Think Better, Lead Better: Helena Boschi reveals the cognitive shortcuts and science-backed habits that power elite workplaces

Dr Helena Boschi is an applied neuroscientist who has spent years exploring how the human brain works – and, crucially, how we can use that knowledge to improve leadership, decision-making, and the way we work. Helena is the author of Why We Do What We Do, a deep dive into the quirks, biases, and vulnerabilities of the human mind.Her business, Chequered Leopard, bridges the gap between cutting-edge neuroscience and real-world application, helping leaders and organisations harness brain science to create better workplace cultures, boost performance, and drive innovation. From the impact of stress on decision-making to the myths surrounding memory, attention, and creativity, Helena brings a wealth of insight into how our brains shape everything we do. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Mithu Storoni is a University of Cambridge-trained physician, neuroscience researcher, and ophthalmic surgeon. She advises multinational corporations on mental performance and stress management.Her latest book, ‘Hyperefficient: Simple Methods to Optimise Your Brain and Transform the Way You Work’, lays out the tools we need to retune our brains to their best settings for complex thinking, creativity, concentration, and decision-making. By proposing that we impose the rhythm of our brains on our work, Dr Storoni demonstrates how to create the perfect environment to thrive individually at work and at home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Tara Shine is a climate change expert with over 20 years of experience in climate science, science communication, and policy. Her work has focused on shaping international and national policy to advance equity, gender equality, inclusion, and environmental protection.A seasoned scientific adviser, Tara has worked with a range of influential organisations, including the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, the OECD, The Elders, SIDA (Sweden’s development agency), the World Bank, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Environmental Protection Agency.For a decade, Tara served as a climate negotiator at the United Nations and contributed as a reviewer to the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. She is a guest lecturer on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across Irish universities and sits on the Board of Trustees of the International Institute for Environment and Development. She is also an alumna of Homeward Bound, the global leadership initiative for women in science.Tara holds a BSc in Environmental Science and a PhD in Geography from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland. Her work in research, policy, and education has spanned countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That’s a wrap on Season 20 of The One Percent Podcast! You can now stream the full season on all major podcast platforms.To close things out, we’ve put together a special recap episode highlighting standout moments from the past season. This collection features insights and stories from remarkable leaders across industries, disciplines, and backgrounds.Here’s a glimpse of some of the incredible guests featured in this wrap-up episode:Jeremy Masding: former CEO of Permanent TSB and currently a Senior Adviser at Cerberus Capital Management, and the co-author of ‘Leading Without Winging It’Jerry Colonna: Certified professional coach and author, former American venture capitalistSuneel Gupta: Bestselling author, renowned speaker, Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, and host of an Amazon Prime documentary seriesFuschia Sirois: Professor of Social and Health Psychology at Durham University and a former Canada Research Chair in Health and Well-beingMargaret Heffernan: Professor of Practice at the University of Bath School of ManagementWe’re already deep in planning for Season 21 and would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, and suggestions. Thanks for being part of the journey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Margaret Heffernan is a pioneering business leader, author, and thinker who has transformed the way we approach leadership, innovation, and uncertainty. She began her career producing TV and radio for the BBC before going on to become CEO of several US companies. She was named one of the "Top 100 Media Executives" by The Hollywood Reporter.Margaret is currently a Professor of Practice at the University of Bath School of Management, and in 2023, she was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame for her enduring contribution to management thinking. She has authored several bestsellers, including A Bigger Prize, Uncharted, and Willful Blindness, which was recognised as one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times.In her writing, Margaret challenges conventional business wisdom and advocates for collaboration, creativity, and resilience in an unpredictable world. Her TED talks have garnered over fifteen million views globally, sparking discussions on why we ignore obvious risks and how small organisational changes can lead to profound results. Her new book, Embracing Uncertainty, will be published in March 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fuschia Sirois, PhD, is a Professor of Social and Health Psychology at Durham University and a former Canada Research Chair in Health and Well-being. Her research focuses on understanding the psychological factors and qualities that influence risk or resilience for physical health and well-being outcomes through self-regulation and emotions.For over 20 years, she has studied the causes and consequences of procrastination, particularly its health effects, and how emotions play a key role in why people procrastinate. Her research also explores the role of positive psychology traits, states, and interventions in supporting self-regulation and enhancing health and well-being.She has authored over 120 peer-reviewed journal papers, presented over 200 conference papers, edited two books, and in 2022 released her first book, Procrastination: What It Is, Why It’s a Problem, and What You Can Do About It. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Once seen as the “Face of Failure” in the New York Times, Suneel Gupta understands that the road to success is not always smooth. Suneel learned from his mistakes and went on to become a founding CEO of RISE, a breakthrough wellness company named App of the Year by Apple, that partnered with First Lady Michelle Obama to deliver low-cost health coaching to people in need.Now a bestselling author, renowned speaker, Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, and host of an Amazon Prime documentary series, Suneel studies leaders around the world to discover and share simple, actionable habits that lift our performance and deepen our state of well-being. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former American venture capitalist and once named a “Prince of New York” by New York Magazine, Jerry Colonna faced a profound depression that compelled him to confront his inner demons through what he calls “radical self-inquiry.” This transformative process led him to Buddhism and leadership coaching. Now a certified professional coach and author, Jerry leverages his diverse experiences to help clients design more conscious lives and make meaningful changes to their careers, enhancing both performance and satisfaction.He has been recognized on Upside magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of the New Economy and Forbes’ list of the best VCs in the U.S. Jerry is the co-founder and CEO of Reboot, an executive coaching and leadership development company, and hosts the Reboot Podcast. His best-selling books, 2019’s Reboot and last year’s Reunion, delve into the process of radical self-inquiry and how we can become better leaders by becoming better people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Masding, former CEO of Permanent TSB and currently a Senior Adviser at Cerberus Capital Management, is the co-author, along with Emil Ivanov, of the book ‘Leading Without Winging It’. Drawing on decades of experience, Jeremy provides a practical guide to leadership and management. In their book, Masding and Ivanov present a system for running any company in a way that captures both 'hearts' and 'minds'. By using a logical approach based on both rational and emotional foundations, the authors offer senior leaders ways of working that are easy to understand and implement. Jeremy and Emil make a compelling case for focusing on value creation at every level of an organisation, offering pragmatic strategies to ensure full buy-in and successful implementation of this objective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That’s a wrap! Season 19 of the One Percent Podcast is now on all podcast platforms.We pulled together a recap episode for you this week, featuring short clips from some of the great moments in the podcast’s twelfth season. We were fortunate to have incredible leaders from across industries, disciplines, and fields share their stories and perspectives – and we wanted to share them with you as we wrap up Season 19 and look ahead to the next season.Here are some of the guests featured in this wrap-up episode:Guy Kawasaki: marketing specialist, author, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist.Alex M H Smith: strategist, writer, and advisor to CEOs and founders.Evgeny Shadchnev: founder and former CEO of Makers, a certified professional coach, and author of ‘Startup CEO Succession’.Sam Peters: former national newspaper reporter credited with driving a cultural change in sport’s attitude towards brain injuries and concussions, author of ‘Concussed: Sport’s Uncomfortable Truth’, winner of the Best Sports Writing Award.Matthew Dicks: award-winning bestselling author, speaker, and marketing consultant to some of the world’s biggest companies including Amazon, Slack, and SalesforceWe’re hard at work planning Season 20, and as always we would love your feedback and perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.