Peter Compo, author of The Emergent Approach to Strategy and former DuPont leader, shares his unique perspective on strategy, likening it to evolution and music. He discusses how strategy should be agile and adaptive, debunking the top-down approach. With insights from creative processes related to Marie Curie and jazz legend Charlie Parker, Compo emphasizes mastering fundamentals before innovation. He also highlights the dangers of disconnected execution and the need for cohesive strategies, urging leaders to embrace continuous refinement and discard outdated beliefs.

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, a leading thinker on project management and author of 'Powered by Projects', dives into the transformative shift towards a project economy. He discusses how AI and digitalization are reshaping work, predicting that by 2030, 70% of jobs will be project-based. The episode emphasizes the decline of traditional hierarchies in favor of nimble, project-driven teams. Nieto also shares insights on the importance of effective leadership in aligning strategy with execution amidst this changing landscape, and the rise of new consulting models that empower clients.

Devin DeCiantis, co-author of "The Enduring Enterprise" and Managing Partner at Lansberg Gersick Advisors, shares insights on the distinct strengths of family businesses. He discusses their resilience and unique long-term strategies that allow them to thrive even during economic turbulence. The conversation highlights how family enterprises can teach traditional corporations about planning for the future and adapting to challenges. DeCiantis also delves into the critical role of redundancy and community commitment in ensuring stability and success.

In this conversation, Sandra Matz, an expert in human behavior and AI from Columbia Business School, discusses her groundbreaking research on "psychological targeting." She highlights how digital footprints reveal personal psychology and can influence decisions, from purchases to voting. The podcast explores the balance between hyper-personalization and ethical concerns about privacy. Additionally, Matz touches on the dynamics of human identity and the evolving role of AI in organizational strategies, stressing the importance of integrating ethical practices in tech-driven environments.

Ethan Mollick, an influential AI researcher and Associate Professor at the Wharton School, challenges common misconceptions about AI replacing jobs. He discusses the 'Centaur versus Cyborg' mentality, emphasizing collaboration between humans and AI. Ethan shares insights from studies that reveal how AI enhances productivity and creativity in the workplace. He highlights the importance of integrating AI thoughtfully, advocating for a proactive approach to harness its potential for innovation while adapting to evolving job structures.

Andrew Hill, senior business writer at the Financial Times and author of books on Victorian thinkers, dives into the evolving landscape of business literature. He shares insights on this year’s FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year, exploring themes like sustainability and corporate purpose. The conversation brings up John Ruskin's perspective on modern trends, the complexities of integrating ESG principles, and the implications of a multi-stage life on work and education. Hill’s experience adds depth to discussions on profit versus sustainability.

Dr. Marcus Collins, an award-winning marketer and cultural translator, dives into how culture shapes consumer behavior and identities. He discusses leveraging cultural narratives to foster brand loyalty, using examples from iconic brands like Nike and Apple. The conversation highlights the importance of targeting fringe groups to spark innovation and network effects. Collins also emphasizes personal beliefs in establishing loyalty, illustrating how individuals connect ideologically with brands, contributing to a profound sense of belonging.

JP Pawliw-Fry, a world-renowned keynote speaker and New York Times bestselling author, shares insights from his work with elite teams like the Navy SEALs. He discusses how pressure can actually hinder performance, debunking the myth that we thrive under stress. JP introduces the '8% gap,' revealing how people often falter when facing high-stakes situations. He emphasizes the importance of nurturing a courageous team culture, where open communication and smart risk-taking lead to exceptional performance and growth.

Oscar Munoz, is the former CEO and Chairman of United Airlines. Oscar has led an accomplished career, spanning senior financial positions at Coca-Cola, Pepsico, AT&T, and US West. He also served as President and COO of North American rail-based transportation giant CSX Corp. He is also an independent trustee for Fidelity and a CNBC Contributor. A first-generation college graduate with degrees from the University of Southern California and Pepperdine, he was twice honored by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of its ‘100 Most Influential Hispanics’, honoring his journey as an immigrant who is the first person of Hispanic heritage to run a U.S. airline.  In this conversation, we get to glean Oscar’s incredible insights from his Wall Street Journal best-selling memoir, Turnaround Time: Uniting an Airline and its Employees in the Friendly Skies. Having joined United, he had quite a task ahead of him, uniting the very fragmented workforce the airline faced at the time.  At the core of this immense turnaround was Oscar’s steadfast belief, that employees are as important as customers and shareholders in ensuring a business succeeds. In this podcast we discuss: His journey throughout his career that brought him to United, and the insightful takeaways on leadership he gleaned along the way  His human-first approach in taking over the reins, which put each and every employee at the core of United transformation The Core4 policy that emphasizes each employee operate by the four pillars of safe, caring, dependable and efficient, emphasizing the human part of customer service over business objectives _______________________________________________________________________________Episode Timeline:00:00—Highlight from today's episode01:14—Introducing Oscar+ the topic of today’s episode04:45—If you really know me, you know that...05:52— How Oscar's core values were shaped 07:32—What is your definition of strategy13:11—Oscar gives insights into how he became CEO of United19:22— Oscar steps into the CEO role 24:12— Economic factors shaping airline strategy 26:58—The Core4 policy as a strategy for growth 35:12— Bottom-up leadership: building a company from the employee level  38:10—How can people follow you and continue learning from you? _______________________________________________________________________________________Additional Resources:Personal website: oscar-munoz.com Link to book: Turnaround Time Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/oscarmunozua Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscarmunoz Thank you to our guest. Thank you to our executive producer, Karina Reyes, our editor, Zach Ness, and the rest of the team. If you like what you heard, please follow, download, and subscribe. I'm your host, Kaihan Krippendorff. Thank you for listening.Follow us at outthinkernetworks.com/podcast

David Edelman, a Harvard Business School Fellow and Executive Advisor at BCG, dives into the transformative power of personalization in today's market. He explores how personalization has evolved beyond marketing to create genuine value for customers, driven by data and AI. Edelman introduces five key promises businesses must embrace for success. He highlights the significance of ethical data use and collaborative ecosystems. Additionally, he shares insights on measuring effectiveness with a custom Personalization index, emphasizing its link to financial success.