Explore every episode of the podcast Frontiers

Ian Hallett hosts the Frontiers podcast, is a Group Managing Director at global flexible workspace provider IWG plc and is completing a PhD at the business school and grande école ESCP in Paris.

This is the final episode of Frontiers, and I felt it appropriate to share an interview I did for the Show Up! podcast, in which I shared my leadership journey.

It's been a privilege to speak with the amazing guests I've had on Frontiers. My heartfelt thanks to all of them and to you, the regular listeners.

I am now focusing on my new project, Leaders of the People, which aims to democratise leadership education. Perhaps one day, I will relaunch Frontiers as part of this, but for now, it's been an amazing experience. Thanks again.

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David Gann CBE is Chair of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions and Emeritus Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and Imperial College London. Professor Gann is a globally recognised leader in innovation, technology management and entrepreneurship.

In our second conversation, David Gann and I discussed his efforts to lead the UK's Nuclear Fusion programme, a first-of-a-kind project (worldwide) that could provide limitless, clean, cheap energy.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Stefano Puntoni is the Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School. 

Check out episode 24 for the full conversation.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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David Stillwell is Professor of Computational Social Science at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. Prof. Stillwell’s research uses big data to understand psychology.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Sir Geoff Mulgan CBE is Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation at University College London (UCL).  

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Eero Vaara is Professor in Organisations and Impact at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Eero’s research focuses on strategic and institutional change. He is a world leading expert in discursive and narrative perspectives.

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Michael Haenlein is a Professor of Marketing at ESCP Business School, and holds Visiting Positions at Kozminski University in Warsaw (Poland) and Trinity Business School in Dublin, Ireland. 

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Luke Smith is the Founder and CEO of Croud, a leading independent digital agency. Croud has become a full-service global business, delivering innovative marketing solutions to top brands like Amazon Prime Video, Nespresso, and Ford.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Alex Wagner is a Professor of Finance at the University of Zurich (UZH) and a senior chair of the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI). He is the Chairman of the Executive Education of the UZH Faculty of Business, Economics, and Informatics and Co-Head of the UZH Center for Crisis Competence. He has served as chairman of a proxy advisor and as an independent counsel for PwC. His research focuses on corporate finance, sustainable finance, and behavioural economics.

Check out episode 12 for the full conversation.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Jonathan Trevor is Professor of Management Practice Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He teaches on international executive education programmes and the Oxford MBA, Management Diplomas, and Executive MBA. An expert on strategy and organisation, Prof. Trevor is the author of Align: A Leadership Blueprint for Aligning Purpose, Strategy and Organisation (2019) and Re:Align: A Leadership Blueprint to Overcome Disruption.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Matthew Grimes is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Futures at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. Professor Grimes examines how individuals and organisations create, introduce, and sustain positive social change through entrepreneurship.

See episode 11 for the full conversation.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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David Gann CBE is Chair of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions and Emeritus Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and Imperial College London. Professor Gann is a globally recognised leader in innovation, technology management and entrepreneurship.

Learn about what 'innovation' truly means and all the steps involved in successfully commercialising new ideas. Explore the challenges leaders face when pursuing innovation and the importance of learning from failure. How innovation will play a crucial role in tackling global challenges.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Kerstin Alfes is Professor of Organisation and Human Resource Management at ESCP, with research interests including Diversity and Inclusion, Neurodiversity, Strategic Human Resource Management, employee engagement, overqualification and volunteering.

See episode 9 for the full conversation.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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The need for focus and minimising distractions is the key to success in the midst of technological change. Learn the truth about the implementation of artificial intelligence and how we need to prepare for a changing job landscape.

Terence Tse is a Professor at Hult International Business School and a co-founder of artificial intelligence studio, Nexus FrontierTech. Professor Tse specialises in the development and integration of artificial intelligence solutions to save time, money and resources through increased process efficiencies.

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Florian Lüdeke-Freund is Professor for Corporate Sustainability at ESCP Business School with expertise in corporate sustainability management and sustainability entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on values-based innovation and sustainable business models. 

Check out episode 7 for the full conversation.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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In this episode discover what it takes to become an effective leader. Having clarity and purpose is crucial for organisational success as well as assembling diverse teams and understanding different personality types.

Paul Pester is the Chair of Tandem Bank, and previously Group CEO of Virgin Money, which he led the business to become one of the first digital consumer financial services in the UK, and CEO of UK challenger bank, TSB.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Mark Maslin is Professor of Earth System Science at the University College London, a Royal Society Industrial Fellowship, Executive Director of Rezatec Ltd and Director of The London NERC Doctoral Training Partnership.

Check out episode 5 for the full conversation.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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An insight into the potential benefits of artificial intelligence, without losing sight of risks that come with it. Learn about the different views on whether AI will transition into an AGI. How you can develop skills to adapt to AI's growing influence in everyday life.

Anindya Ghose is a Professor of Technology and Marketing at New York University's Stern School of Business, as well as the director of Masters of Business Analytics program at NYU stern. Professor Ghose specialises in digital marketing and business analytics and uses his skills to be an expert witness for companies such as Apple and Google.

