Podcast appearances and mentions of Robert Siegel

Willy sat down with Robert Siegel, Lecturer in Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Operator, Venture Investor, and Author of The Systems Leader. They explored the competing pressures facing today's leaders—from balancing innovation and execution to embracing AI while maintaining organizational focus. Robert also shared why curiosity, humility, and adaptability have become essential leadership traits in a fast-changing world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Siegel is joined by Chuck Freilich, former Israeli Deputy National Security Adviser, and Roya Hakakian of the Middle East Broadcasting Network to examine the current Iran conflict and what may lie ahead.

Markets of Pain offers a sweeping history of the business of licit opium--following cultivators, merchants, scientists, and policymakers--and shows how this potent crop reshaped global trade, medicine, and geopolitics. For centuries, opium has been a source of both profit and peril, its legacy entangled with addiction, imperialism, and the complex interplay of global trade and national development. While the illicit opium trade is infamous, the history of licit opium--how it was farmed, refined, and used to build modern medicine and shape state power--has remained largely untold.Drawing on archival sources from Asia, Europe, and the United States, Markets of Pain: Opium, Capitalism, and the Global History of Painkillers (Oxford UP, 2026) traces the global arc of licit opium from poppy fields and processing plants in India, Turkey, and Australia to the clinics and laboratories of modern medicine. It shows how both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic treated the opium poppy as a national resource and a means of securing global stature. In postcolonial India, by contrast, nationalist leaders initially rejected opium's imperial legacy before embracing its strategic value amid the shifting currents of the Cold War. At the heart of this story are the cultivators, scientists, bureaucrats, and policymakers who shaped the licit opium trade and grappled with its far-reaching consequences. Their work and visions demonstrate how colonial empires and postcolonial states helped forge the global pharmaceutical industry as it struggled to govern a drug it could not abandon.Markets of Pain reveals how a seemingly marginal crop became an unlikely engine of modernization, a tool of Cold War geopolitics, and a harbinger of today's global opioid crisis. Blending vivid scenes from opium's fields and factories with incisive analysis of scientific and diplomatic archives, Benjamin Robert Siegel recovers a buried history with urgent relevance for global supply chains, international power, and public health. Markets of Pain offers an account of the global drug trade in the twentieth century, focusing on the transformation of opium from a colonial commodity into a modern resource for the American and European pharmaceutical industries. Challenging simplistic ideas of licit and illicit drugs in the twentieth century, it reveals how the modern global drug regime was formed by India and Turkey's navigation of the international anti-opium movement, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry, and the complex relationship between agriculture, medicine, and global capitalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Markets of Pain offers a sweeping history of the business of licit opium--following cultivators, merchants, scientists, and policymakers--and shows how this potent crop reshaped global trade, medicine, and geopolitics. For centuries, opium has been a source of both profit and peril, its legacy entangled with addiction, imperialism, and the complex interplay of global trade and national development. While the illicit opium trade is infamous, the history of licit opium--how it was farmed, refined, and used to build modern medicine and shape state power--has remained largely untold.Drawing on archival sources from Asia, Europe, and the United States, Markets of Pain: Opium, Capitalism, and the Global History of Painkillers (Oxford UP, 2026) traces the global arc of licit opium from poppy fields and processing plants in India, Turkey, and Australia to the clinics and laboratories of modern medicine. It shows how both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic treated the opium poppy as a national resource and a means of securing global stature. In postcolonial India, by contrast, nationalist leaders initially rejected opium's imperial legacy before embracing its strategic value amid the shifting currents of the Cold War. At the heart of this story are the cultivators, scientists, bureaucrats, and policymakers who shaped the licit opium trade and grappled with its far-reaching consequences. Their work and visions demonstrate how colonial empires and postcolonial states helped forge the global pharmaceutical industry as it struggled to govern a drug it could not abandon.Markets of Pain reveals how a seemingly marginal crop became an unlikely engine of modernization, a tool of Cold War geopolitics, and a harbinger of today's global opioid crisis. Blending vivid scenes from opium's fields and factories with incisive analysis of scientific and diplomatic archives, Benjamin Robert Siegel recovers a buried history with urgent relevance for global supply chains, international power, and public health. Markets of Pain offers an account of the global drug trade in the twentieth century, focusing on the transformation of opium from a colonial commodity into a modern resource for the American and European pharmaceutical industries. Challenging simplistic ideas of licit and illicit drugs in the twentieth century, it reveals how the modern global drug regime was formed by India and Turkey's navigation of the international anti-opium movement, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry, and the complex relationship between agriculture, medicine, and global capitalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Markets of Pain offers a sweeping history of the business of licit opium--following cultivators, merchants, scientists, and policymakers--and shows how this potent crop reshaped global trade, medicine, and geopolitics. For centuries, opium has been a source of both profit and peril, its legacy entangled with addiction, imperialism, and the complex interplay of global trade and national development. While the illicit opium trade is infamous, the history of licit opium--how it was farmed, refined, and used to build modern medicine and shape state power--has remained largely untold.Drawing on archival sources from Asia, Europe, and the United States, Markets of Pain: Opium, Capitalism, and the Global History of Painkillers (Oxford UP, 2026) traces the global arc of licit opium from poppy fields and processing plants in India, Turkey, and Australia to the clinics and laboratories of modern medicine. It shows how both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic treated the opium poppy as a national resource and a means of securing global stature. In postcolonial India, by contrast, nationalist leaders initially rejected opium's imperial legacy before embracing its strategic value amid the shifting currents of the Cold War. At the heart of this story are the cultivators, scientists, bureaucrats, and policymakers who shaped the licit opium trade and grappled with its far-reaching consequences. Their work and visions demonstrate how colonial empires and postcolonial states helped forge the global pharmaceutical industry as it struggled to govern a drug it could not abandon.Markets of Pain reveals how a seemingly marginal crop became an unlikely engine of modernization, a tool of Cold War geopolitics, and a harbinger of today's global opioid crisis. Blending vivid scenes from opium's fields and factories with incisive analysis of scientific and diplomatic archives, Benjamin Robert Siegel recovers a buried history with urgent relevance for global supply chains, international power, and public health. Markets of Pain offers an account of the global drug trade in the twentieth century, focusing on the transformation of opium from a colonial commodity into a modern resource for the American and European pharmaceutical industries. Challenging simplistic ideas of licit and illicit drugs in the twentieth century, it reveals how the modern global drug regime was formed by India and Turkey's navigation of the international anti-opium movement, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry, and the complex relationship between agriculture, medicine, and global capitalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/public-policy

