A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management.
In this episode of the HBR IdeaCast, Alison Beard interviews tech journalist Alexandra Samuel about building AI assistants to enhance productivity and decision-making. Alexandra argues that custom AI assistants, unlike general AI tools, save time by preloading crucial context and prompts. She explains how to create an ...
In this HBR IdeaCast episode, Adi Ignatius interviews Larry Summers, former Treasury Secretary and President of Harvard University, about navigating business leadership in uncertain times. They discuss the impact of tariffs on the American economy, the risk of a recession in 2025, and the potential for a meaningful eco...
In this episode of the HBR IdeaCast, Allison Beard and Adi Ignatius introduce a conversation with Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, about effecting change in organizations and society. Watts shares her personal journey from an enraged and saddened mom after the Sandy Hook shooting to a leader pushing fo...
In this HBR IdeaCast episode, Adi Ignatius and Allison Beard discuss the ongoing debate around flexible work arrangements with Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh, co-authors of "Hybrid Still Isn't Working." They explore the productivity implications of remote versus in-office work, the challenges in managing hybrid teams,...
In this episode of the HBR IdeaCast, Alison Beard interviews Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, about her experiences managing multiple crises during her tenure, including a disease outbreak, a terrorist attack, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ardern shares insights on decision-maki...
In this HBR IdeaCast episode, Adi Ignatius interviews Jeff Yip, an assistant professor at the Beadle School of Business at Simon Fraser University, about the importance of listening for managers. Yip emphasizes that listening is the foundational discipline of leadership, essential for insight, connection, and influence...
In this HBR IdeaCast episode, Alison Beard interviews Telle Whitney, author of "Rebooting Tech Culture," about the problems with tech culture, particularly its exclusionary nature rooted in Silicon Valley. Whitney argues that the tech industry needs a reboot to become more inclusive, embracing diverse viewpoints to cre...
In this episode of the HBR IdeaCast, Adi Ignatius interviews Barry Diller, chairman of IAC and Expedia, about his unconventional business philosophy. Diller emphasizes the importance of instinct over traditional business processes and data analysis, advocating for naivete and debate in decision-making. He shares insigh...
This episode explores strategies for navigating career disruptions, such as unexpected job loss or demotion, and how to proactively prepare for an uncertain job market. Whitney Johnson emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and managing the emotional impact of job loss by precisely naming feelings to regain control...
This episode explores Amazon's strategies for maintaining a startup culture within a large corporation, and its approach to AI development. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy discusses the importance of customer focus, speed, and risk-taking to foster innovation, emphasizing the need to eliminate bureaucracy and empower individual ...
This episode explores the evolution and future direction of the HBR IdeaCast podcast. Against the backdrop of a listener survey soliciting feedback for improvement, long-time host Alison Beard announces the addition of Adi Ignatius as co-host. More significantly, the discussion outlines plans to enhance the podcast'...
This episode explores the decentralization of the space industry, moving from a government-centric model (like NASA's early years) to a more market-driven approach with increased private sector involvement. Against this backdrop, the dramatic decrease in launch costs—from roughly $20,000-$30,000 per kilogram to potent...
This episode explores the eight principles of business longevity gleaned from a study of immigrant entrepreneurs. Against the backdrop of surprisingly high immigrant ownership of new businesses in the U.S. and their disproportionate success, the interview delves into the experiences and strategies of these founders. ...
This episode explores the art of "managing up," defined as navigating relationships with those holding more positional power. Against the backdrop of evolving workplace dynamics, the discussion highlights the shift from mere ingratiation to establishing oneself as a valuable thought partner. More significantly, the ...
This episode explores the strategic genius of Taylor Swift and the business lessons applicable to corporate leaders and career professionals. Against the backdrop of Swift's remarkable career ascent, the discussion analyzes her fan obsession as a key driver of success, mirroring Jeff Bezos's customer-centric approach....
This episode explores the evolving landscape of remote and hybrid work models in the post-pandemic era. Against the backdrop of a significant shift towards remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the discussion centers on the subsequent push by many CEOs for a return to in-person work. More significantly, the interv...
This episode explores the science of conversation and how to improve conversational skills. Host Alison Beard interviews Alison Wood Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor and author of "Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves." Against this backdrop, the discussion highlights that effec...
This HBR IdeaCast episode discusses how salespeople game sales incentive systems, exploring eight common schemes like "partnering with customers" to maximize personal gain at company expense. The hosts interview a professor and a consultant who detail these tactics and suggest that company leaders adopt an "immoral im...
This HBR IdeaCast interview explores the attributes of inspirational leaders, focusing on vision, leading by example, and mentoring. Professor Adam Galinsky details his research, which reveals that inspirational leadership stems from fulfilling fundamental human needs for meaning, protection, and belonging. He sugges...
This HBR IdeaCast interview focuses on timeboxing, a productivity method where tasks are scheduled with allocated time slots in a calendar. The guest, Marc Zao-Sanders, discusses his personal struggle with productivity before adopting timeboxing, explaining how it integrates to-do lists with a calendar to improve focu...
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