Professor Ghose's latest book, Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI, is out on 8 October. You can order it here.

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Professor Mauro F. Guillén is the William H. Wurster Professor and a Vice Dean at the Wharton School, a former Dean of Cambridge Judge Business School and Guggenheim and Fulbright Fellow. Author of ten books and over 40 scholarly articles.

Check out episode 1 for the full episode.

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How personal experiences change your perception of stock returns. The people you surround yourself with shape your risk profile, crucially your spouse. Learn about the phenomenon known as the 'disposition effect' and how it influences stock returns.

Constantinos Antoniou is an Associate Professor of Finance and Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School. Professor Antoniou focuses his research on behavioural finance addressing corporate decisions and empirical asset pricing.

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Hi there,

Here's a short message to introduce the next phase of the Frontiers podcast.

Now publishing 2x per week, Monday and Thursday, with interviews with business school professors and outstanding business leaders.

Tell your friends!

Thanks for listening.

Ian

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Hi there,

Here's a short message ahead of my summer break.

Back in September with a bigger and better podcast.

Thanks for listening.

Ian

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We like to think of our global energy system as a well-oiled machine, transitioning smoothly from fossil fuels to renewable sources. But, as we learn in this episode, the situation is much more difficult.

Michael Bradshaw is a Professor of Global Energy at Warwick Business School. Professor Bradshaw's research on the geopolitical economy of global energy has examined the role of foreign investment in Russia's oil and gas industry, global energy dilemmas and the interrelationship between energy security, climate change and economic globalisation.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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How subtle factors like familiarity, cognitive ease, and self-serving biases can sway our choices without us realising it. Learn how to bring these to the surface to help you make better decisions.

Özgün Atasoy is an Associate Professor of Marketing at Warwick Business School. Professor Atasoy is an expert on consumer decision-making, particularly in consumer-technology interactions, consumer choice, and financial decisions.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Learn how to influence others regardless of your position, gender or background.

Connson Chou Locke is a Professor in Management at the London School of Economics (LSE) where she teaches Leadership, Organisational Behaviour, and Negotiation and Decision Making.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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We like to think we’re making decisions, but we are not. We’re often just rationalising pre-existing biases. The decision is already made.

Vincent Mak is Professor of Marketing and Decision Sciences and a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Cambridge Judge Business School.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Sarah Hall is Professor of Geography and Fellow of St John’s College at the University of Cambridge. Professor Hall is a public economic geographer whose work focuses on the uneven impacts of profound economic change, including Brexit, the changing economic position of China internationally, and the rise of finance-led capitalism.

Summary

Professor Hall discusses the uneven impacts of profound economic changes such as the 2007-2008 financial crisis, Brexit, and the rise of China. She explains how economic change affects different regions differently based on their economic history, labour market, and regulatory regime. She also highlights the regenerative capacities of cities like London, which have the ability to respond to crises by innovating in new markets. The conversation explores the changing economic order due to China's growth and its impact on global finance. Additionally, the discussion touches on the pressing economic issues of regional inequality in the UK and the changing relationship between the US and China.

Takeaways

• Economic change affects different regions differently based on their economic history, labour market, and regulatory regime.
• Cities like London have regenerative capacities that allow them to respond to crises by innovating in new markets.
• China's growth is reshaping the global economic order, particularly in the realm of finance.
• Regional inequality is a pressing economic issue in the UK, with lower productivity in large cities outside of London.
• The changing relationship between the US and China has significant implications for global trade and geopolitics.

Key Moments

02:25 The Role of an Economic Geographer

08:04 The Impact of Economic Change on Geographies

15:12 Research on the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis

45:10 Pressing Economic Issues in the UK and Globally

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Alixandra Barasch is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Colorado. Having earned her Ph.D. in Marketing from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, she was previously an Assistant Professor at New York University and a Visiting Associate Professor at INSEAD. Alix studies how new technologies are fundamentally reshaping consumer behaviour and well-being.

Summary

Professor Barasch discusses why humans engage in social media and the psychological motives behind sharing information online. She explores self-focused motives, such as impression management and emotion regulation, and other-focused motives, such as sharing useful content and finding common ground. The research suggests that authenticity and empathy are crucial in how others perceive pro-social behaviour online.

Takeaways

• People share information on social media for both self-focused and other-focused motives.
• Self-focused motives include impression management and emotion regulation, while other-focused motives involve sharing useful content and finding common ground.
• Sharing good deeds on social media can be perceived as authentic pro-social behaviour if it conveys empathy and emotions.
• The order and context of sharing information on social media can influence how others perceive the motives behind the behaviour.
• Authenticity and empathy are key factors in shaping the perception of pro-social behaviour online. Impression management plays a significant role in our online presence, and there are trade-offs between authenticity and polish.
• Photo sharing can enhance enjoyment and immersion in positive experiences, but the goal and context of the photos matter.
• Phone addiction is a real concern, especially in terms of social interactions and well-being.