Markets of Pain offers a sweeping history of the business of licit opium--following cultivators, merchants, scientists, and policymakers--and shows how this potent crop reshaped global trade, medicine, and geopolitics. For centuries, opium has been a source of both profit and peril, its legacy entangled with addiction, imperialism, and the complex interplay of global trade and national development. While the illicit opium trade is infamous, the history of licit opium--how it was farmed, refined, and used to build modern medicine and shape state power--has remained largely untold.Drawing on archival sources from Asia, Europe, and the United States, Markets of Pain: Opium, Capitalism, and the Global History of Painkillers (Oxford UP, 2026) traces the global arc of licit opium from poppy fields and processing plants in India, Turkey, and Australia to the clinics and laboratories of modern medicine. It shows how both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic treated the opium poppy as a national resource and a means of securing global stature. In postcolonial India, by contrast, nationalist leaders initially rejected opium's imperial legacy before embracing its strategic value amid the shifting currents of the Cold War. At the heart of this story are the cultivators, scientists, bureaucrats, and policymakers who shaped the licit opium trade and grappled with its far-reaching consequences. Their work and visions demonstrate how colonial empires and postcolonial states helped forge the global pharmaceutical industry as it struggled to govern a drug it could not abandon.Markets of Pain reveals how a seemingly marginal crop became an unlikely engine of modernization, a tool of Cold War geopolitics, and a harbinger of today's global opioid crisis. Blending vivid scenes from opium's fields and factories with incisive analysis of scientific and diplomatic archives, Benjamin Robert Siegel recovers a buried history with urgent relevance for global supply chains, international power, and public health. Markets of Pain offers an account of the global drug trade in the twentieth century, focusing on the transformation of opium from a colonial commodity into a modern resource for the American and European pharmaceutical industries. Challenging simplistic ideas of licit and illicit drugs in the twentieth century, it reveals how the modern global drug regime was formed by India and Turkey's navigation of the international anti-opium movement, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry, and the complex relationship between agriculture, medicine, and global capitalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/drugs-addiction-and-recovery

Markets of Pain offers a sweeping history of the business of licit opium--following cultivators, merchants, scientists, and policymakers--and shows how this potent crop reshaped global trade, medicine, and geopolitics. For centuries, opium has been a source of both profit and peril, its legacy entangled with addiction, imperialism, and the complex interplay of global trade and national development. While the illicit opium trade is infamous, the history of licit opium--how it was farmed, refined, and used to build modern medicine and shape state power--has remained largely untold.Drawing on archival sources from Asia, Europe, and the United States, Markets of Pain: Opium, Capitalism, and the Global History of Painkillers (Oxford UP, 2026) traces the global arc of licit opium from poppy fields and processing plants in India, Turkey, and Australia to the clinics and laboratories of modern medicine. It shows how both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic treated the opium poppy as a national resource and a means of securing global stature. In postcolonial India, by contrast, nationalist leaders initially rejected opium's imperial legacy before embracing its strategic value amid the shifting currents of the Cold War. At the heart of this story are the cultivators, scientists, bureaucrats, and policymakers who shaped the licit opium trade and grappled with its far-reaching consequences. Their work and visions demonstrate how colonial empires and postcolonial states helped forge the global pharmaceutical industry as it struggled to govern a drug it could not abandon.Markets of Pain reveals how a seemingly marginal crop became an unlikely engine of modernization, a tool of Cold War geopolitics, and a harbinger of today's global opioid crisis. Blending vivid scenes from opium's fields and factories with incisive analysis of scientific and diplomatic archives, Benjamin Robert Siegel recovers a buried history with urgent relevance for global supply chains, international power, and public health. Markets of Pain offers an account of the global drug trade in the twentieth century, focusing on the transformation of opium from a colonial commodity into a modern resource for the American and European pharmaceutical industries. Challenging simplistic ideas of licit and illicit drugs in the twentieth century, it reveals how the modern global drug regime was formed by India and Turkey's navigation of the international anti-opium movement, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry, and the complex relationship between agriculture, medicine, and global capitalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Markets of Pain offers a sweeping history of the business of licit opium--following cultivators, merchants, scientists, and policymakers--and shows how this potent crop reshaped global trade, medicine, and geopolitics. For centuries, opium has been a source of both profit and peril, its legacy entangled with addiction, imperialism, and the complex interplay of global trade and national development. While the illicit opium trade is infamous, the history of licit opium--how it was farmed, refined, and used to build modern medicine and shape state power--has remained largely untold.Drawing on archival sources from Asia, Europe, and the United States, Markets of Pain: Opium, Capitalism, and the Global History of Painkillers (Oxford UP, 2026) traces the global arc of licit opium from poppy fields and processing plants in India, Turkey, and Australia to the clinics and laboratories of modern medicine. It shows how both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic treated the opium poppy as a national resource and a means of securing global stature. In postcolonial India, by contrast, nationalist leaders initially rejected opium's imperial legacy before embracing its strategic value amid the shifting currents of the Cold War. At the heart of this story are the cultivators, scientists, bureaucrats, and policymakers who shaped the licit opium trade and grappled with its far-reaching consequences. Their work and visions demonstrate how colonial empires and postcolonial states helped forge the global pharmaceutical industry as it struggled to govern a drug it could not abandon.Markets of Pain reveals how a seemingly marginal crop became an unlikely engine of modernization, a tool of Cold War geopolitics, and a harbinger of today's global opioid crisis. Blending vivid scenes from opium's fields and factories with incisive analysis of scientific and diplomatic archives, Benjamin Robert Siegel recovers a buried history with urgent relevance for global supply chains, international power, and public health. Markets of Pain offers an account of the global drug trade in the twentieth century, focusing on the transformation of opium from a colonial commodity into a modern resource for the American and European pharmaceutical industries. Challenging simplistic ideas of licit and illicit drugs in the twentieth century, it reveals how the modern global drug regime was formed by India and Turkey's navigation of the international anti-opium movement, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry, and the complex relationship between agriculture, medicine, and global capitalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Markets of Pain offers a sweeping history of the business of licit opium--following cultivators, merchants, scientists, and policymakers--and shows how this potent crop reshaped global trade, medicine, and geopolitics. For centuries, opium has been a source of both profit and peril, its legacy entangled with addiction, imperialism, and the complex interplay of global trade and national development. While the illicit opium trade is infamous, the history of licit opium--how it was farmed, refined, and used to build modern medicine and shape state power--has remained largely untold.Drawing on archival sources from Asia, Europe, and the United States, Markets of Pain: Opium, Capitalism, and the Global History of Painkillers (Oxford UP, 2026) traces the global arc of licit opium from poppy fields and processing plants in India, Turkey, and Australia to the clinics and laboratories of modern medicine. It shows how both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic treated the opium poppy as a national resource and a means of securing global stature. In postcolonial India, by contrast, nationalist leaders initially rejected opium's imperial legacy before embracing its strategic value amid the shifting currents of the Cold War. At the heart of this story are the cultivators, scientists, bureaucrats, and policymakers who shaped the licit opium trade and grappled with its far-reaching consequences. Their work and visions demonstrate how colonial empires and postcolonial states helped forge the global pharmaceutical industry as it struggled to govern a drug it could not abandon.Markets of Pain reveals how a seemingly marginal crop became an unlikely engine of modernization, a tool of Cold War geopolitics, and a harbinger of today's global opioid crisis. Blending vivid scenes from opium's fields and factories with incisive analysis of scientific and diplomatic archives, Benjamin Robert Siegel recovers a buried history with urgent relevance for global supply chains, international power, and public health. Markets of Pain offers an account of the global drug trade in the twentieth century, focusing on the transformation of opium from a colonial commodity into a modern resource for the American and European pharmaceutical industries. Challenging simplistic ideas of licit and illicit drugs in the twentieth century, it reveals how the modern global drug regime was formed by India and Turkey's navigation of the international anti-opium movement, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry, and the complex relationship between agriculture, medicine, and global capitalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day

