic, deliberate, and isolated, it's often serendipitous, unpredictable, and social. The idea of inventions as private property, which reinforces the often incorrect notion that inventions are made by single inventors, is a relatively recent invention in human history. We never know the impact of innovation. The Like button blew up an industry and created a host of new challenges and problems to be solved. Whether in the field of academic papers, the creation of the Davy lamp, or a simple Like button, innovation is rarely an isolated, independent event.

Why is salmon pink? What is the shelf life of a Twinkie? What do almonds and peaches have in common? These are just a few of the fun food facts we cover to kick off this episode. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/food-facts_n_4788746 How many times would you guess the “Like” button is pressed by people every day around the world? You are about to find out and it is a lot! Where did the like button come from? Why is it so important? What does it do for the person who does the liking and for the person (or business) who gets your “like”? Listen to my guest Martin Reeves, who has explored the history of the like button and why it has become such a big part of our lives. Martin is chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, a think tank for developing new business ideas and he is co-author of the book Like: The Button That Changed the World (https://amzn.to/4cTgCUn). What is going on right now in your body is astonishing. Things like tears and your breath and even mucus. It is all fascinating and worth understanding. (And I promise we do not get really gross!) Joining me for this discussion is Cutter Wood, who has thoroughly explored and researched this topic and written a book called Earthly Materials: Journeys Through Our Bodies' Emissions, Excretions, and Disintegrations (https://amzn.to/4lPEJHw) You have likely had the dilemma of owning a favorite pair of shoes that need to be repaired and the question is – do you fix them or just get a new pair? Listen as I reveal what the experts say that determines the answer to that question. https://www.businessinsider.com/should-i-repair-or-replace-my-shoes-2015-4 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at ⁠https://FactorMeals.com/something50off⁠ TIMELINE: Get 10% off your order of Mitopure!  Go to ⁠https://Timeline.com/SOMETHING⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠ right now! QUINCE: Elevate your shopping with Quince! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! SHOPIFY:  Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at⁠ https://Shopify.com/sysk⁠ and upgrade your selling today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on DisrupTV, we interviewed Grant Halloran, CEO of Planful, Alex Yeh, CEO & Founder of GMI Cloud, Bob Goodson, Employee #1 at Yelp, CEO of Quid, and co-author of Like: The Button That Changed The World and Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, and co-author of Like: The Button That Changed The World. We discussed the integration of AI in finance and accounting, highlighting the modernization of back-office processes. Grant shared insights on the adoption of AI, noting that 60% of CFOs are actively adopting AI, driven by a 3.5 million talent deficit in finance. Alex discussed the rapid growth of AI training, fine-tuning, and inference, emphasizing the need for AI tools to enhance productivity. Bob and Martin highlighted the evolution and impact of the "like" button, underscoring its role in social learning and innovation. DisrupTV is a weekly podcast with hosts R "Ray" Wang and Vala Afshar. The show airs live at 11:00 a.m. PT/ 2:00 p.m. ET every Friday. Brought to you by Constellation Executive Network: constellationr.com/CEN.

In There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift, Kevin Evers examines the singer-songwriter's remarkable career success from a business strategy perspective.Evers is a senior editor at Harvard Business Review, where he has edited bestselling and award-winning books on high performance, creativity, innovation, digital disruption, marketing, and strategy.In discussion with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, they cover the scale and longevity of Swift's success, the strategic moves and innovations that have driven her rise and staying power, her ability to reinvent herself and connect with fans in new ways, and lessons for strategists and companies.

Today, we connect with business strategist, director, author, and speaker Martin Reeves to discuss innovative strategies for digital marketing. As the managing director, senior partner, and chairman of The Boston Consulting Group Henderson Institute, Martin is on a mission to explore and develop valuable new insights from business, technology, economics, and science – all by embracing the powerful technology of ideas.  Martin is a consistent public speaker and a repeat TED@BCG presenter. He has also written several books, The Imagination Machine, Your Strategy Needs a Strategy, and the upcoming Like: The Button That Changed the World (out April 29th). Jump in to discover: A micro history of the “like” button, and how it has shaped our online interactions.  The importance of creating low-impact and low-cost digital content. Why simplified innovation is often the most significant.  New technologies that may augment or replace the “like” button. From adaptive strategies to corporate vitality, Martin is a formidable force on the BCG Henderson Institute's research team. Be sure to follow along with their work on X @BCGHenderson and @MartinKReeves to learn more! Episode also available on Apple Podcast: http://apple.co/30PvU9C Boost Your Brainpower with 15% OFF!  Fuel your mind with BrainSupreme Supplements and unlock your full potential. Get 15% OFF your order now using this exclusive link: brainsupreme.co/discount/findinggenius Hurry—your brain deserves the best!

In The Corporation in the Twenty-First Century: Why (Almost) Everything We Are Told About Business Is Wrong, John Kay provides a novel perspective on the evolution of the contemporary corporation.One of the UK's leading economists, Kay is a fellow of St John's College, Oxford. He was the first dean of Oxford's Saïd Business School and has held chairs at London Business School, the University of Oxford, and the London School of Economics and director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.In his conversation with Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Kay discusses the essence of the modern corporation, the changing relationship of capital and labour, the gap between the our historic concept of the corporation and the current reality and the forces that have and will further shape the corporation including sustainability, geopolitics, and technology.Key topics discussed: 01:56 | The essence of a 21st century corporation05:53 | The changing roles of workers and capital12:26 | Limits to corporate scale16:00 | Forces that will shape the future of corporations sustainability, geopolitics, technology21:50 | The impact of AI on the nature of the corporation24:12 | Implications for managersAdditional inspirations from John Kay:Radical Uncertainty: Decision-Making Beyond the Numbers (W.W. Norton & Company, 2020)The Long and the Short of It: A guide to finance and investment for normally intelligent people who aren't in the industry (IPS - Profile Books, 2016)Other People's Money: The Real Business of Finance (PublicAffairs, 2015)Obliquity: Why Our Goals Are Best Achieved Indirectly (Profile Books GB, 2011)

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 345, an interview with the Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, BCG's think tank for new ideas in management and strategy. Martin has authored numerous books, including Your Strategy Needs a Strategy and The Imagination Machine, a handbook about how to systematically harness imagination to generate new ideas and transform businesses.   Get Martin's book here: https://rb.gy/qmifgx The Imagination Machine: How to Spark New Ideas and Create Your Company's Future.    Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach   McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf   Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo    