Key Moments

01:47 Exploring the Psychological Motives Behind Social Media Engagement

05:15 Understanding the Reasons for Sharing Information Online

10:27 Exploring the Motivations for Doing Good Deeds

29:12 Impression Management in the Online Space

39:45 The Effects of Photo Taking

47:19 Addressing Phone Addiction

51:22 Considering Others in Technology Use

55:15 Nuances and Trade-Offs of Technology

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Stefano Puntoni is the Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School. Prior to joining Penn, Professor Puntoni was a professor of marketing and head of department at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, in the Netherlands. He holds a PhD in marketing from London Business School and a degree in Statistics and Economics from the University of Padova in his native Italy.

Summary

In this conversation, Professor Stefano Puntoni discusses the potential of generative AI. The conversation covers topics such as the foundational technology behind generative AI, prompt engineering strategies, and the organisational adoption of generative AI. Professor Puntoni addresses the ethics of using AI tools, emphasizing the importance of responsible use. He predicts that the marketing industry will undergo significant changes in the next five years, with automation playing a larger role in tactical execution while human judgment remains crucial in strategic decision-making. The conversation explores the impact of generative AI on career development and the importance of complementing AI rather than trying to substitute it. The discussion also highlights the skills that machines lack, such as causal reasoning, critical thinking, and moral judgment. The conversation then shifts to the organizational adoption of AI, with advice on how senior management can approach AI implementation.

Takeaways

• Generative AI has the potential to automate certain aspects of the business but does not diminish the role of human creativity.
• The marketing industry will undergo significant changes in the next five years, with automation playing a larger role in tactical execution.
• Human judgment and strategic decision-making will remain crucial.
• The ethics of using AI tools should be carefully considered and responsible use is important.
• New job opportunities will emerge in the field of generative AI, such as large language model optimisation. Generative AI is likely to have a significant impact on career development.
• Rather than trying to substitute AI, it is important to complement it by developing skills that machines lack.
• Skills such as causal reasoning, critical thinking, and moral judgment are valuable in the AI era.
• Organisations should approach AI implementation with intellectual humility, curiosity, and flexibility.

Key Moments

07:21 The Future Potential of Generative AI

26:18 New Job Opportunities in Generative AI

33:31 Complementing AI: Developing Skills Machines Lack

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Dr. James B. Rieley is an advisor to CEOs and senior leadership teams in both Europe and America. Dr. Rieley, who has an earned doctorate degree in Organisational Effectiveness, additionally has a B.S. in Business Administration, and was the president of a successful plastics manufacturing company for over 20 years. After selling his company in 1987, he began to work with organisations in the area of decision-making and realising personal and collective organisational potential.

Summary

Dr. Rieley discusses the attributes of effective leaders and the importance of creating an environment where individuals and organisations can realise their potential. He emphasises the shift from efficiency to effectiveness and the need for leaders to focus on thinking, influencing, achieving, and leading. Dr. Rieley also highlights the value of systems thinking in understanding the cause and effect relationships within organisations. Additionally, he advises influencing others and driving cultural change within an organisation. In this conversation, Dr. James Rieley discusses the importance of understanding mental models and how they impact decision-making and behavior. He explains that mental models are the key to making fundamental changes in a cultural environment and that they have a greater impact than strategy or market share. He emphasises the need for leaders to embrace change and think long-term, as well as the importance of understanding the future of work and being flexible in organisational structures.

Takeaways

• Leadership is about creating an environment for individuals and organisations to realise their potential.
• Effective leaders focus on thinking, influencing, achieving, and leading.
• Systems thinking helps understand cause and effect relationships within organisations.
• Asking questions is a powerful way to influence others.
• Cultural change requires addressing policies, procedures, and mental models. Understanding mental models is crucial for making fundamental changes in a cultural environment.
• Mental models have a greater impact on decision-making and behaviour than strategy or market share.
• Unpacking and analysing mental models can be done by identifying variables and their connections through cause and effect relationships.
• Leaders need to embrace change and think long-term, considering the future of work and being flexible in organisational structures.

Key Moments

05:18 Creating an Environment for Potential

33:36 Influencing Through Questions

44:37 Long-Term Thinking and Better Decisions

53:57 The Future of Work and Adaptability

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Sir Geoff Mulgan CBE is Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation at University College London (UCL). Prior to that he was Chief Executive of Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation. Between 1997 and 2004, Geoff had roles in the UK government, including director of the Government’s Strategy Unit and head of policy in the Prime Minister’s office. From 2004 to 2011, he was the first Chief Executive of The Young Foundation. He was the first director of the think-tank Demos and has been a reporter on BBC TV and radio.