Markets of Pain offers a sweeping history of the business of licit opium--following cultivators, merchants, scientists, and policymakers--and shows how this potent crop reshaped global trade, medicine, and geopolitics. For centuries, opium has been a source of both profit and peril, its legacy entangled with addiction, imperialism, and the complex interplay of global trade and national development. While the illicit opium trade is infamous, the history of licit opium--how it was farmed, refined, and used to build modern medicine and shape state power--has remained largely untold.Drawing on archival sources from Asia, Europe, and the United States, Markets of Pain: Opium, Capitalism, and the Global History of Painkillers (Oxford UP, 2026) traces the global arc of licit opium from poppy fields and processing plants in India, Turkey, and Australia to the clinics and laboratories of modern medicine. It shows how both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic treated the opium poppy as a national resource and a means of securing global stature. In postcolonial India, by contrast, nationalist leaders initially rejected opium's imperial legacy before embracing its strategic value amid the shifting currents of the Cold War. At the heart of this story are the cultivators, scientists, bureaucrats, and policymakers who shaped the licit opium trade and grappled with its far-reaching consequences. Their work and visions demonstrate how colonial empires and postcolonial states helped forge the global pharmaceutical industry as it struggled to govern a drug it could not abandon.Markets of Pain reveals how a seemingly marginal crop became an unlikely engine of modernization, a tool of Cold War geopolitics, and a harbinger of today's global opioid crisis. Blending vivid scenes from opium's fields and factories with incisive analysis of scientific and diplomatic archives, Benjamin Robert Siegel recovers a buried history with urgent relevance for global supply chains, international power, and public health. Markets of Pain offers an account of the global drug trade in the twentieth century, focusing on the transformation of opium from a colonial commodity into a modern resource for the American and European pharmaceutical industries. Challenging simplistic ideas of licit and illicit drugs in the twentieth century, it reveals how the modern global drug regime was formed by India and Turkey's navigation of the international anti-opium movement, the rise of the pharmaceutical industry, and the complex relationship between agriculture, medicine, and global capitalism.

Robert Siegel is joined by expert panelists Bess Freedman (Brown Harris Stevens), David Smith (Affordable Housing Institute), Elena Patel (Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center), and Boaz Abramson (Columbia University).

Robert Siegel examines American antisemitism today with leaders in Jewish advocacy, history and public service.  With Abraham Foxman, Jonathan D. Sarna and Rabbi David Saperstein, in a program of the AFRMC.

Robert Siegel explores medical innovation and artificial intelligence with leading experts in cancer genetics, translational medicine, cardiology, and rehabilitation, including Susan M. Domchek, Eric Topol, Leor Perl, and Michael Bahar. A program of the American Friends of the Rabin Medical Center.

Robert Siegel speaks with leading Middle East policy experts Dennis Ross, Aaron David Miller and Ghaith al-Omari for a wide-ranging discussion on Israel, the region and the shifting diplomatic landscape ahead. A program of AFRMC. 