In Uncertainty and Enterprise: Venturing Beyond the Known, Amar Bhidé revisits and modernizes the concept of Knightian uncertainty. Introduced more than 100 years ago, the concept offers great potential for better understanding corporate decision-making.A renowned expert on innovation, entrepreneurship, and finance, Bhidé is a professor of Health Policy at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, as well as a professor emeritus of Business at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.In his conversation with Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Bhidé discusses the important distinction between repeated and unique events, the relationship between uncertainty and imagination, how corporations can use persuasive narratives and social routes to navigate the future, and whether AI will help or hinder these practices.Key topics discussed:01:16 | The definition of uncertainty04:49 | The relation between uncertainty and imagination09:32 | The power of corporate routines15:57 | The changing nature of uncertainty17:25 | How AI impacts uncertainty21:02 | Corporate implications22:38 | Implications for business educationAdditional inspirations from Amar Bhidé:A Call for Judgment: Sensible Finance for a Dynamic Economy (Oxford University Press, 2010)The Venturesome Economy: How Innovation Sustains Prosperity in a More Connected World (Princeton University Press, 2008)The Origin and Evolution of New Businesses (Oxford University Press, 2000)Flourishing in an Uncertain World: How Entrepreneurs Overcome Doubts and Disagreements (The Kansas City Public Library Lecture, 2025)

In The M&A Failure Trap: Why Most Mergers and Acquisitions Fail and How the Few Succeed, Baruch Lev and Feng Gu provide a wealth of evidence on the success and failure factors of acquisitions.Lev, professor emeritus of Accounting and Finance at NYU's Stern School of Business and Gu, professor of Accounting and Law at the State University of New York, have analyzed more than 40,000 acquisitions over the past four decades. This has not only allowed them to understand the reasons why 75% of deals fail but also to develop a scorecard that can help decision-makers assess the likelihood of acquisition success ex ante.In their conversation with Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Lev and Gu discuss how to measure acquisition success, how to curb overconfidence on the side of the acquirer, and key lessons for CEOs seeking inorganic growth.Key topics discussed:[02:45] How mergers and acquisitions have changed[05:00] Judging the success or failure of acquisitions[08:16] Drivers of acquisition failure[14:41] Patterns of successful acquisitions[17:27] Overconfidence and its causes[19:51] Managerial implications

In Mindmasters: The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior, Sandra Matz explores what our digital footprints reveal about us and how these insights are used to influence our daily decisions.Matz is the David W. Zalaznick Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, where she also serves as co-director of the Center for Advanced Technology and Human Performance. Using her background in psychology and computer science, Matz investigates the intricate connections between our digital and real lives and how these are shaped by technology.In her conversation with Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Matz discusses the power of psychological profiling, highlights the harms as well as benefits of the personalization it enables, and outlines implications for businesses and regulators, including the possibility of entirely new business models.Key topics discussed: [01:10] Power of psychological profiling[05:05] Scale and impact of big data–based psychological profiling[09:06] Benefits and harms of personalization[16:05] Challenges of regulating profiling and personalization[17:57] Ramifications of the AI-driven content revolution[23:20] Implications for businesses[28:37] How to manage your data footprintAdditional inspirations from Sandra Matz: Psychological Targeting: What Your Digital Footprints Reveal About You (TED Talk, 2019)

Erhvervslivets ledere står over for udfordringer som ingen af dem har prøvet før. Hvordan tænker de netop nu? Niels Lunde samler op på 2024 med lærerige lydklip, og giver et bud på topchefernes værktøjskasse. 02.05: ”Strategisk optionalitet” står øverst på to do-listen. Jacob Aarup-Andersen, Carlsberg, forklarer hvad det går ud på. 07.25: Sårbarhed: Du kan ikke undgå at blive ramt, men du skal kunne tåle at blive ramt. Case: Mads Nipper, Ørsted. 15.07: Kunstig intelligens: Du skal gøre Big Tech til din partner, og ikke til din modstander. Case: Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, Novo Nordisk. 26.40: Geopolitik: Du skal gøre din forretning mere robust og tænke offensivt. På samme tid. Case: Jacob Aarup-Andersen, Carlsberg. 34.08: Sådan kan ledere tackle tidens krav: Martin Reeves, leder af BCGs tænketank Henderson Institute, og Roger Martin, forfatter. 48.30: Niels' opsamling. Artiklen som omtales i optagelsen: Martin Reeves og Adam Job: ”Harnessing Imagination to Drive Innovation” https://hbr.org/2024/03/harnessing-imagination-to-drive-innovation Producer: Peter-Emil Witt. Få Niels Lundes nyhedsbrev: Tilmelding på borsen.dk/nyhedsbreve.

In The Unaccountability Machine: Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions and How the World Lost Its Mind, Dan Davies examines why companies and governments systematically generate outcomes that everyone involved claims they do not want.Davies is an economist, writer, and former investment banker known for his insightful analysis of finance, corporate governance, and decision-making systems. He has written extensively on topics such as financial fraud, accountability in organizations, and the intersections of economics and management. His latest book combines cybernetics theory and real-world examples to explain how decisions are increasingly made not by accountable individuals, but by systems.In his conversation with Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Davies describes the pathologies of failing decision-making systems, explains why we tend not to learn from past mistakes, and outlines why he worries that AI might not improve our capability to make decisions unless we carefully redesign decision systems to tap its potential.Key topics discussed: 01:03 | Unintended outcomes generated by decision-making systems07:08 | What we can learn from the theory of cybernetics09:49 | Pathologies of failing information systems11:49 | Why we make the same mistakes again and again14:41 | How AI may impact decision-making16:39 | Steps toward improving our decision-making systemsAdditional inspirations from Dan Davies:The Brompton: Engineering for Change, co-authored by William Butler-Adams (The Experiment, 2022)Lying for Money: How Legendary Frauds Reveal the Workings of the World (Scribner, 2021)Back of Mind (Substack)