Summary

Professor Sir Geoff Mulgan discusses the concept of collective intelligence and its importance in solving complex problems. He shares his diverse career journey and emphasises the value of being useful and working with intelligent pioneers. The definition of intelligence is explored, highlighting the capacity to make choices and the various functions and capacities that contribute to intelligence. The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in collective intelligence is discussed, with AI being effective in certain tasks but lacking creativity, judgment, and wisdom. It also delves into the discussion around education and work, highlighting the importance of preparing individuals for the future job market and the shortcomings of current education systems. The conversation emphasises the need for education systems to become more collectively intelligent and adaptive to the changing needs of the workforce. It concludes with advice for young people to cultivate deep knowledge in a specific field while also developing a wide range of skills and engaging with the arts.

Takeaways

• Collective intelligence is intelligence at a large scale and is crucial for solving complex problems.
• Intelligence is the capacity to make choices and encompasses functions such as memory, observation, creativity, judgment, and wisdom.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) is effective in tasks like observation, prediction, and memory, but lacks creativity, judgment, and wisdom.
• The combination of human and machine intelligence is often more effective than relying solely on AI.
• Replicating human wisdom in AI is challenging due to the ability to understand context and relate knowledge to specific situations. Incorporating wisdom into AI systems is a challenge that requires engaging with the lessons of wisdom and considering ethics, long-term perspectives, and the ability to make judgments.
• Education systems need to adapt to the changing needs of the future job market and focus on developing both technical and generic skills such as communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity.
• Education systems should aim to become more collectively intelligent by using data, evidence, and experimentation to improve teaching methods and navigate the complexities of the future.
• Individuals should cultivate deep knowledge in a specific field while also developing a wide range of skills and engaging with the arts to stay relevant and adaptable in a rapidly changing world.
• Optimism and positive imagination are important for envisioning and working towards a better future, despite the challenges and pessimism that exist.

Key Moments

08:20 Exploring the Definition of Intelligence

16:16 The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Collective Intelligence

30:07 Adapting Education Systems for the Future Job Market

36:20 Cultivating Deep Knowledge and Wide Skills for Success

52:02 Embracing Optimism and Positive Imagination for the Future

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Catherine Barnard is a leading Professor in EU law and Employment law at the University of Cambridge, author of three of the primary textbooks in the field, deputy director of UK in a Changing Europe, a non-partisan think-tank looking at the implications of Brexit and its aftermath.

Summary

This episode is a wake-up call. It explores the experiences of EU migrant workers in the UK, focusing on their living conditions, challenges, integration into local communities, and the impact of Brexit. The conversation highlights the exploitation and poor treatment faced by migrant workers, including the withholding of passports and deductions from their income. It also discusses the lack of support and resources for migrant workers, such as limited access to healthcare and language barriers. The episode emphasises the need for better integration efforts and addresses the potential future challenges posed by an ageing population of migrant workers.

Takeaways

• EU migrant workers in the UK often face exploitative living conditions and poor treatment, including the withholding of passports and deductions from their income.
• There is a lack of support and resources for migrant workers, such as limited access to healthcare and language barriers.
• Integration into local communities is challenging due to long working hours, exhaustion, and language barriers.
• The impact of migration and lack of integration played a significant role in the Brexit vote, with some communities feeling left behind and experiencing a changing identity.
• The ageing population of EU migrant workers poses future challenges, including increased healthcare needs.

Key Moments

02:03 Living Conditions and Exploitation

06:32 Challenges Faced by EU Migrant Workers

12:28 UK's Decision to Allow Unrestricted Access

14:54 Living Conditions and Slavery-like Practices

24:18 Access to Healthcare

27:11 Integration into Local Communities

34:14 Impact of Lack of Integration on Brexit

37:11 Migration and the Decision to Move

41:50 Future Challenges and Aging Population

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Thomas Sampson is a Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics. His research studies the impact of globalisation on workers, firms, and productivity. Thomas is also an academic adviser to the Bank of England and an associate at the Centre for Economic Performance, where he has worked extensively on the economic consequences of Brexit.

Summary:

This conversation is nothing short of a masterclass in international trade. We cover a wide range of topics, including the importance of trade for economic prosperity, the historical context of international trade, the role of tariffs, the impact of Brexit on UK-EU trade, and the intersection of international trade and climate change. Professor Sampson provides insights into the complexities and challenges of these issues, highlighting the need for cooperation and global solutions.

Key Moments:

06:29 What is International Trade and Why is it Important

09:24 Historical Context of International Trade

14:57 Tariffs and Their Role in International Trade

20:14 Winners and Losers in International Trade

28:27 The Impact of Brexit on UK-EU Trade

40:04 The Intersection of International Trade and Climate Change

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Andrew Beggs is a Professor of Cancer Genetics & Surgery at the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, and the Deputy Director of the Birmingham Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre and Theme Lead for Biomarkers and Liquid Biopsy. He is also Head of Somatic Cancer in the Central and South Genomic Medicine Service Alliance and Co-Lead of the Translational Biology and Genetics research theme within the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences. He is a fellow of the Alan Turing Institute and has recently been awarded an MRC Senior Clinical Fellowship.

