Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at London Business School, PhD from MIT as a Fulbright Scholar, and former investment banker at Morgan Stanley, joins Personable to challenge everything you think you know about business, universities, and how to think clearly in a world full of misleading data.
In this episode, Alex reflects on losing his father to cancer, being the first in his family to attend university, and how a single day of front page glory at Morgan Stanley convinced him academia could have more lasting impact than any deal. From the broken incentives of the tenure system to the misrepresentation of diversity research, this conversation cuts through the noise and focuses on how to think better, lead better, and live better.
This is an essential listen for anyone interested in business, academia, critical thinking, purpose-driven leadership, and building a life that actually matters.
He discusses:
◽️ Why he walked away from Morgan Stanley the day after his deal hit the front page of the FT
◽️ The tenure system and why top universities are built to punish their best teachers
◽️ Why the McKinsey diversity research falls apart the moment you actually read it
◽️ Grow the Pie - why purpose and profit are not opposites
◽️ How to think clearly in a post-truth world full of statistics designed to mislead you
00:00 Introduction and Alex Edmans background
02:15 Hyrox, Macmillan and losing a parent to cancer
07:30 First-generation student, St Paul's and the scholarship that changed everything
13:45 Morgan Stanley, the front page moment and why it wasn't enough
19:20 Why academia offers something finance never could
25:10 The tenure system and how universities punish great teachers
32:40 Diversity, performance and why correlation is not causation
39:15 Grow the Pie — purpose, profit and the business case for doing good
45:30 May Contain Lies — how to think in a post-truth world
51:20 Confirmation bias, contrary evidence and seeking the truth
57:00 What still drives Alex after tenure, awards and 3 million TED views
1:02:30 One thing every listener should take away
Alex Edmans
◽️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedmans/
Harvey Bracken-Smith:
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Additional:
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Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.
This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