Marine Robots Shaping Our Future & Revisiting NPR's Robert Siegel

Marine Robots Shaping Our Future & Revisiting NPR's Robert SiegelSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why do some leaders command respect while others get ignored? In this episode of Social Intelligence, Stanford professor and venture capitalist Robert Siegel breaks down the overlooked behaviors that separate average performers from high-impact leaders. Drawing on decades of research and real-world business experience, Robert shares how humility, listening, and honest self-reflection are the key ingredients to long-term success. You'll learn how to thrive in chaotic environments, shift from control to trust, and build loyalty in the people you lead — whether you're running a startup, a classroom, or a family. What to Listen For [00:00:00] Why Robert's background in tech and venture capital revealed a pattern in great leaders[00:03:11] What leaders miss when they mistake charisma for competence[00:07:19] The value of slowing down and listening — even when you're under pressure[00:10:32] Why being the smartest person in the room can make you ineffective[00:14:09] Lessons from Motorola: how “hero culture” undermined the team[00:18:23] The danger of over-optimizing for control instead of building trust[00:25:00] The “credibility bank account” and how it affects influence and decision-making[00:31:11] What CEOs often miss about emotional intelligence[00:38:30] The role of humility in hiring, managing, and growing a company[00:44:15] Why balancing empathy and execution is the mark of a real leader[00:51:20] The underrated superpower of asking good questions instead of giving answers[00:56:42] What Robert teaches his Stanford students about legacy and influence A Word From Our Sponsors Tired of awkward handshakes and collecting business cards without building real connections? Dive into our Free Social Capital Networking Masterclass. Learn practical strategies to make your interactions meaningful and boost your confidence in any social situation. Sign up for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠theartofcharm.com/sc⁠⁠⁠⁠ and elevate your networking from awkward to awesome. Don't miss out on a network of opportunities! Unleash the power of covert networking to infiltrate high-value circles and build a 7-figure network in just 90 days. Ready to start? Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠CIA-proven guide⁠⁠⁠⁠ to networking like a spy! Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince—where high-end essentials meet unbeatable prices. Upgrade your wardrobe today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/charm⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and hassle-free returns. Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Shopify makes it easy to start, scale, and succeed—whether you're launching a side hustle or building the next big brand. Sign up for your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/charm⁠⁠⁠⁠. Need to hire top talent—fast? Skip the waiting game and get more qualified applicants with Indeed. Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Indeed.com/charm⁠⁠⁠⁠. This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/charm⁠⁠⁠ Stop needlessly overpaying for car insurance. Before you renew your policy, do yourself a favor—download the Jerry app or head to JERRY.com/charm Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at ⁠⁠⁠www.rula.com/charm ⁠⁠⁠ Curious about your influence level?  Get your Influence Index Score today! Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at ⁠⁠⁠⁠theartofcharm.com/influence⁠⁠⁠⁠. Resources from this Episode ⁠Dr. Abbie Marono's website⁠ ⁠The Upper Hand⁠ Check in with AJ and Johnny! ⁠⁠⁠⁠AJ on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠AJ on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Art of Charm on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Art of Charm on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Art of Charm on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stanford lecturer and venture investor Robert Siegel argues the lone-wolf CEO is not just outdated—but dangerous. In this episode, he joins Scott to explain why today's most effective leaders are those who can hold competing truths at once: acting with empathy and accountability, being tactical and strategic, thinking locally and globally. Drawing from his new book The Systems Leader, Siegel shares stories from Silicon Valley and beyond, reflects on the next generation of founders, and explains what it really takes to lead in a world defined by constant crisis and accelerating change.Sand Hill Road is produced by Andrew Mendez under the leadership of Sara Bueno and Stephany Adrouny

How are effective leadership practices evolving to keep up in a continually changing world? What can be learned from the leaders of companies like Stitchfix or Waste Management? How can AI in education be handled in a way that is open and enriching to all?Robert Siegel is a lecturer at Stanford University GSB and author of the books The Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross-Pressures That Make or Break Today's Companies and The Brains and Brawn Company: How Leading Organizations Blend the Best of Digital and Physical.Greg and Robert discuss the evolution of leadership, particularly in the context of managing crises and rapid technological advancements. Their discussion explores the different things that must be balanced in leadership roles, such as innovation vs. execution and strength vs. empathy. Robert also emphasizes the importance of systems thinking, adaptability, and statesmanship in modern leadership. *unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:Is statesmanship in short supply?32:17: This notion of statesmanship or stateswomanship of stewardship is, it doesn't deny the ambition that we have as leaders. It doesn't deny who we want to be and what we hope to accomplish, but it's also about looking about everybody beyond us. And we have to lead men and women who agree with us and disagree with us, and we have to lead men and women. With whom we agree and disagree. Like we don't get to choose who we lead, Greg. Like we have to lead everybody. And if we've gotta get them from here to here, to me, that's what leadership is right now. And I don't think we're seeing this with a lot of the people who are put up there constantly in the mainstream media or on social media. But in the book I've got 15 to 20 leaders, all of whom are successful. And we can look at them and say, huh, well if they could do it, so can I.What leadership looks like now06:44:  Leadership today—in a world especially that's moving so quickly—that's where people have to be able to be more adaptable, internalize certain dualities that maybe existed separately inside of a company in the past that now need to exist inside of us internally. And so I think that things are different. The ability and willingness to adapt, I think, that's constant. But what you have to adapt to depends upon the times.Is it harder to be a leader today?08:09: Most leaders today are not trained to be thinking in kind of this level of speed, nor are they trained to understand what happens in different functions in an organization. In the old days, you could come up through engineering or through marketing or through manufacturing, and you would've teammates who would handle the other functions. Well, now we need to understand, like, what's the connection between what we do in one function versus the other function? How do we see internal and external? I think that's harder.Investing time in yourself is leading smarter32:01: A leader who says, I don't have time for this, they're probably spending time on the wrong issues, like where we spend time in the past isn't where we need to spend time in the future. And so making some time to invest in oneself, reading, finding trusted partners outside of the company. Who you can talk to and learn from. And, by the way, those people can be your peers. They can be people who are older, they can even be people who are younger.Show Links:Recommended Resources:PericlesFuture ShockDaniel A. LevinthalKatrina LakeJeff ImmeltAndrew GroveGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at Stanford GSBProfile at Stanford UniversityRobertESiegel.comProfile on LinkedInWikipedia PageSocial Profile on InstagramHis Work:Amazon Author PageThe Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross-Pressures That Make or Break Today's CompaniesThe Brains and Brawn Company: How Leading Organizations Blend the Best of Digital and Physical

Robert Siegel discusses the complicated relationship between universities and the federal government, and the future implications of this current clash, with esteemed academic leaders Professor Arjun Appadurai (NYU), Michael S. Roth (President, Wesleyan University), and  Professor Stephen J. Trachtenberg (President, George Washington University). A program of AFRMC.

In this conversation, I'm joined by Robert E. Siegel, author of The Systems Leader, to unpack the essential mindset shifts leaders must make in a complex, fast-moving environment. We explore the tensions leaders face—like balancing innovation with execution, and strength with empathy—and how the most effective leaders navigate these paradoxes with clarity and purpose. Drawing from real stories of leaders like Jeff Immelt of GE and Michael Dowling of Northwell Health, Robert shares why systems thinking, strong relationships, and the ability to adapt are no longer optional—they're essential. If you want to lead with greater clarity in the chaos, this episode is for you. Buy Robert's Book ⁠"⁠The Systems Leader"⁠ Visit Robert's ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ Follow Robert on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Join my weekly ⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠. Learn more about my ⁠⁠books and courses⁠⁠. Join ⁠⁠The Essentialism Academy⁠⁠. Follow me on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠.