Summary

This conversation explores the role of genetics in cancer and why the disease is hard to treat. It discusses assessing cancer risk and the benefits of annual MRI scans. Advances in less invasive and targeted therapies are highlighted, along with the importance of accessing new treatments and seeking second opinions. The conversation also touches on the progress in treatments, the cost of care, cancer genetics research, ways to reduce cancer risk, and the uncertain effects of vaping.

Key Moments

02:13 Understanding cancer

07:36 Why is cancer difficult to treat?

13:12 Assessing personal risk of cancer

16:01 The effectiveness of annual MRI scans

24:55 Advancements in Less Invasive and Targeted Therapies

28:20 Availability and Access to New Treatments

29:04 Importance of Seeking Second Opinions

31:59 Progress in Cancer Treatment and Cures

33:38 The Cost of Cancer Treatments

36:42 Cancer Genetics Research and its Process

44:19 Reducing the Risk of Cancer

46:14 Vaping and its Unknown Effects on Cancer

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Professor Jonathan Portes is one of the UK's leading economists and a Professor of Economics and Public Policy at King's College London. Professor Portes has previously served as chief economist at the Department of Work and Pensions and chief economist at the Cabinet Office.

Summary

Professor Portes explores the economic impacts of immigration, the misconceptions surrounding it, and the political use of immigration as a tool. He also explores the concerns of today's labour market, the potential impact of technology on inequality, and the challenges of transitioning to a sustainable economy. The conversation emphasises the need for scenario planning and a broader range of perspectives when considering the future.

Key Moments

03:19 Misconceptions of Immigration

09:31 Political Use of Immigration

16:13 Population Demographics and Immigration

27:41 Concerns in Today's Labor Market

35:33 Impact of Technology on Inequality

44:18 Transitioning to a Sustainable Economy

46:51 Advice for Businesses

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Ioannis Ioannou is one of the world’s leading experts on Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School. Professor Ioannou regularly publishes in top-tier peer-reviewed academic journals, including Strategic Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Management Science, and Organization Science. Professor Ioannou is also the co-Chair of the Sustainability Advisory Panel of Merck, a member of the ESG Advisory Board of the DWS Group, a member of the Advisory Board of the Sustainable Risk Assessment Framework (SRAF), the Board of the Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability (ARCS), serves as an Advisor to TreeApp, and a member of the World Economic Forum Expert Network. Learn more here: www.ioannou.us

Summary

Professor Ioannou discusses the need for sustainability and corporate social responsibility to be central to the strategies of organisations. He explores the fall of Kodak and Blockbuster as analogies for organizations that fail to adapt to these new demands. Professor Ioannou defines sustainability and corporate social responsibility as integrating environmental and social issues into business. He emphasises the importance of understanding the evolving nature of these challenges. Professor Ioannou also discusses the connection between corporate strategy and sustainability, the trade-offs and opportunities of sustainability, and the challenges of transitioning to a sustainable business model. He highlights the role of disruptive innovation and the clashing capabilities and competencies that organizations may face. Ioannou addresses the balance between short-term results and long-term transformation and the role of investors in the transition to sustainability. He concludes by providing advice for business leaders on how to approach sustainability.

Key Moments

04:21 Defining Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility

05:17 The Conceptual Level of Sustainability

06:14 The Evolving Nature of Sustainability Challenges

09:28 The Connection Between Corporate Strategy and Sustainability

10:22 The Goal of Shareholder Value and Sustainability

11:16 The Two Stories of Sustainability

12:39 The Trade-offs and Opportunities of Sustainability

14:29 Disruption and Clashing Capabilities

20:34 Navigating the Disruption of Sustainability

21:32 Disruption by Sustainability and Ethics

22:27 Technological Innovation and Sustainability

23:23 Customer Changes and Sustainability

24:18 Clashing Capabilities and Competencies

27:37 Structural Inertia and Transitioning to Renewables

28:32 The Challenge of Competing with Two Business Models

31:15 The Rate of Change in Sustainability

33:37 Balancing Short-Term Results and Long-Term Transformation

36:27 The Role of Investors in the Transition to Sustainability

47:28 Advice for Business Leaders

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Alison Taylor is a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business and Executive Director of Ethical Systems. Professor Taylor has spent the past two decades consulting with multinational companies on risk, anti-corruption, sustainability, human rights, culture and behavior, stakeholder engagement, ESG, and ethics and compliance – including as a senior advisor at sustainability nonprofit BSR, a member of the Board at Venture ESG, and a sustainability adviser at Zai Lab, KKR, and Pictet Group.

Summary

Professor Alison Taylor discusses the concept of being a good business and the challenges and complexities surrounding it. She emphasizes the need for a better conversation about the role of business in society and the importance of clarity and honesty in addressing ethical questions. Professor Taylor also explores the tension between shareholder value and other objectives, the limitations of rating agencies, and the need for organizations to focus on managing their negative impacts. She highlights the qualities of effective leaders and the importance of culture in driving change. Ultimately, she calls for better questions and a more systemic approach to addressing the challenges facing businesses today.

Key Moments

00:59 What does it mean to be a good business?