In AI Snake Oil: What AI Can Do, What It Can't, and How to Tell the Difference, Sayash Kapoor and his co-author Arvind Narayanan provide an essential understanding of how AI works and why some applications remain fundamentally beyond its capabilities.Kapoor was included in TIME's inaugural list of the 100 most influential people in AI. As a researcher at Princeton University's Center for Information Technology Policy, he examines the societal impacts of AI, with a focus on reproducibility, transparency, and accountability in AI systems. In his new book, he cuts through the hype to help readers discriminate between legitimate and bogus claims for AI technologies and applications.In his conversation with Martin Reeves, chair of the BCG Henderson Institute, Kapoor discusses historical patterns of technology hype, differentiates between the powers and limitations of predictive versus generative AI, and outlines how managers can balance healthy skepticism with embracing the potential of new technologies.Key topics discussed: 01:05 | Examples of AI “snake oil”04:42 | Historical patterns of technology hypeand how AI is different07:26 | Capabilities and exaggerations of predictive AI11:42 | Powers and limitations of generative AI17:11 | Drivers of inflated expectations20:18 | Implications for regulation23:26 | How managers can balance scepticism and embracing new tech24:58 | Future of AI researchAdditional inspirations from Sayash Kapoor:AI Snake Oil (Substack)A Checklist of Eighteen Pitfalls in AI Journalism (UNESCO article, 2022)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In The Age of Outrage: How to Lead in a Polarized World, Karthik Ramanna provides a framework for leaders to navigate outrage—the intense, polarized reactions to perceived social injustices, political stances, and misaligned corporate actions—by addressing root causes, engaging stakeholders, and building resilience.Ramanna, a professor of Business and Public Policy at the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government, specializes in business-government relations and corporate accountability.In conversation with Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Ramanna discusses the three causes of outrage (fear of the future, past injustices, and ideologies of othering), common instincts that mislead leaders, and his five-step framework for navigating the age of outrage.Key topics discussed: 01:08 | Managing in the age of outrage4:21 | Three causes of outrage: fear of the future, past injustices, and ideologies of othering5:48 | The five-step framework for navigating the age of outrage19:04 | Instincts which mislead companies into taking the wrong stance or making the wrong analysis20:45 | The impact of “temperate leadership” and leadership attributes25:22 | Key factors impacting the age of outrageAdditional inspirations from Karthik Ramanna:Political Standards: Corporate Interest, Ideology, and Leadership in the Shaping of Accounting Rules for the Market Economy (The University of Chicago Press, 2015)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In The Corporate Life Cycle: Business, Investment, and Management Implications, Aswath Damodaran presents the corporate life cycle as a universal key for demystifying business finance, strategy and company valuation.Damodaran is a professor of Finance at the Stern School of Business at New York University. Known as “the Dean of Valuation,” he has published extensively in academic journals, written many books for students and practitioners, and remains the world's foremost expert on the subject of corporate valuation. In his latest book, he outlines how corporations age, describes the characteristics of each stage of their life cycle, and discusses implications for managers and investors.In his conversation with Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Damodaran outlines how to determine where in the life cycle your company is at, what leadership skills and behaviors are required at each stage, and how the distribution of life cycle stages has changed over recent decades.Key topics discussed: 00:56 | The stages of the corporate life cycle02:21 | How to determine your stage in the life cycle03:36 | The importance of acting your age10:06 | Balancing capital allocation across the portfolio11:27 | Leadership skills for different stages in the life cycle16:56 | Creating value at any stage of the life cycle20:21 | How the distribution of life cycle “shapes” is changing22:58 | The art of communicating complex ideas in simple waysAdditional inspirations from Aswath Damodaran:Applied Corporate Finance (Wiley, 2014)Investment Valuation: Tools and Techniques for Determining the Value of Any Asset (Wiley, 2012)Musings on Markets  (Blog)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Big Bet Leadership: Your Transformation Playbook for Winning in the Hyper-Digital Era, John Rossman provides a playbook for becoming an innovation and transformation winner.Rossman was previously an executive at Amazon, responsible for launching their Marketplace business. Now, he is the managing partner of Rossman Partners, advising leading enterprises on large-scale change, and author of the best-selling books The Amazon Way and Think Like Amazon. In his latest book, he examines why high-stakes change efforts fail and how to frame and manage them more effectively. Companies need to think in terms of “big bets,” which will require executives to adopt the right mindset, tactical steps, and leadership habits.In his conversation with Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Rossman explains why we need to work in prose, not in PowerPoint; how to think big, while betting small; and how to make the critical decisions to “continue, pivot, or kill” a project.Key topics discussed: 01:19 | What makes a “big bet”04:10 | Thinking in outcomes06:49 | Prose over PowerPoint12:51 | Thinking big, but betting small16:21 | Thinking in systems19:21 | How to decide to “continue, pivot, or kill” – and avoid confusion22:45 | Where “big bet” thinking can be appliedAdditional inspirations from John Rossman:The Amazon Way: Amazon's 14 Leadership Principles (Clyde Hill Publishing, 2021)Think Like Amazon: 50 1/2 Ideas to Become a Digital Leader (McGraw Hill, 2019)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Many companies are investing heavily in artificial intelligence right now, hoping to improve both efficiency and innovation. But, as with any technology that sees widespread adoption, AI itself won't be enough to build a long-term advantage over competitors, says Jay Barney, professor at the University of Utah's Eccles School of Business. Yes, leaders need to deploy these new tools, especially those that use GenAI, to stay relevant. But they also need to think about how AI can be applied to their business' differentiating competencies and offerings to truly add value. Barney is the coauthor, along with Martin Reeves of Boston Consulting Group, of the HBR article "AI Won't Give You a New Sustainable Advantage."