Amidst constant change, clear communication is the key to navigating uncertainty.How do you communicate with others when you're confused yourself? For Rob Siegel, leadership isn't about avoiding uncertainty, it's about embracing the clarity that ambiguity can bring."What if ambiguity is the new normal?" asks Siegel, a venture investor and lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business. From rapidly evolving AI to ratcheting geopolitical tensions, every day brings a “crisis du jour,” he says. “I may like it, I may not like it. That doesn't really matter, but I've gotta get my team through it."In his latest book, The Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross Pressures That Make or Break Today's Companies, Siegel explores how leaders today are “living in dualities,” caught between managing existing processes and adapting to emerging disruptions. “The sooner we get comfortable with [change] in the sense of ‘I don't have to like it, but I can deal with it,' then [we can] lead our teams and give them the calm to know they can get through this.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Siegel and host Matt Abrahams explore how to communicate effectively amidst constant change. From preparation strategies for spontaneous speaking to building trust through candid conversations, Siegel offers practical tips for communicating with clarity when nothing is certain but change.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premiumEpisode Reference Links:Robert SiegelRob's Book: The Systems LeaderEp.35 Leading From The Hot Seat: How To Communicate Under PressureEp.37 Be Better: How Communication Catalyzes Business Transformation  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 (01:49) - Adapting Leadership for Uncertainty (03:18) - Systems Leadership and Cross Pressures (04:40) - Communication and Context (05:26) - Framing Complex Ideas (06:21) - Innovation vs. Execution (08:11) - Leading Through Ambiguity (09:33) - Short-Term vs. Long-Term Focus (12:44) - Balancing Strength and Empathy (15:26) - Leadership with Humanity (16:42) - Engaging Students Effectively (20:00) - The Final Three Questions (23:41) - Conclusion    *****This Episode is sponsored by Stanford. Stay Informed on Stanford's world changing research by signing up for the Stanford ReportSupport Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.       

In this episode, we dive into how complexity creeps into our systems—whether in software, organizations, or personal leadership. We start by looking at the evolution of Microsoft Word as a case study of feature creep and unintended consequences, asking why more options can end up stifling creativity.We're joined by Robert Siegel, Stanford lecturer and author of The Systems Leader, who unpacks why today is a uniquely chaotic time for leaders. He explores the cross-pressures leaders face—from balancing execution with innovation, to combining strength with empathy—and what it takes to thrive in turbulent environments.Later, we revisit a powerful 2017 conversation with Seth Godin, bestselling author and entrepreneur. Seth reframes uncertainty as an inherent feature of modern systems, not a personal failure. He shares his perspective on adapting to continual change, why embracing smaller markets and iterative progress makes us more resilient, and how redefining success helps us stay in the game.Whether you're leading a team, navigating constant change, or just trying to keep your work meaningful, this episode will give you fresh strategies for thinking and acting systemically.Five Key Learnings:Complexity Creep Is Real: As with Microsoft Word, adding features to solve edge cases often leads to more user frustration and less creative freedom. Simplicity can be a competitive advantage.Systems Leadership Is Essential: Leaders must operate with a systems mindset, recognizing the interconnectedness inside and outside their organizations rather than staying siloed.Balancing Dualities: Success today means navigating cross-pressures, such as execution vs. innovation and strength vs. empathy—not just picking one.Embrace Uncertainty: Uncertainty isn't going away; learning to see it as a product of changing systems makes it less personal and more navigable.Iterate and Focus Small: Applying your creative efforts to the smallest viable audience allows for better learning, less risk, and greater long-term impact.Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just visit DailyCreativePlus.com.Mentioned in this episode:To listen to the full interviews from today's episode, as well as receive bonus content and deep dive insights from the episode, visit DailyCreativePlus.com and join Daily Creative+.The Brave Habit is available nowMy new book will help you make bravery a habit in your life, your leadership, and your work. Discover how to develop the two qualities that lead to brave action: Optimistic Vision and Agency. Buy The Brave Habit wherever books are sold, or learn more at TheBraveHabit.com.

Being in a leadership role today is no easy task. With nonstop challenges coming from all directions—technology, global events, workplace culture shifts—it can feel like you're constantly being pulled in opposite directions. In this episode of Today in Tech, Keith Shaw talks with Robert Siegel, Stanford lecturer and author of The Systems Leader, about how managers and executives can lead more effectively during turbulent times. Drawing from real-world examples and research, Robert shares a new leadership approach built for today's fast-paced, high-pressure environment. You'll hear stories from leaders at companies like Nike, Box, and 23andMe—and learn how they manage competing demands like: Delivering results while also driving innovation Balancing global strategy with local needs Showing strength without losing empathy Keeping up with internal goals and external expectations Whether you're a CEO, a CIO, or managing a team for the first time, this conversation will give you a fresh, practical perspective on what modern leadership really requires. :+1: Like this video if it resonates, drop a comment with your thoughts, and subscribe for more episodes of Today in Tech. #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #SystemsThinking #ManagementTips #TechIndustry #StanfordGSB #BusinessStrategy #ModernLeadership #TodayInTech

In this episode, host B.D. Dalton is joined once again by Robert Siegel, lecturer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, investor, operator, and now author of “The Systems Leader.” Together, they dive into the crucial role that systems—and the leaders who master them—play in guiding both billion-dollar companies and small businesses through today's constant change and crisis.Robert shares insights from eight years of research, unpacking the five key “cross pressures” that challenge modern leaders, from balancing innovation with execution to navigating global turbulence. Drawing from stories of CEOs at companies like Accenture and Waste Management, Robert and B.D. explore real-world examples of how the best leaders operate at the intersection of competing priorities, make tough choices with humility, and find purpose amid chaos.Whether you're managing a massive team or just starting out, this conversation offers practical tools, reflective questions, and actionable advice to help you become a systems leader—one who doesn't just survive the new normal but thrives in it. So sit back, get ready to learn, and discover how to grow, sell, and retire on your own terms.

A seasoned architect teaches ENR Deputy Editor Aileen Cho a thing or two about what goes into building facilities at economic, cultural and national borders. Sponsored by: https://ineight.com/

For firsthand accounts and expert insights on the trauma and aftermath of 10/7, Robert Siegel is joined by authors Lee Yaron (10/7: 100 Human Stories) and Ruby Namdar (The Ruined House), along with Dr. Michael Bahar of Israel's Rabin Medical Center. A program of AFRMC.

Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com   Join Clay Clark's Thrivetime Show Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com  **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

Robert Siegel returns with his annual discussion on the latest political trends in Washington, D.C., and what lies ahead for the year, with panelists Tamara Keith (NPR), E.J. Dionne, Jr. (Brookings Institution), and Evan Osnos (The New Yorker). A program of the American Friends of Rabin Medical Center (AFRMC).

In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen is joined by industry experts Robert Siegel (Siegel Design), Steven South (Spectorgroup), and Erin McDannald (Elevated) to explore the business case for sustainability. The discussion covers how companies are leveraging sustainable design to improve ROI, boost employee well-being, and increase building efficiency. Topics include material transparency, smart building technologies, and how sustainability impacts real estate values. Tune in for expert insights on the future of sustainable architecture and design.

Master holiday conversations.The holiday season is a time of joy, connection, and, occasionally, communication challenges and as we gather with family, friends, and colleagues, effective communication becomes crucial. To help make this time more enjoyable, this special Think Fast Talk Smart “Rethinks” episode revisits favorite “recipes” from past Stanford guests along with Matt's advice for tackling three common holiday scenarios: contributing effectively to ongoing conversations, engaging in meaningful small talk, and managing conflict with clarity and empathy. Whether it's making small talk or resolving conflicts, these strategies aim to turn holiday communication hurdles into opportunities for connection and collaboration.Episode Reference Links:Ep.169 Don't Be a ZQ: Make Your Conversations Count 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 (01:59) - Challenge 1: Inserting Your Voice into Conversations (03:14) - Expert Insights on Inserting Ideas (05:00) - Challenge 2: Mastering Small Talk (06:36) - Expert Strategies for Small Talk (08:38) - Challenge 3: Managing Holiday Conflicts (10:25) - Expert Tips for Conflict Resolution (12:02) - Conclusion

In a program of Moment Magazine, Robert Siegel is joined by former Lebanese journalist Hanin Ghaddar and Middle East analyst Aaron David Miller to discuss Israel's northern border and the continued threat from Hezbollah and Iran.

It's true that the world is beautiful. And it's also true that the beauty and goodness in the world can dissolve in front of us. Life is unpredictable, like the author of Ecclesiastes says, it's a “chasing after the wind.”   Click here for Robert Siegel's book A Pentecost of Finches. Here's a link to his poem "Aubade."  I love the Bible Project. Here's their summary of the book of Ecclesiastes.  Find the Lectio Divina scripture passage here. Here's a link to Micha's new book Blessed Are The Rest of Us: How Limits and Longing Make Us Whole. Find it at Target, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Leave a review for Blessed on Amazon here!  It's availble at 40% off the price of other booksellers at BakerBookHouse. Just use the code SLOWWAY at checkout. Learn more about Micha's other podcast The Lucky Few at their website and instagram.   Micha will be hosting a weekly virtual book club for paid subscribers this spring, following the release of her new book. If you're interested, become a paid subscriber and support her work! Here's a link to learn more. Find a transcript of this episode here.  Find Micha's website and sign up for her weekly newsletter here. Find Micha on Instagram.  Find Micha on Threads. 

Robert Siegel hosts David Folkenflik (NPR) and Len Downie (Arizona State University) to unpack the state of the media and current events during this presidential election year, in a program of the American Friends of Rabin Medical Center.

Robert Siegel explores the current status of the Israel-Hamas war and the political and diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving either a cease-fire or a long-term resolution, with leading experts Dennis Ross (Washington Institute for Near East Policy), Ghaith Al-Omari (Gilbert Foundation Senior Fellow), and Natan Sachs (Center for Middle East Policy).

Robert Siegel looks at what constitutes living well in matters of happiness, health faith and service to others with David Brooks (NYT), Robert Waldinger (Harvard Medical School), and Rabbi David Wolpe (Visiting Scholar, Harvard Divinity School)

Episode 69 of "Energy Joy" features a compelling discussion on stress management and wellness with renowned experts Robert Siegel, MS, and Asha McLaughlin. Siegel, drawing from his 30 years of expertise, introduces concepts like the "body stress factory" and the "3 treasures of health," emphasizing the importance of dynamic calm, energy joy, and genius focus. McLaughlin adds her perspective on stress management, advocating for the use of essential oils to promote wellness. The conversation delves into the idea of transcending physical limitations, exploring the potential of humans to heal and alter DNA through joy and energy. Stress management emerges as a crucial element in this journey towards prosperity, with practical strategies discussed, including deep breathing, self-awareness practices, and the use of essential oils to stimulate the limbic system. The episode highlights the Energy Joy Engine metaphor, illustrating how emitted energy can influence communication with wildlife and uplift events. Self-care is underscored as essential, with recommendations for natural products like rosemary and basil oil for adrenal support, and copaiba oil for nervous and immune system support. Stress is reframed as a signal for personal growth, encouraging listeners to understand its messages for realignment. Recognition, surrender, and the therapeutic use of essential oils are identified as key components in this healing process. The episode concludes with gratitude for the insightful discussion and an invitation for future guest speaker suggestions, along with an announcement of upcoming unrecorded group conversations. Stress Management and Health Promotion Discussion on Stress Management and Health Promotion Guests: Asha McLaughlin and Robert Simon Siegel, MS Siegel's 30-year expertise in stress management Introduced "body stress factory" and "3 treasures of health" Emphasized dynamic calm, energy joy, and genius focus McLaughlin's perspective on stress management and essential oils Aimed to provide practical strategies for stress management and wellness   Transcending Limits: Energy, Joy, and Prosperity Living in an energy-based reality Importance of joy for health and transformation Potential to heal and alter DNA Interactivity of reality and creating prosperity Stress management as a key step Dynamic calm, genius focus, and energy joy for a prosperous life   Stress Management With Energy Joy and Doterra Products Emphasis on energy and joy for stress reduction Recommendation of reading "Energy Joy, The Stress Fix" Transition to Doterra products by Asha Practices including deep breathing and self-awareness Use of essential oils to stimulate the limbic system Suggestions for using oils throughout the day and diffusing at home   Energy Joy Engine: Communicating With Wildlife Metaphor for emitted energy Example of communicating with a wild bull Ability to uplift events and communicate across species   Self-Care and Essential Oils for Stress Management Emphasis on importance of self-care Use of natural products like rosemary and basil oil for adrenal support Benefits of essential oils for stress and anxiety Effectiveness of copaiba oil for nervous, endocannabinoid, and immune systems Recommendation for daily use Discussion of adaptogenic systems and melissa oil for uplifting depression and anxiety   Stress as Signal for Growth: Team Explores Healing Process Stress as a signal for personal growth Importance of understanding stress messages for self-realignment Role of recognition, surrender, and essential oils in healing Josie's conclusion and appreciation for discussion Encouragement for future guest speaker suggestions Announcement of upcoming unrecorded group conversation About the Hosts: This podcast is a collaborative effort between doTERRA Presidential Diamond Aisha Harley, doTERRA Blue Diamond Dr. Josie Schmidt, doTERRA Blue Diamond Arin Fugate, and doTERRA Diamond Ariana Harley They are the founders of the Visionary Leaders Collective. Connect with us: Aisha Harley- www.aishaharley.com / Instagram @aisha.essentialwellness  Ariana Harley - https://www.arianaharley.com/ Josie Schmidt- FB Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/josie.h.schmidt Arin - https://msha.ke/jasmineandjuniper/ Contact Email: ariningraham@gmail.com Welcome to the Visionary Leaders Podcast Here you will gain the knowledge you need to bring essential oils, plant medicine, wisdom, supplementation, and functional medicine into your life. We have a weekly show: “Learn to Be the Healer in Your Home,” where we hear stories from our community on how they integrated essential oils, supplementation, and functional medicine into their lives as a pathway to healing.  