04:42 Disconnects and challenges in the business world

05:12 Rating agencies and the limitations of transparency

06:32 Tension between shareholder value and other objectives

07:31 The need for a better conversation about business in society

08:01 The problem with stakeholder rhetoric

09:26 Moving from transparency to accountability

10:55 The limitations of rating agencies

11:24 The challenges of measuring ESG performance

12:47 The problems with corporate advocacy

13:39 The fantasy of transparency leading to accountability

20:05 The role of business in society

22:02 The need for companies to manage their negative impacts

23:15 Holding companies accountable through employees and social media

24:36 The qualities of effective leaders in driving change

26:28 The challenge of changing entrenched thinking at the top

27:53 When CEOs and leaders should speak out on social and political issues

29:32 The importance of having a process for making decisions on contentious issues

34:39 The ingredients of a healthy culture

37:02 The need for organizations to make a conscious choice to transform

40:06 The challenges and uncertainties of the future

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Anand Menon is a Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at Kings College London, director of the UK in a Changing Europe (an initiative that aims to make the findings of social scientific research available and accessible to all non-academic audiences interested in Brexit, the Brexit process and its implications), an associate fellow of Chatham House and Senior Associate member of Nuffield College, Oxford and co-editor of the journal West European Politics. 

Summary

This conversation explores the history, dynamics, and external factors influencing the UK-EU relationship, with a focus on Brexit. The conversation begins with the drivers and history of Brexit, including the UK's skepticism towards the EU and contingent factors such as the Eurozone crisis and migration. The discussion then delves into the current dynamics of the UK-EU relationship, the success or failure of Brexit, and the impact of external factors such as NATO and conflicts. The conversation also covers the UK-EU Divergence Tracker, the importance of regulatory alignment, and the future of UK-EU relations.

Key Moments

00:57 The History and Drivers of Brexit

08:24 The Method of Decision-Making: Referendum

09:22 Brexit: Success or Failure?

16:23 The Windsor Framework and the Northern Ireland Protocol

19:44 The Importance of UK-EU Regulatory Alignment

22:08 The Motivation for UK-EU Influence

27:43 The Role of International Organizations (NATO and the UN)

28:13 The Role of World Powers (USA and China)

38:19 Collaboration and Cooperation in Conflicts (Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Hamas)

40:35 The Future of UK-EU Relations

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Michael Haenlein is a leading expert on the impact of new technologies on firms and consumers, a Professor of Marketing at ESCP Business School, and holds Visiting Positions at Kozminski University in Warsaw and Trinity Business School in Dublin. He examines issues such as video gaming, mobile gaming, artificial intelligence, social media, and influencer marketing and has published over 50 articles in academic and practitioner-oriented journals. As a consultant, he has worked with many international companies in various industry sectors, such as telecommunications, financial services, technology, and private equity.

Summary

Professor Haenlein discusses the future of social media, the shift towards authenticity and interactivity, the impact of social media on relationships and trust, and the responsibility of social media platforms. He also explores the consequences of social media on mental health and polarisation, the perception of distraction and overstimulation, the rise of streaming and individual content creators, and the disruption of traditional media organisations. The conversation highlights the challenges of content creation and quality, as well as the concentration of platforms and the democratisation of content creation. 

The conversation then explores gaming as a form of entertainment, debunking misconceptions and highlighting its size and reach. It delves into the time consumption and active engagement in gaming, as well as the social connections and virtual world it offers. The discussion also touches on advertising in games and the potential gamification of TV and films. The impact of AI on customised entertainment is explored, and the importance of understanding new technologies through personal use is emphasised.

Key Moments

01:27 The Future of Social Media

04:24 Authenticity and Interactivity in Social Media

13:11 The Impact of Social Media on Trust and Misinformation

20:32 The Design and Responsibility of Social Media Platforms

23:56 The Consequences of Social Media on Mental Health and Polarization

26:12 The Perception of Distraction and Overstimulation

30:29 The Rise of Streaming and Individual Content Creators

36:18 The Disruption of Traditional Media Organizations

40:34 The Challenge of Content Creation and Quality

47:32 The Concentration of Platforms and Democratization of Content Creation

51:43 Gaming as a Form of Entertainment

52:39 Misconceptions about Gaming

53:40 Size and Reach of the Gaming Industry

54:07 Time Consumption in Gaming

55:33 Active Engagement and Social Connections in Gaming

56:29 Gaming as a Virtual World

57:23 Advertising in Games

01:01:13 Gamification of TV and Films

01:02:37 AI and Customized Entertainment

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Dr. Felix Gille is a leading expert on trust in the healthcare system and a research scientist at the University of Zurich. Dr. Gille's work is widely published in top academic journals, and he has recently published his first book, What Is Public Trust in the Health System?

Summary

Dr. Felix Gille discusses the concept of trust and its importance in the healthcare system. He explains that trust is a relational construct between individuals and that it is built through positive shared experiences and reputation. Dr. Gille distinguishes between individual and public trust, highlighting that public trust is a relationship between the public and the state. He emphasises the significance of public trust in the healthcare system, as it leads to legitimacy and participation. Dr. Gille also explores the challenges and strategies for fostering public trust, including clear communication, system guarantees, and autonomy.