In Critical Systems Thinking: A Practitioner's Guide, Michael C. Jackson emphasizes the need for integrating diverse systems methodologies to navigate complexity and uncertainty.Jackson, an emeritus professor of management systems and former dean of the University of Hull Business School, has also served as president of several prominent systems thinking organizations, including the UK Systems Society, the International Federation for Systems Research, and the International Society for the Systems Sciences. His most significant contribution to the field is his development of Critical Systems Thinking (CST), which emphasizes the combined use of different systems approaches to deal with the complexity that leaders face.In a conversation with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Jackson introduces the EPIC process (Explore, Produce, Intervene, and Check), a four-stage, sequential framework to help leaders deploy systems methodologies. Their discussion includes how different systems perspectives can be combined, how theory informs interventions, how organizations are embracing system thinking, barriers to adoption, and the relevance of systems thinking to today's business environment.Key topics discussed:2:40 | What systems thinking can offer the traditional MBA toolkit5:20 | Systems thinking in contemporary business scenarios6:37 | The EPIC process: Explore, Produce, Intervene, and Check16:52 | Characteristic tools of systems thinking17:34 | The five lenses of systems thinking21:54 | Advancing the agenda of systems thinkingAdditional inspirations from Michael C. Jackson:Systems Thinking: Creative Holism for Managers (John Wiley & Sons, 2023)Systems Approaches to Management (Springer, 2000)Critical Systems Thinking and the Management of Complexity (Wiley, 2019)Creative Problem Solving: Total Systems Intervention (Wiley, 1991)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In The Great Disconnect: Hopes and Fears After the Excess of Globalization, Marco Magnani explores the factors that are driving the crisis of globalization we are currently experiencing.Magnani teaches international economics at LUISS University in Rome and Università Cattolica in Milan. Previously, he was a senior research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and worked in investment banking for two decades. In his new book, he discusses the history of internationalization and the benefits that modern globalization has brought—as well as the drawbacks that have become increasingly apparent.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Magnani discusses the causes of the increasing global disconnect—beyond U.S.-China tensions. He also lays out four scenarios for how globalization may play out, as well as practical tips for how executives can prepare for these different futures in a time of deep uncertainty.Key topics discussed: 01:19 | The great disconnect04:13 | The benefits and downsides of modern globalization07:21 | Future scenarios for globalization13:28 | What the history of internationalization reveals about where we are heading15:25 | Implications of AI for globalization16:33 | How globalization or de-globalization might play out in practice21:10 | Implications for businessesAdditional inspirations from Marco Magnani:Making the Global Economy Work for Everyone: Lessons of Sustainability from the Tech Revolution and the Pandemic (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022)Creating Economic Growth: Lessons for Europe (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Assembling Tomorrow: A Guide to Designing a Thriving Future, Carissa Carter and Scott Doorley explore the intangible forces that make it hard to anticipate how new technologies create impact and what we can do about this challenge during the design process for new applications.Carter is the Director of Teaching and Learning at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford – also known as the Stanford d.school. Doorley is a Creative Director at the d.school, having previously worked in the film industry for more than a decade.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, they discuss how designers, technologists, and corporate leaders can more effectively harness transformative technologies like AI and artificial biology by giving more weight to non-technical factors like emotions, perceptions, imagination, and serendipity.Key topics discussed: 01:23 | The problem of runaway design03:16 | The forces that make technology impact unpredictable09:17 | The role of emotions in design11:59 | Why we are not thinking about unpredictability in designing technologies15:17 | Potential solutions to new design problems22:22 | Applying these solutions to AI24:20 | Implications for businessesAdditional inspirations from Scott Doorley: Make Space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration (Wiley, 2011)Additional inspirations from Carissa Carter:The Secret Language of Maps: How to Tell Visual Stories with Data (Ten Speed Press, 2022)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In How to Become Famous: Lost Einsteins, Forgotten Superstars, and How the Beatles Came to Be, Cass Sunstein reveals why some individuals become celebrities—and others don't.Sunstein has long been at the forefront of behavioral economics. He is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School and served as the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration. He has authored numerous best sellers, such as Nudge and The World According to Star Wars. In his new book, he explores the roles played by skill, luck, and social processes in the achievement of fame and success—based on recent research on informational cascades, reputation cascades, network effects, and group polarization.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Sunstein discusses how a better understanding of these mechanisms can help businesses make better decisions in marketing, talent management, and innovation - and why the greatest composer of all time may not be J S Bach, but rather Taylor Swift.Key topics discussed: 03:18 | How to prove whether or not fame is driven by merit06:08 | The importance of quality and skill to fame09:33 | Enduring vs. transient fame11:36 | The greatest composers of all time: Bach vs. Taylor Swift14:44 | Social factors driving fame19:54 | The role of group polarization and network effects28:48 | Implications for businesses: Marketing, talent, innovation33:19 | The art of manipulating information cascadesAdditional inspirations from Cass Sunstein:Thinkers & Ideas: Look Again with Cass SunsteinLook Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There; with Tali Sharot (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024)Nudge; with Richard Thaler (Penguin Books,...

In The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions, Michael Norton explores how the little things we do can create big impact.Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, where he also leads the unit for negotiation, organization, and markets. A well known and respected researcher on behavioral economics and well-being, his new book demonstrates the power of small acts—and how a subtle shift of turning habits into rituals can add purpose and pleasure to life.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Norton discusses how we can use rituals deliberately and effectively in our life and work, why it is important that rituals evolve over time, and how COVID changed our rituals as individuals and as teams.Key topics discussed: 00:52 | Ritual vs. habit03:39 | The power (and pitfalls) of rituals07:08 | Deliberately using rituals (in private life and the workplace)13:41 | The importance of evolving rituals18:22 | How COVID changed our rituals21:20 | How CEOs can harness the power of ritualsAdditional inspirations from Michael Norton: Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending co-authored by Elizabeth Dunn (Simon & Schuster, 2013)How to Buy Happiness (TED Talk, 2012)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times, Rebecca Homkes guides leaders on how to turn uncertainty into opportunity.Homkes teaches business strategy at the London Business School, is on the faculty of Duke Corporate Education, and consults major companies on strategy. She has developed a framework for leading through uncertainty based on three principles: setting up the firm for continuity through shocks (survive), making strategic choices for growth as the situation changes (reset), and ensuring implementation of the new business model (thrive).Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Homkes discusses how to thrive under uncertainty and how her framework applies in the context of the AI revolution.Key topics discussed: 02:11 | How uncertainty affects strategy03:40 | The survive, reset, thrive framework05:20 | How to survive a shock09:20 | How to reset for a new environment14:42 | How to execute so you can thrive in the long term19:12 | The creative vs. competitive aspects of strategy24:11 | How algorithms and AI will affect strategy and the strategy process27:49 | Applying this framework in your personal lifeThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

