Is thought a distraction from reality?Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesFrom the birth of reason to Descartes' "I think, therefore I am"; Western culture has placed thought at the centre of what it is to be human. We spend much of our time planning the future, reflecting on the past, puzzling about what to do, and talking about it with others. But might this be a mistake? Should culture, as Nietzsche proposes, 'free itself from the seduction of words and thought'? Should we focus on experience, and live a bit more? Or is this romantic nonsense?Bestselling author Miranda Keeling, psychologist Steve Taylor and prison philosopher Andy West decide: to think, or not to think? Janne Teller hosts. There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=the-seduction-of-thoughtSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Senior partners Jake Henry, Mieke Van Oostende, and Andy West discuss global M&A trends in 2024. They explore deal activity in various industries and the impacts of geopolitical uncertainties. The podcast also delves into strategies for success in M&A, navigating antitrust scrutiny, and the rise of sustainability-focused deals. An optimistic outlook is offered for M&A strategies in 2024, highlighting the importance of reducing market uncertainty for economic growth.

Join Celia Huber, Michael Birshan, and Andy West as they discuss CEOs redefining their interactions with boards, optimizing board size for growth, navigating macroeconomic factors in strategy, and the path to board membership in a technological age.

Senior partners Andy West and Jeff Rudnicki from McKinsey's Synergy Lab share surprising insights on capturing synergies in M&A deals, including the importance of protecting the base business, setting specific synergy targets, moving quickly to capture synergies, managing cultural differences during transactions, and the impact of announcing synergies on total returns and deal performance.

Andy West, an expert in M&A strategies, discusses the trends in conglomerates, challenges in divesting assets, and the strategy of active portfolio management in M&A deals. Emphasizes the importance of proactive decision-making, CEO responsibility in portfolio rebalancing, and investing in overall strategy.