Additionally, he discusses the concept of trust in artificial intelligence in healthcare and the need for a coherent understanding of trust in AI. This conversation explores the importance of trust in healthcare and how it can be built and maintained. The discussion highlights the role of communication, transparency, patient-centric care, and technology in fostering trust. It also addresses the challenges to trust in healthcare and proposes trust as a performance indicator. Overall, the conversation emphasises the significance of trust in improving healthcare outcomes and calls for its integration into the healthcare system.

Key Moments

01:23 Understanding Trust

11:31 Public Trust in the Health System

19:45 Demographic Attitudes towards Trust in the Health System

22:09 Attitudes towards Data Sharing

28:17 Fostering Public Trust in the Health System

41:13 Trust in the COVID-19 Vaccine

47:01 Trust in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Professor Alexander Wagner is one of the world's leading financial economists, a Professor at the Department of Banking and Finance of the University of Zurich (UZH) and a senior chair of the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI). Professor Wagner has taught corporate finance to thousands of students and hundreds of executives, and he has helped shape the governance systems of companies, large and small. He is the Chairman of the Executive Education of the UZH Faculty of Business, Economics, and Informatics and Co-Head of the UZH Center for Crisis Competence. He has served as chairman of a proxy advisor and as an independent counsel for PwC. His research focuses on corporate finance, sustainable finance, and behavioural economics.

Key Moments:

01:16 Professor Wagner's Research Interests

03:12 Impact of Surprise Elections on Stock Market

19:02 Why Do Share Prices of Companies Change?

23:50 Connection between Financial Crisis and COVID Deaths

40:12 Do Investors Care About Biodiversity?

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Professor Matthew Grimes is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Futures at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. Professor Grimes examines how individuals and organisations create, introduce, and sustain positive social change through entrepreneurship. He’s a member of the Organisational Theory and Information Systems subject group at Cambridge Judge Business School, Academic Co-Director of the Cambridge Judge Entrepreneurship Centre, and current Associate Editor at the Academy of Management Journal.

Key Moments:

01:21 Defining Social Entrepreneurship

06:39 The Purpose of Business

07:06 The Historical Background of Social Entrepreneurship

13:13 Government Support for Social Entrepreneurship

16:32 Convergence of Social and Traditional Entrepreneurship

20:56 The Role of Business in Society

23:20 Examples of Social Entrepreneurship

28:03 Challenges for Social Entrepreneurs

34:18 Government Support for Social Entrepreneurship

37:11 Advice for Social Entrepreneurs

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Professor Thorsten Wuest is a leading expert on Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and Digital Supply Networks and a Professor of Smart Manufacturing at West Virginia University. His research focuses on Smart Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Industry 4.0, Servitization, and Digital Supply Networks. He is globally recognised as one of the 20 most influential professors in smart manufacturing whose work has been featured by Forbes, IndustryWeek, and the World Economic Forum, in addition to the premier academic outlets in his field.

Key Moments:

01:25 Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

13:48 Role of Artificial Intelligence in Smart Manufacturing

28:37 Digital Supply Networks

45:43 Servitization

54:47 Importance of Data and Objectives

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Professor Kerstin Alfes is one of the world's leading experts on diversity and inclusion and human resource management, and a Professor of Organisation and Human Resource Management at ESCP Business School. Professor Alfes is one of the most cited researchers in the World (top 2%, according to Stanford), whose work has been published in some of the most respected and widely read academic journals.

This conversation is nothing short of a masterclass in diversity, inclusion, and neurodiversity.

Key Moments:

01:25 Defining Diversity and Inclusion

02:22 Dimensions of Diversity

06:03 Evolution of Diversity and Inclusion

08:28 Why Diverse Organizations Outperform

11:52 Managing Conflict in Diverse Organizations

14:46 Case Study: Lack of Inclusion in a Diverse Organization

16:38 Creating Inclusion in Organizations

18:30 Addressing Language and Communication in Inclusive Cultures

20:17 Supporting Neurodiversity in the Workplace

41:11 Navigating Conversations about Neurodiversity

45:31 The Importance of Awareness and Education

48:50 Inclusion Practices for Neurodiversity

50:13 The Role of Education in Creating Inclusive Societies

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Dr. Gordon McGranahan is one of the World's leading urban development scientists with a particular specialism in urbanisation. Gordon has worked with the World Bank, the Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Stockholm Environmental Institute, and has published over 200 articles in leading scientific journals.

My conversation with Dr. McGranahan covers urbanisation, its history and its future developments with a particular focus on low-elevation deltas, which are urban areas where more than 300 million people live around the world and are at or close to sea level and, therefore, at significant risk to climate change and extreme weather events.

Key Moments:

01:28 What is Urbanisation?