At the BCG Henderson Institute, we aim to bring forward-looking leaders the ideas and inspirations that will shape their next game. To honor this mission—and celebrate the 100th episode of our Thinkers & Ideas podcast—we welcomed three leading futurists to discuss the evolution of business and society.Rita McGrath is a professor of management at Columbia Business School, and has been ranked among the top 10 management thinkers globally by Thinkers50 for years. Gary Shteyngart, a professor of writing at Columbia University is also a New York Times bestselling author of science fiction novels. Esther Dyson, founder of Wellville, is an investor, writer, and expert on all things tech, space, and health.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, they discuss their complementary perspectives on the future. They also divulge their methods for making predictions, providing valuable hints for how business leaders can use similar approaches to shape their perspectives and strategies.Key topics discussed: 02:06 | Revisiting past predictions about the future05:08 | The digital age08:16 | Social media and a technology-centred society12:47 | Methods for sensing the future”17:23 | Harnessing the power of science fiction22:31 | Using metaphors24:41 | Bringing together these future-sensing methods31:07 | Predictions about what is coming nextAdditional inspirations from Rita McGrath, Gary Shteyngart, and Esther Dyson:Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen By Rita McGrath(Harper Business, 2019)Super Sad True Love Story: A Novel By Gary Shteyngart (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2011)Release 2.0: A Design for Living in the Digital Age By Esther Dyson (Broadway, 1997)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There, Cass Sunstein, together with his co-author Tali Sharot, discusses the importance of reevaluating the familiar to discover new insights.Sunstein has long been at the forefront of behavioral economics. He is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School and served as the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration. He has authored numerous best sellers, such as Nudge and The World According to Star Wars., In his new book, he explores the effects of habituation—ceasing to notice the familiar.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Sunstein discusses the perils of habituation and how to see the unseen. He also identifies ways that company leaders can strategically avoid habituation to ensure their organizations do not get stuck in mental models that limit adaptability to new trends and challenges.Key topics discussed: 01:09 | How habituation works04:25 | What dishabituation is08:18 | How to see the unseen13:51 | How corporations should think about (dis-)habituation22:08 | Breaking free from a mental model24:21 | Personal strategies for dishabituationAdditional inspirations from Cass Sunstein:Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment; co-authored by Daniel Kahneman and Olivier Sibony (Little Brown Spark, 2021)The World According to Star Wars (Dey Street Books, 2016)Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness; co-authored by Richard Thaler (Penguin Books, 2009)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Why We Die: The New Science of Ageing and the Quest for Immortality, Venki Ramakrishnan explores the current research on and prospects for human longevity.Ramakrishnan leads a group at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. For his research on the structure and function of ribosomes, he won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. From 2015 to 2020, he served as president of the Royal Society. In his new book, Ramakrishnan explains the mechanisms of aging and their potential impacts on life expectancy, health span, and lifespan.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Ramakrishnan discusses the likely social, economic, and ethical implications of increasing longevity as well as the specific efforts researchers are making to prolong healthy life—and how close they are to achieving a breakthrough. He shines a light on a set of technologies which could be every bit as impactful as artificial intelligence, which therefore also deserve our attention.Key topics discussed: 02:28 | Life expectancy vs. health span vs. maximum lifespan08:21 | Mechanisms of aging13:25 | Potential interventions for promoting longevity18:27 | How close are we to a longevity breakthrough?24:02 | Societal and ethical implications28:48 | The art of communicating complex ideaAdditional inspirations from Venki Ramakrishnan:The Most Promising Ways to Stop Ageing (New Scientist Interview, 2024)The Story of Deciphering the Ribosome (The Royal Society Talk, 2020)Gene Machine: The Race to Decipher the Secrets of the Ribosome (Basic Books, 2018)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, delves into the nuanced world of strategy, addressing its complexities in both personal and business spheres. In an engaging discussion, he highlights the scarcity of truly exceptional strategies and underscores the necessity of evaluating success progressively over time. Through his conversation with Dominic Monkhouse, Reeves elaborates on CEOs' critical role in executing strategies and the hurdles involved in preserving an innovative culture as organisations expand. He sheds light on why keeping strategies confidential can be beneficial, the adaptability required in strategic planning, and the risks posed by complacency and an inward focus.This podcast highlights the vital role of imagination and creativity in spurring innovation and fostering organisational change. They dissect the challenges associated with implementing transformative ideas, emphasising the need to move beyond conventional procedures and navigate internal politics effectively. The power of storytelling and the ability to mobilise enthusiasm for new ideas are discussed as pivotal tools in driving change. The conversation touches on the importance of framing the right questions, the paradox of hierarchy and innovation, and the need for depoliticisation and depth of debate in business. Martin shares insights from his book 'The Imagination Machine' and recommends other books on innovation and strategy.On today's podcast: Great strategies are rare and enduring success is hard to achieve.The role of CEOs in strategy execution is important but not the dominant factor.Secrecy in strategy is not as valuable as having robust and evolvable scripts.Complacency and internal focus can hinder innovation and change.Imagination is a crucial aspect of strategy and should be given more attention. Change is a strategic problem that requires understanding the forces of change and resistance and working on both sides of the equation.Imagination is triggered by surprise and the ability to detect anomalies and changes in the world.Selling ideas and driving change requires storytelling, galvanising energy, and making it clear why the change is in everyone's best interest.Mental models can limit creativity and innovation, and it's important to challenge existing mental models and embrace counterfactual thinking.Depoliticisation and depth of debate are crucial for effective strategy and innovation.Ambidexterity is the ability to balance the focus on running the current business with preparing for the future.Diversity is important for variation and selection, but it requires a focus on both ethical and evolutionary aspects.Curiosity drives innovation and learning, and listening is a skill that can be continuously improved.Simplicity and focus are more valuable than comprehensive and exhaustive lists of strategies and actions.The biggest myth in business is that it's mostly a financial equation when in reality, it's about serving human ends and using human means to achieve them.Follow Martin:WebsiteLinkedInYour strategy needs a strategyRecommended reading:Co-Intelligence: Living and working with AI

