Boss Class from The Economist

In this discussion, Liz Reid, the Head of Search at Google, shares her journey from coder to leader at one of the world's most influential companies. She dives into the impact of AI on traditional search engines, questioning their future amidst the rise of chatbots. Liz emphasizes creating user-friendly technology that understands complex conversational queries, highlighting the experimental process of enhancing search functionality. She also advocates for curiosity-driven innovation, striking a balance between data and instinct in technological advancements.

Alex Kendall, founder of Wave, a self-driving car AI startup, shares insights on the long-term vision required for true innovation in autonomous driving. Liz Reid, Head of Search at Google, discusses how generative AI is reshaping search queries and user behavior. Together, they emphasize that real creativity in the workplace involves navigating complexities, fostering adaptability, and integrating user feedback, rather than relying solely on brainstorming sessions. The conversation highlights the chaos of innovation and the importance of understanding user perspectives.

Good bosses are rare. They don’t have to be. The skills of management can be learned.The Economist’s management columnist, Andrew Palmer, is here to help. The second season of Boss Class features leaders at some of the world’s best performing companies, from Levi’s to Novo Nordisk to Google. New episodes are out weekly starting May 12th. To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plusIf you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Explore the challenges and benefits of hybrid work, hear divergent views on remote work from CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, Trip.com Group, and Slack, discuss the importance of flexibility and connection in the workplace, learn about the transformation of office spaces into collaborative environments, and get a teaser for upcoming episodes on post-pandemic policies and the future of remote work.

The podcast features Emma Walmsley, the CEO of GSK, Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel prize-winning psychologist, and Claire Hughes-Johnson, the one-time COO of Stripe. They discuss lessons in leadership outside the office, the importance of leadership and clarity, the value of being explicit as a manager, and the significance of stepping back and effective leadership.

The workplace keeps changing and managers have to keep up. The best bosses create systems for solving problems old and new—from navigating working-from-home demands to hiring the right people, from running good meetings to managing themselves. Andrew Palmer, author of the Bartleby column, looks for advice on how to be a better boss by talking to people who have actually done the job. Listen to The Economist's seven-episode guide for managers.Boss Class season one is free for a limited time. Season two will appear weekly starting May 12th. To hear new episodes, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plusIf you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.