07:17 Causes of Urbanisation

11:41 The Future of Urbanisation

16:55 Low Elevation Deltas and Climate Change

25:27 Population in Low Elevation Deltas

36:08 Challenges and Recommendations for Governments

51:33 Concerns and Solutions

57:16 Local Solutions for Global Problems

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Professor Florian Lüdeke-Freund is one of the World's leading experts on corporate sustainability management and sustainability entrepreneurship and a Professor of Corporate Sustainability at ESCP Business School.

As well as publishing numerous journal articles, books, and book chapters on these topics, Professor Lüdeke-Freund is an Editorial Review Board Member at Organization & Environment, Co-Editor of several journal special issues, and the Chair for Corporate Sustainability at ESCP Business School.

We discuss sustainable business models and explore the 45 patterns for creating sustainable businesses that Professor Lüdeke-Freund has identified in his research.

Key Moments:

01:24 Defining Sustainable Business Models

04:16 Characteristics of Sustainable Business Models

13:25 Emergence of Sustainable Business Models

19:42 The 45 Patterns for Sustainable Business Model Design

26:13 Examples of Sustainable Business Models

46:31 Impact of Regulation and Investor Demands

55:40 The Future of Sustainable Business

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Professor Daniel Byman is a globally recognised expert on terrorism, a Professor at Georgetown University, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and a senior adviser to the US Department of State on the International Security Advisory Board. His most recent books include Spreading Hate: The Global Rise of White Supremacist Terrorism, A High Price: The Triumphs and Failures of Israeli Counterterrorism, Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and the Global Jihadist Movement and Road Warriors: Foreign Fighters in the Armies of Jihad.

In this episode, Professor Byman discusses the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He provides background information on Hamas and its rise to power, its reasons for the October 7th 2023 attacks, the Israeli response, and possible outcomes for the conflict. The conversation also explores the connections between this conflict and other conflicts around the world, as well as the shifting global power dynamics.

Key moments:

01:42 Background of Hamas

09:02 Reasons for the October 7th 2023 attacks

13:52 Israeli response

24:58 Possible outcomes

30:48 Connections to other conflicts

37:28 Shifts in global power

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Professor Mark Maslin is an Earth System Scientist at the University College London, a Royal Society Industrial Fellow and the World's leading sustainability thought leader and influencer.

Mark's expertise is in global and regional climatic change, and has published over 175 papers in journals such as Science, Nature and The Lancet.

Our conversation delves into Mark's research on climate change and covers the actions that governments, businesses, and we all as individuals can take to avoid what he calls the climate emergency.

Key moments:

03:24 Understanding Climate Change and Setting Targets

06:17 Current and Future Impacts of Climate Change

10:11 Impacts of Climate Change on Everyday Life

12:35 Individual Actions to Address Climate Change

14:27 Businesses and Climate Change Risk Assessment

22:33 Opportunities for Businesses in Addressing Climate Change

26:12 Vulnerable Sectors and Risks of Climate Change

28:59 Link Between Agriculture, Food Security, and Climate Change

31:41 Government's Role in Addressing Climate Change

35:24 Carbon Capture and Storage and the Importance of Restoration

41:41 Role of Climate Science in Policy Decisions

53:51 Vision of an Ecotopia and the Need for Action

56:25 Building a Sustainable Metropolis

57:24 Efficient Transportation and Delivery Systems

58:19 Positive Community Impact

58:47 Net Zero: A Better, Cheaper, Safer, Healthier, and Wealthier World

01:05:23 Thinking as a Global Species

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Following the last episode's conversation with research scientist Jana Sedlokova, Ian Hallett explores the use of conversational AI in psychotherapy and the factors influencing the adoption of AI-based products. Ian covers the importance of attitudes towards innovation, the impact of socio-demographic factors on AI adoption, the role of familiarity and conformity in driving product adoption, and the potential of AI avatars in mimicking discussions with clinical psychologists.

Takeaways:

• Attitudes towards innovation strongly influence the adoption of AI-based products.
• Socio-demographic factors, such as gender, can impact the likelihood of adopting AI products.
• Familiarity and conformity to existing products drive greater adoption of new technologies.
• AI avatars and messaging mechanisms have the potential to mimic discussions with clinical psychologists.
• Conversational AI has the potential to revolutionise psychotherapy and other fields.

Key moments:

01:05 Attitudes Towards AI and Product Adoption

03:02 Gender Disparity in AI Adoption

03:54 Driving Adoption of New Products

05:22 Familiarity and Innovation in AI Adoption

06:44 Mimicking a Discussion with a Clinical Psychologist

08:29 AI Apps for Conversational Support

09:59 The Future of Conversational AI in Psychotherapy

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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Jana Sedlakova is a research scientist at the Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Zurich in Switzerland. Jana's expertise lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human interaction.

Our conversation delves into Jana's research on the role of conversational AI in psychotherapy. We begin by laying a foundational understanding of what we mean by conversational AI in the context of psychotherapy, and then we dive into the complex questions that Jana is exploring in this area.

Music credit: David Cutter Music / @dcuttermusic

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