In Making Sense of Chaos: A better economics for a better world, J. Doyne Farmer challenges traditional economic models, which rely on simplistic assumptions and fail to provide accurate predictions.Farmer, a complex systems scientist at the University of Oxford and the Santa Fe Institute, argues that with technological advances in data science and computing, we are now able to apply complex systems thinking to build models that more accurately capture reality and enable us to make better predictions about the economy.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Farmer discusses the limitations of standard models of economics as well as the consequences of such limitations. He proposes an alternative based on complex systems thinking and agent-based modeling—and describes how it can be applied in various fields, including business.Key topics discussed: 01:42 | Limitations of the standard model of economics04:44 | How complex systems thinking works09:01 | Consequences of using inadequate economic models12:44 | Agent-based modeling as a powerful alternative19:02 | Leveraging alternative modeling techniques in business24:59 | How CEOs can start embracing complexity thinkingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, Ethan Mollick explains how to engage with AI as a co-worker, a co-teacher, and a coach.Mollick is a professor of management at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship. In his new book, he discusses the profound impacts AI will have on business and education, using many examples of AI in action. His book challenges us to utilize AI's enormous power without losing our human identity, to learn from it without being misled, and to harness its gifts to create a better human future.Together with Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Mollick discusses how to train people to use AI effectively, whether AI will substitute or complement workers, and how businesses can move beyond a short-term efficiency gains perspective to generate value with AI in the long term. Key topics discussed: 02:27 | The four rules for living with AI09:04 | Educating people to use AI effectively10:47 | What experiments reveal about where AI adds (and destroys) value at work12:45 | Substituting (vs. complementing) workers with AI14:14 | Generating value with AI in the long-term17:10 | Bringing about the social change in organizations alongside the tech change20:48 | AI regulation27:18 | How AI will transform educationAdditional inspirations from Ethan Mollick:One Useful Thing (Substack)The Unicorn's Shadow: Combating the Dangerous Myths That Hold Back Startups, Founders, and Investors (Wharton School Press, 2020)Changing the Game: How Video Games Are Transforming the Future of Business - Co-authored by David Edery (FT Press, 2008)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In The Intelligence of Intuition, Gerd Gigerenzer challenges a commonly held view of intuition—namely, that it is somehow inferior to logical rationality.Gigerenzer is director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy at the University of Potsdam, director emeritus of the Center for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, and an expert on human decision-making. He argues that intuition is a form of unconscious intelligence shaped experience and evolution in dealing with uncertain and dynamic situations—situations for which logic and algorithms are often ill-fitted. As leaders deal with uncertainty and complexity and embrace new AI technologies, they must not forget the power of intuition.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Gigerenzer explores the power of intuition, when to use it in business, and how to cultivate and employ it.Key topics discussed: 01:23 | Difference between intuition and rationality04:49 | Role of heuristics06:29 | Why intuition is often looked down upon08:06 | Power of intuition15:21 | How to use intuition in business18:45 | Distinguishing right intuition from wrong intuition25:12 | Considering how AI use intuitionAdditional inspirations from Gerd Gigerenzer:How to Stay Smart in a Smart World: Why Human Intelligence Still Beats Algorithms (The MIT Press, 2022)Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious (Penguin Books, 2008)Calculated Risks: How to Know When Numbers Deceive You (Simon & Schuster, 2003)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Climate Capitalism: Winning the Global Race to Zero Emissions, Akshat Rathi tells the stories of people around the world who are building impactful solutions to tackle climate change.Rathi is a senior reporter for Bloomberg News, focusing on climate and energy. He also hosts the weekly Zero podcast, in which he talks to the people leading the fight for a zero-emissions future. In his new book, Rathi argues that the best way to cut carbon pollution is by harnessing capitalism. Combating climate change requires a combination of smart policies, financing, technological innovations, and leadership—without killing markets or competition.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Rathi discusses the essence of climate capitalism, how to scale up individual success stories, and how to navigate the challenging political context. Key topics discussed: 02:09 | Definition of climate capitalism07:19 | Success stories: Chinese EVs, Orsted11:31 | The need to combine tech, policies, and finance12:52 | How to scale case studies to big solutions16:24 | Navigating a polarized political context18:45 | Making climate solutions profitable24:06 | Where CEOs should startThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto, Kohei Saito explores the relationship between capitalism and the climate crisis. He argues, controversially, that to have any chance of achieving true sustainability, we must move to a system which deemphasizes growth, adopts different metrics of progress, expands the commons, and places value on goods and services which are not currently considered as part of the economy, like caregiving and nature.Saito is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Tokyo and a recipient of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science prize, which is awarded to the top scholar in Japan under the age of 45. His book, published previously in Japan, became an unexpected bestseller, shipping more than half a million copies to date.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Saito discusses the arguments for fundamental economic system change, explores the feasibility of less radical alternatives, and assesses implications for business leaders. The book's propositions will likely seem very radical to many of our business listeners—but as Saito notes, sometimes utopian ideas can be a stimulus for generating new thinking for complex intractable topics like climate change.Key topics discussed: 01:50 | Defining the problem and the need for system-level change06:21 | The relation between capitalism and technological progress08:41 | Exploring alternative, less radical solutions13:32 | The need for a new measurement of economic and social progress17:08 | The feasibility of a transition to a new system21:41 | Implications for business leaders25:35 | Reasons to remain hopefulThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Higher Ground: How Businesses Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World, Alison Taylor explores how companies can navigate the complexity of modern business ethics.Taylor, a clinical associate professor at NYU Stern, has spent decades advising large multinational companies on risk, corruption, sustainability, and organizational culture. In her new book, she combines her experience with vivid case studies to guide companies toward reaching what she describes as the “higher ground”—a space where companies can act ethically and achieve long-term strategic advantage.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Taylor discusses why good governance is now more important than ever, how leaders can navigate a polarized political landscape, and how businesses can build trust.Key topics discussed: 02:44 | The rising importance of internal governance06:10 | Common traps of internal governance07:55 | Best practices for deploying purpose10:53 | Businesses taking political stances14:58 | Importance of trust and traps in pursuing it17:12 | Solutions for businesses to pursue24:15 | How to apply these lessons in your own workThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder, Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao share insights on friction—the forces that make it harder, slower, more complicated, or even impossible to get things done in organizations.Sutton is an expert on organizational psychology at Stanford University and a best-selling author. His latest book is a culmination of a seven-year research effort on how effective organizations function without driving employees and customers crazy.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Sutton explores what friction is, where it comes from, and its effects - both positive and negative. They discuss the practical steps leaders and employees can take to remove and add friction in the right places. They also discuss broader implications, like whether the nature and consequences of friction will change in a world increasingly characterized by machine-machine and machine-human, rather than only human-human interactions.Key topics discussed:00:54 | What is organizational friction04:30 | The negative consequences of friction08:42 | What does good friction look like?14:14 | How to remove friction17:22 | What creates friction19:11 | Removing friction and creating problems22:04 | Is friction less problematic in a world of AI?25:26 | How can ideas about friction be applied in academia?This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World, Mohamed El-Erian and Michael Spence, along with their coauthors, Gordon Brown and Reid Lidow, consider how we've arrived at this state of constant instability and insecurity—and suggest concrete ways to break the cycle.Mohamed El-Erian, president of Queens' College Cambridge University, was previously the chair of President Obama's Global Development Council, a Deputy Director at the International Monetary Fund, and CEO and co-CIO of PIMCO.Michael Spence, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Philip H. Knight Professor and dean, emeritus, at Stanford Graduate School of Business, was awarded the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.Together with Martin Reeves, the Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, El-Erian and Spence discuss new approaches to thinking about growth, economic management, and managing a global order, as well as how leaders could unlock the full potential of technologies that could drive growth, and ensure that the benefits of technological advancements, like AI, are widely distributed to avoid exacerbating national tensions.Key topics discussed: 01:59 | Defining permacrisis08:58 | The essence of how we need to think differently about growth and value10:32 | Unlocking the full potential of technologies that could drive growth14:09 | How to ensure that the benefits of technological advancements, like AI, are widely distributed to avoid exacerbating national tensions19:40 | Anticipating or managing similar crises (COVID-19) in the future25:15 | Reforming multilateral institutionsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In The Worlds I See, Dr. Fei-Fei Li provides a personal and deeply insightful depiction of two convergent journeys. One describes her own life and career; Li immigrated to the U.S. from China at age 15, and within a few years had launched into research in computer vision and AI. The other is a history of AI, which has involved many breakthroughs over the past 70 years, culminating in a technology that is now changing life and business.Li is one of the world's foremost experts on AI and was named by Time magazine as one of the top 25 most influential thinkers in AI in 2023. She previously served as Google's chief AI and machine learning scientist.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Li discusses critical inflection points in the history of AI, emerging AI technologies businesses must be aware of, and what implications AI will have for competitive advantage.Key topics discussed: 01:19 | Is our education system fit for the future?07:13 | What were the key milestones in the history of AI?11:48 | Which emerging AI technologies do businesses need to be aware of?13:38 | How should we be thinking about ethical issues surrounding AI?20:39 | How will AI transform business? Where will it create competitive advantage?This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In his new book The Secret of Culture Change: How To Build Authentic Stories That Transform Your Organization, Jay Bryan Barney discusses why changing company culture is sometimes necessary but always challenging—and how the power of stories can help leaders mobilize their employees around a new strategy.Jay Barney, a professor of strategic management and the Pierre Lassonde Chair of Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business, is one of the world's leading strategists and the father of so-called resource-based competition.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Barney explores the connections between the realms of strategy and culture—discussing the power of stories to change culture and support a new strategy, and identifying the key characteristics of great stories and story-making, such as being authentic and putting the leader at the heart of the narrative.Key topics discussed: 01:10 | How do you define culture and why do we sometimes need to change it?03:31 | What are some examples of successful culture change?08:01 | What are the key characteristics of culture-changing stories?16:33 | How do leaders navigate social/political “culture wars” in their own culture?22:20 | Are stories and culture change something that can be shaped or are they emergent?25:40 | How do stories and culture change apply to a business school setting?This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In The Geek Way: The Radical Mindset that Drives Extraordinary Results, Andrew McAfee describes how a new approach to corporate culture based on science, ownership, speed, and openness, is driving value creation in the 21st century.McAfee is an expert on how technological progress changes the world, being named to both the Thinkers50 list of top management thinkers and the Politico 50 group of people transforming American politics. In his new book, he outlines how the giants of Silicon Valley found success not just because they are at the center of the digital technology revolution, but also because they are revolutionizing the way business is done—what McAfee describes as the “geek way.”.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, McAfee explores the core tenets of a corporate culture that embraces the “geek way” and explains why it works, drawing on insights from the science of cultural evolution. They also discuss how traditional, non-tech firms can embrace this new culture and operating system.Key topics discussed:02:12 | What are the core tenets of the “geek way”?08:55 | How could these tenets be applied to any businesses?11:31 | How can we overcome the limitations of the “geek way” (e.g., negative corporate culture aspects, retaining culture as a firm grows)?15:05 | Is the “geek way” unique to American firms? What can we learn from the Chinese tech sector?17:46 | What is the role of strategy in a “geek way” company?20:11 | How might the “geek way” culture change in the future, given new challenges (e.g., elevated costs of capital)?23:01 | What are the first steps a CEO should take to establish the “geek way” in their firm?Additional inspirations from Andrew McAfee:More From Less: How we Finally Stopped Using Up The World - And What Happens Next (Simon & Schuster UK, 2019)Machine, Platform, Crowd: Harnessing Our Digital Future (Brilliance Audio, 2017)The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies (Brilliance Audio, 2014)Race Against the Machine: How the Digital Revolution is Accelerating Innovation, Driving Productivity, and Irreversibly Transforming Employment and the Economy (Digital Frontier Press, 2012)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership, Dr. Kirstin Ferguson provides a practical guide to balancing the rational and emotional components of leadership.Ferguson is an expert on leadership, an experienced leader in the private and public sectors, and a longtime advocate of gender equity. In her new book, she identifies the key attributes of a “head and heart” leader, providing people with the tools to reflect on and adapt their own approach to each situation. She combines vivid stories and extensive research to inspire her readers to become better, more authentic, modern leaders.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Ferguson discusses the evolution of leadership thinking, what makes a “head and heart” leader, and how leaders can improve their effectiveness and adaptability. They also reflect on how leadership, and particularly the “heart” attributes, will be more crucial than ever with the rise of AI in the workplace.Key topics discussed:02:36 | How has thinking on leadership evolved?06:05 | What are the attributes of a “head and heart” leader?08:25 | How can you improve your “head and heart” leadership attributes?18:24 | Are leaders aging, and is there a need to make space for younger talents?20:05 | How might AI change the art of leadership?Additional inspirations from Dr. Kirstin Ferguson:Certain Uncertainty: Leading with Agility and Resilience in an Unpredictable World (Wiley, 2023)Women Kind: Unlocking the Power of Women Supporting Women (Murdoch Books, 2019)Got a Minute? (Weekly column, The Sydney Morning Herald)This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In How to Work with (Almost) Anyone, Michael Bungay Stanier outlines how to set up working relationships for the best chance of success—by following a process of thorough preparation, a keystone conversation, and regular maintenance.Bungay Stanier, founder of coaching firm Box of Crayons, is a world-renowned thought leader on coaching and author of the best-selling coaching book, The Coaching Habit. In his most recent book, he focuses on relationship-building, providing readers with processes and principles, as well as exercises and ample practical advice to sharpen their skills.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Bungay Stanier discusses how to build the “best possible relationship” and how to maintain and repair it over time. Moreover, they assess how to create a corporate culture conducive to these relationships, and how to make these relationships work in a hybrid or remote setting.Key topics discussed:01:22 | How to make difficult relationships more workable03:39 | Definition of a “best possible relationship” and how to build it05:54 | How to have a keystone conversation12:26 | The impact of corporate culture and different personality types15:44 | How to maintain and repair relationships20:42 | The implications of hybrid and remote work22:31 | How leaders can apply these lessons in their organizationsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