Robert Siegel examines the implications of growing up with social media and ubiquitous screens, with experts Sherry Turkley (MIT), Brian Merchant (tech columnist and author), and Jean Twenge (San Diego State University). A program of the American Friends of Rabin Medical Center (AFRMC).

Robert Siegel hosts as Israeli jurist Dorit Beinisch, Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, civil rights strategist Eric K Ward, and authors Anne Applebaum, Esther Foer and Dara Horn are honored by Moment Magazine. 

A little slice of pizza, a little slice of Parmesan, and a little slice of Italy all nestled here in a little slice of Alaska. Come along with co-hosts Lee and Charles as they sink their teeth into zeppole, All Things Considered, cafone, and more! At the end of the episode, Lauren returns once more to discuss her recent pilgrimage to Roslyn, the similarities between “Little Italy” and “Things Become Extinct,” and the woeful lack of Maggie in the role of the mayor, so stay around to hear it! listen to Robert Siegel's remembrance of Peg Phillips on "All Things Considered" here --> https://t.co/r2lETYEYYa See photos from Lauren's trip to Roslyn here --> https://t.co/8sGVXa9IVx patreon.com/northernoverexposurepodcast Theme music by Matt Jackson Podcast Artwork by Bball Y'all (bballyall.com) Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and SoundCloud. write in: northernoverexposurepodcast@gmail.com twitter: twitter.com/NorthernOverPod

Robert Siegel looks at the rise of antisemitism and asks what is being done, what can be done, and are there any new ideas to combat it, with panelists Ted Deutch (AJC), Tamara Berens (Tikva Fund), Georgette Bennett (Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding), Dan Granot (ADL). In a program of American Friends of Rabin Medical Center.

Dans la série Pam & Tommy, Tommy Lee se met soudain à parler d'amour avec… son sexe, qui lui répond comme s'il était doué d'une vie propre.Bienvenue dans l'univers des pénis qui parlent, et qui portent parfois un prénom. Un monde étrange et malaisant qui en dit beaucoup sur la façon dont notre société prend en compte ce que nous avons entre les jambes.Un mercredi sur deux, Mansplaining observe les masculinités à travers des œuvres culturelles et des faits d'actualité. Parce que la parole masculine est archi-dominante, sauf lorsqu'il s'agit de remettre en question les privilèges des hommes.Références:- Robert Siegel, Pam & Tommy, épisode 2: «I love you, Tommy», 2022- Ellen Scott, «These are the most popular penis pet names men in the UK are giving to their privates», Metro UK, 2018- Christophe Alévêque, «Ma bite parle», sur l'album En live avec son groupo- Granz Henman, Ils ne pensent vraiment qu'à ça, 2023- Maïa Mazaurette, Sortir du trou, Éditions Anne Carrière, 2020- Publicité Bráulio

In this episode we examine what it's like for a couple when both people work in the same field, are both creatives, what is their life like and what makes it unique? Our Guests are a married couple in the Entertainment Business. ROBERT SIEGEL is a New York City-based show runner and filmmaker. He is the creator of the recently released Hulu limited series WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES, as well as the Emmy-nominated PAM & TOMMY  also on Hulu. On the film side, he is the writer of THE WRESTLER, for which Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei earned Academy Award nominations, as well as THE FOUNDER starring Michael Keaton. His directorial debut BIG FAN was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. From 1996 to 2003, Siegel served as editor-in-chief of the satirical publication The Onion, where he won the 1999 Thurber Prize For American Humor and edited the number-one New York Times bestselling book "Our Dumb Century".  A NYC-based performer and creator, Jen Cohn is best known for her voice work as Pharah in OVERWATCH, Lord Zash in STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC, and Ursa in AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. She can currently be seen playing lawyer Cheryl Levine in the Hulu limited series WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES. When not doing voiceovers or acting on screen, Jen can be found at @HeyItsJenCohn, where she livestreams content devoted to personal style - plus ASK BIRD MOM, a real talk advice stream for gamers. She's a member of RUSTIC MASCARA, a virtual theater company bringing live Shakespearean performance into gaming.  All Music and Lyrics Performed in this episode by Co-Hosts and Producers, James Harrell and Ilyana Kadushin. *This interview was conducted before the WGA and Sag-Aftra Strike.  

Robert Siegel looks at the diminishing value of office buildings and asks who will be affected by a potential commercial real estate crisis, with panelists Scott Rechler (RXR Realty) Stijn Van Neiuwerburgh (Columbia) and Larry Suskind (MIT)

Robert Siegel looks at the essential questions of work, retirement, leadership, and aging with panelists Felix Benninger (Rabin Medical Center), Laura Carstensen (Stanford Center on Longevity) and Jeffrey Sonnenfeld (Yale School of Management). A program of AFRMC.

