Hal Hershfield, Ph.D. – UCLA Professor

This episode features a conversation with Maryann Feldman and Martin Kenney, leading scholars on innovation, finance, and regional economic development, and co-authors of Private Equity and the Demise of the Local. Maryann is the Watts Professor of Public Policy and Management at Arizona State University and Research Director at the Global Center for Technology Transfer. Martin is a Distinguished Emeritus Professor at the University of California, Davis, and Senior Project Co-Director at the Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy.Together, Maryann and Martin discuss how private equity has evolved from a restructuring tool into a dominant ownership model shaping industries from manufacturing and healthcare to housing, childcare, and local media. They explore the mechanisms behind financialized ownership, the consequences for workers and communities, and why place-based ownership matters. The conversation also highlights emerging alternatives and what it will take to rebuild durable, locally rooted economies.

This episode features a conversation with Alison Fragale, Ph.D., Professor at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and author of the national bestseller Likeable Badass—a compelling exploration of the science behind gender bias and stereotypes, and how to change them. Beyond the book, we discuss how individuals can shape how they’re perceived, how leaders can create environments that bring out the best in others, and how we can nurture these skills in the next generation of leaders.

This episode features a conversation with Spencer Harrison, Ph.D. – Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD. He is a world expert on creativity, coordination, and connection in organizations. We discuss his recent research on creativity and best practices for unlocking creativity in organizations.

Richard Reeves - President of the American Institute for Boys and Men This episode features a conversation with Richard Reeves – President of the American Institute for Boys and Men. Richard is a world expert on the challenges facing boys and men in Western societies and founded the American Institute of Boys and Men to raise awareness and advocate for effective solutions. His 2022 book “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It” was named a book of the year by both The Economist and The New Yorker. We discuss the role of cultural entrepreneurship in crafting new narratives for boys and men, implications for business, and the work of The Kalamazoo Promise to support the success of boys.

This episode features a conversation with Lauren Rivera, Ph.D. – Professor of Management & Organizations at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She is a world expert on how evaluations of merit in hiring and employment create social inequality. We discuss her research and recent book Pedigree: How elite students get elite jobs.

This episode features a conversation with Wendy Smith, Ph.D. - the Dana J. Johnson professor of management and faculty director of the Women's Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. Dr. Smith is a world expert on how leaders navigate strategic paradoxes that involve contradictory, yet interdependent demands. We discuss her recent book: Both/ And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve your Toughest Problems.

Hal Hershfield, Ph.D. - UCLA ProfessorThis episode features a conversation with Hal Hershfield, Ph.D. - Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. Hal is a world's expert on decision-making and how projections of the future impact behavior. We discuss his research and recent book Your Future Self: How to make tomorrow a better today. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Sue Ashford, Ph.D. – University of Michigan Professor This episode features a conversation with Sue Ashford, Ph.D. – the Michael and Susan Jandernoa Professor in the Management and Organizations group at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. She is a world expert on leadership and leadership development. We discuss her recent book: The Power of Flexing: How to Use Small Daily Experiments to Create Big Life-Changing Growth.

Dacher Keltner, Ph.D. – University of California, Berkley Professor This episode features a conversation with Dacher Keltner, Ph.D - professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center. He is one of the world’s foremost emotion scientists and we discuss his research and recent book Awe: The new science of everyday wonder and how it can transform your life.

Chris Marquis, Ph.D. – University of Cambridge Professor This episode features a conversation with Chris Marquis, Ph.D. - Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. Dr. Marquis is a world expert on how organizations achieve a triple-bottom-line impact on environmental, social, and financial performance and is a leading expert on capitalism in China. We discuss his recent book Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of the Chinese Enterprise.