It's Thursday and we're burning around the track this week as we talk about the leadership shake up at Ford. We also review Tesla's earnings call from yesterday, as well as talk about some new data on the effectiveness of people of different ages on exec teams. There was a unique lull in the UAW action yesterdayMeanwhile, Ford announced a management reshuffle yesterday, promoting Kumar Galhotra from combustion vehicle unit chief to chief operating officer.Kumar Galhotra, who once led the Ford Blue unit producing gas and hybrid vehicles, will now oversee the company's global industrial system.Andrew Frick, who managed Ford Blue's sales, distribution, trucks, SUVs, enthusiast vehicles, and operations in Mexico and Canada, will replace Galhotra at the unit.Tesla's third-quarter earnings call revealed a more cautious tone due to global economic concerns and high interest rates. CEO Elon Musk also announced the Cybertruck's delivery date, while also reflecting on management changes and the company's growth amidst competitive pressures.Musk disclosed the company's plans to establish a factory in Mexico aimed at producing affordable vehicles. However, the timeline for this project isn't aggressive due to worries about the state of the global economy. Musk mentioned, "In Mexico, we're laying the ground to begin construction, but I think we want to just get a sense of what the global economy is like before we go full tilt." He further commented that if interest rates decrease, they might accelerate the plans for the Mexico plant. Tesla's Cybertruck, with over 1 million reservations, is set for its inaugural delivery on November 30th at the Austin, Texas Gigafactory, where its pricing will be unveiled. Musk emphasized the production challenges, aiming for a target of a quarter million units annually after 2024.Tesla stock was down 3% 40 minutes into the callWhile ageism has been a recent topic of discussion, some experts believe younger executive leadership is essential for promoting innovation and addressing long-term challenges.Martin Reeves of Boston Consulting Group states older leaders might rely on outdated strategies and prioritize short-term gains, while younger professionals may be open to new, long-term strategies but lack the authority to implement them.The average age of Fortune 500 CEOs is 57.7, with factors like prolonged life expectancy and pandemic-induced challenges pushing back retirements.Research from George Mason University indicates companies with significant age differences between the CEO and other executives tend to be more innovative.Arjun Shekhar, co-founder of Pravah and ComMutiny, argues for younger executive leadership, emphasizing their fresh perspectives, willingness to challenge the status quo, and adaptability in a digital age.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email ASOTU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automotivestateoftheunion