Position the spotlight on the dirty dance with the devil of VIP clubs, immigrant expectations and the American dream. Make it rain on the raining mens with Welcome to Chippendales this week.Website | Rotten Tomatoes | Apple | Patreon | Twitter | Instagram

Chris and Taylor review the biographical drama miniseries "Welcome to Chippendales" created by Robert Siegel and inspired by the book "Deadly Dance: The Chippendales Murders" by K. Scot Macdonald and Patrick MontesDeOca.  Steve Banerjee, an Indian immigrant seeking the American dream, builds the largest male strip joint only to burn it down in less than ten years and wind up an accessory to murder.  The show stars Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford, Juliette Lewis, Andrew Rannells, Robin de Jesús, Spencer Boldman, Nicola Peltz and Dan Stevens.Follow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepotentialpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepotentialpodcast/?ref=pages_you_manageTwitter: https://twitter.com/thepotentialpodThanks to our sponsor: Let's Get CheckedGet 25% off your health test at trylgc.com/potential and enter the promo code POTENTIAL25

“You have to be really agile and flexible, but also really stubborn about the problems you're going to solve,” says Alan Chiu, co-founder of Boba and its contributing company Enya.ai, about the dual attributes successful founders must possess. Blockchain technology, similarly, is a balance of traits. On one hand, it  offers a number of opportunities. The open source format and permissionless entree allow people who might otherwise be hindered by their geographical location, race, gender access to a business's information. This transparency has the potential to decentralize power, and form a system of checks and balances that keep everyone more honest. However, this type of demand on the system leads to slower performance and higher costs. This is where Boba comes in, as it's the only blockchain platform that takes advantage of blockchain's features while utilizing the sustainability of Web 2 infrastructure.  Alan discusses how the blockchain model makes money, how to identify the right time to execute on a plan. He talks about the most difficult aspect of scaling and how he approaches risk. First and foremost you must evaluate the founders when deciding to invest in companies, and that those founders must have a balance of strong convictions and openness to new ideas and methods.  Continuing the theme of balance, Alan discusses how he manages both the longterm and shortterm goals of his team. He gives his thoughts on the most common mistakes founders make when starting a company, and the most common reason they fail to scale.  Quotes: “If these cryptocurrencies increase in value, you are starting to build a pretty interesting portfolio without being subject to biases against age, gender, ethnicity, geographical location. And that's really powerful. This is the type of opportunity that used to be reserved for Silicon Valley engineers. Now anyone in the world can have access to. (9:05-9:29 | Alan) “The reason blockchains are always going to be much slower than a traditional web two infrastructure like AWS is because there's a cost to synchronizing all of these mills that the mega blockchain network with these centralized, the decentralized nature of blockchains is both a feature but also puts a limit on how many transactions you can do per unit time.” (13:26-13:47 | Alan) For any disruptive technology, in the early days, it's really hard to come up with something quantifiable and justify that with data, because everything is so new. (17:48-18:01 | Alan) “One of the most difficult aspects of being a founder is, on one hand, you've got to have strong conviction around your vision because there's going to be a lot of headwind and a lot of uncertainty, if you don't have strong conviction, it's really hard to sustain. On the other hand, you've got to be really open to advice and feedback, especially feedback from customers, whether they want what you're building or not. You're learning and adapting and changing to your customer feedback, and also to a changing competitive landscape and market dynamics and new technologies that continue to evolve.” (20:47-21:20 | Alan)  “Sometimes the best path forward is actually not commercializing the innovation itself. But finding some application for the innovation in a product or service. And commercializing that instead, and using the core innovation as a creative driver of a competitive advantage.” (52:01-53:01 | Alan) Links: Connect with Brendan Dell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendandell/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendanDell Instagram: @thebrendandellTikTok: @brendandell39 Buy a copy of Brendan's Book, The 12 Immutable Laws of High-Impact Messaging: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780578210926  Connect with Alan Chiu:Twitter:@alanchiuhttps://www.enya.ai/Check out Alan Chiu's recommended books:   Connect: Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends and Colleagues https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780593237090   The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780142001103   The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom by Henri J.M. Nouwen https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385483483   The Brains and Brawn Company: How Leading Organizations Blend the Best of Digital and Physical by Robert Siegel  https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781264257775 Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Billion Dollar Tech on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Use code Brendan30 for 30% off your annual membership with RiverSide.fm  Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Writer-director Robert Siegel wanted to explore a career in either comedy or journalism. It turns out he got to do both as Editor-in-Chief of The Onion. But while The Onion was mostly comedy tinged with tragedy, Robert tells Marc how he wanted to flip that dynamic once he started writing screenplays. They talk about how the stories he told in The Wrestler, Big Fan, The Founder, Pam and Tommy, and now Welcome to Chippendales all begin with a very specific type of great American tragic hero. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isaac Asimov was one of the most prolific authors in history. He was best known as a pathbreaking sci-fi writer, but his more than 500 books also included volumes on the Greeks, the Romans, Shakespeare, the Bible, and much more. He was one of the most learned men in history.  But in 1935, 15-year-old Asimov was rejected by Columbia University. Admissions officials instead directed him to Seth Low Junior College, a separate campus in Brooklyn, 11 miles from Columbia's Morningside Heights campus.  What was Seth Low Junior College, and why was the brilliant Isaac Asimov sent there instead? Seth Low Junior College, which existed from 1928 to 1938, was one of Columbia's many attempts to deal with a changing student population that they felt was contaminating its pristine, Protestant campus. And it's part of the bigger story of how the Ivy League resistance to outsiders shaped all of higher education as we know it.  In the first episode of Gatecrashers, a new podcast from Tablet Studios, you'll hear about the lengths Columbia went to in order to limit the number of Jewish students. The invention of the college application itself, the admissions interview, the push for geographical diversity, and more—all elements of the college admissions process as we know it today—trace back to Columbia's effort to keep out the Jews. You'll hear from NPR's Robert Siegel, former Columbia College Dean Robert Pollack, historian Robert McCaughey, sci-fi scholar Alfred Guy, and Dr. Leeza Hirt, whose undergraduate reporting unearthed the history of Seth Low Junior College.