215. The New Media Landscape: Trust, Transparency, and Transformation

In this episode of the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast, Matt Abrahams interviews Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman, about the evolution of trust in the business world. Edelman shares insights from the Edelman Trust Barometer, discussing the loss of belief in leaders, the mass class divide, and the increasing importance of local trust. He advises individuals and managers on rebuilding trust after a breach by acknowledging the issue, showing a path to fixing it, and demonstrating that the problem has been resolved. The conversation also explores the role of social media for leaders, the changing media landscape, and the impact of AI on communication, with Edelman emphasizing AI's role as a "first draft" rather than a final product. He concludes by sharing key qualities for future leaders, such as being a citizen of the world and exposing oneself to diverse perspectives, and offers advice to Stanford MBAs on the importance of considering multiple strategies and being transparent.