In his new book, Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens, Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation recounts his experiences and lessons learned over decades of effecting large-scale social change. He shares how addressing humanity's thorniest challenges requires a big bets mindset – pushing to solve, rather than merely improve, problems; and going for “big enough”, rather than settling for “good enough”.Prior to his current role, Shah was the Administrator of USAID and a Director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He successfully led many transformative change efforts around the globe – including advancing the immunization of children, fighting against hunger and energy poverty, and providing relief for humanitarian disasters.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Shah discusses insights from his new book, including a mindset he sees crucial to making change possible, the need for public-private partnerships, and the role of businesses in addressing social and environmental issues. The conversation also touches on the importance of continuous experimentation, the involvement of younger leaders in change projects, and the challenges of planning in complex and unpredictable situations.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In his new book,  Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work,  Uri Gneezy explains why leaders often create incentives that are misaligned with their organization's goals.Gneezy, the Epstein/Atkinson Chair in Management Leadership at UC San Diego's Rady School of Management, is one of the world's leading experts in behavioral economics, and his insights have become a staple in courses around the world. He teaches managers how to be incentive-smart—how to avoid mixed signals and design incentives that are simple, effective, and ethical.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Gneezy discusses how incentives work, and how we can apply them in the workplace to change habits and spark innovation—he explains why, counterintuitively, successful organizations and initiatives may actually have a greater need to examine their incentives than unsuccessful ones.Key topics discussed:01:11 | How incentives send signals02:08 | Incentives in the workplace09:14 | Incentivizing innovation12:29 | Understanding the use and limitation of incentives18:22 | Changing habitsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

I am thrilled to bring you a conversation with Martin Reeves, better known as Krafty Kuts, a renowned DJ and Producer, and a passionate LFC Supporter. Martin delves into his lifelong love for Liverpool Football Club, discussing everything from the highs and challenging lows to his favorite players and games. His insights into the current team performance and potential player acquisitions provide a unique perspective on the legendary club's trajectory.The Liverpool Connection is an LFC podcast that aims to bring the story of our wonderful club to as many fans as possible around the world. The history, the passion, the music, the people, the City – we want to share perspectives on and off the pitch. We're delighted to have you here with us, be sure to Like and Subscribe with Notifications on for our latest podcast.

In his new book, The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and The Twenty-First Century's Greatest Dilemma, Mustafa Suleyman discusses the new technologies that will transform society—chief among them AI and synthetic biology.Suleyman is a renowned thought leader on this topic, having co-founded Inflection AI and DeepMind, and having served as VP of AI product management and AI policy at Google.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Suleyman discusses the threats and opportunities posed by AI and synthetic biology, whether and how they will confer competitive advantage, and how governments and companies can collaborate to contain their negative effects while ensuring that society reaps their benefits.Key topics discussed:01:28 | The threats of the coming wave of technologies06:43 | A modern Turing Test for AI10:14 | The competitive advantage conferred by AI15:25 | The benefits and limitations of AI18:34 | Containing the next wave of technologies22:09 | Potential regulatory interventions23:46 | Motivations for writing the bookThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In her forthcoming book, Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, Amy Edmondson offers a new framework to think about, discuss, and practice failure wisely, using human fallibility as a tool for making ourselves and our organizations smarter.Amy Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School and the author of seven books, including The Fearless Organization, which has been translated into more than 15 languages. She was ranked number one on the 2021 Thinkers50 list, a ranking of the world's most influential management thinkers.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, Edmondson discusses the distinctions that can help us separate good failure from bad, strategies to decrease the cost of learning, as well as practical actions for leaders to establish a culture where intelligent failure is predominant.Key topics discussed: 1:13 | The distinction between failing well and failing badly9:36 | How to avoid the "illusion of knowing" and mistaking a mental model for a fact12:02 | Institutional and leadership-level moves to create an environment where intelligent failure is predominant18:27 | How to decrease the cost of learning19:42 | Can AI help to analyze the potential for failure or identify learnable lessons and failure patterns?This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society, Mauro Guillén argues that the traditional, sequential model of life—childhood, education, career, and retirement—is being rendered obsolete.Guillén, a professor of management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, is one of the world's foremost experts on global megatrends. In his most recent book, he focuses on the combination of rapid technological progress, increasing life as well as health spans, and declining fertility rates—which, together, are creating a society in which arbitrary definitions of generations, based on chronological age, are no longer appropriate.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Guillén discusses the shortcomings of the sequential model of life and what the new, post-generational society will look like. He also highlights implications for businesses, which will need to adapt their marketing practices to changing patterns in consumption and harness the benefits of intergenerational collaboration in their workforces.Key topics discussed: 01:51 | The sequential model of life and its shortcomings04:17 | The post-generational society and the trends creating it07:31 | Implications for corporations14:13 | How CEOs can prepare for a society of perennials17:14 | Implications for academic institutionsThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In his new book, LOOK: How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World, Christian Madsbjerg explores the importance of observational skills. Drawing on various fields—science, philosophy, and the arts—as well as his personal experiences, Madsbjerg offers tools and insights to help us better pay attention and extract insights.Madsbjerg was co-founder and senior partner of consulting firm, ReD Associates and was previously a professor of applied humanities at the New School for Social Research in New York City. He works at the intersection of business and the humanities, guiding firms to develop powerful strategies anchored in human perception.Together with Martin Reeves, Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, Madsbjerg discusses how we can learn to observe the world properly—letting go of oversimplifying assumptions and biases—and how this will help firms unlock insights about their customers far beyond the reach of traditional market research.Key topics discussed: [01:25] How to observe properly[06:57] How “total observation” can unlock new insights[13:14] Distractions of modern life and how to tackle them[18:14] Difference between traditional market research and “total observation”[21:30] How to change how we observe things in the corporate contextThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Welcome to an interview with the Chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, BCG's think tank for new ideas in management and strategy. Martin has authored numerous books, including Your Strategy Needs a Strategy and The Imagination Machine, a handbook about how to systematically harness imagination to generate new ideas and transform businesses. Get Martin's book here:  The Imagination Machine: How to Spark New Ideas and Create Your Company's Future. Martin Reeves and Jack Fuller: https://www.amazon.com/Imagination-Machine-Create-Companys-Future/dp/1647820863 Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo