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.

Rebecca Homkes, a high-growth strategy expert and CEO, shares insights on her 'Survive, Reset, Thrive' framework, emphasizing adaptability in today’s volatile markets. She discusses how companies can view growth as a loop rather than a line, embedding continuous learning into their strategies. Rebecca highlights the importance of psychological safety in decision-making, especially as businesses navigate AI advancements. She also explores the concept of learning velocity as a key competitive advantage for sustainable success.

William Duggan, a strategy and innovation lecturer at Columbia Business School and author of 'Corporate Innovator: A Guide Through the Labyrinth,' shares key insights on employee-driven innovation. He explores the neurological basis of creativity and how organizations unintentionally create barriers for innovators. Duggan uses the labyrinth metaphor to highlight the importance of support systems within corporate hierarchies. He also lays out practical strategies for individuals to navigate obstacles, fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration.

Frederik Pferdt, Google's first Chief Innovation Evangelist, dives into cultivating a future-ready mindset. He emphasizes that the future is ours to create, not just predict. Listeners learn about six dimensions that foster an innovative outlook. Frederik discusses powerful psychological techniques like positivity and gratitude that elevate team dynamics and morale. He also reflects on the balance of routines and new experiences, highlighting how proactive imagination intertwines with action to shape our collective future.

Brian Evergreen, an author known for his insights on transforming organizations in the AI era, shares profound wisdom from his experience at major firms like Amazon and Microsoft. He breaks down the concepts of transformation, reformation, and creation, emphasizing the importance of human reasoning in business strategy. His 'reason-driven framework' advocates for innovative thinking over purely data-driven approaches. Evergreen also highlights how lessons from chess can enhance strategic decision-making amid uncertainty, making a compelling case for autonomous transformation.

Cristina Alaimo, an Assistant Professor of Digital Economy and Society at Guido Carli University in Rome, explores the profound influence of data on modern strategy. She uncovers its historical roots, tracing back to ancient clay tokens and how data has shaped our identities long before the tech boom. Alaimo delves into the evolution of business ecosystems, illustrating the need for leaders to adapt to new data-driven opportunities. The discussion challenges traditional views, urging a social science perspective on data's implications for society.