HBR IdeaCast

David Novak, former chair and CEO of Yum Brands, shares his insights on the importance of lifelong learning. He emphasizes that understanding both failure and success is crucial for growth. Novak discusses how curiosity fuels personal and professional development, urging leaders to turn their learnings into actions. He shares personal anecdotes, highlighting the impact of recognizing employees and fostering a culture of appreciation. With his book, he aims to help others master the habits that drive success in leadership.

Arjun Singh, a consultant and adjunct professor at SMU, specializes in corporate war games. He discusses the importance of stress-testing strategies using military-inspired war gaming to enhance organizational resilience. Singh highlights how companies can better anticipate competitors and market changes through this approach. He also shares insights on crafting actionable playbooks post-war games, emphasizing collaboration and agility. Real-world scenarios, like those influenced by COVID-19, underscore the necessity for adaptability in business strategy.

Paul Leonardi, Duca Family Professor of Technology Management, and Sandra Ma, CEO of Jovial, discuss maximizing digital collaboration tools. They explore how to match tools to specific tasks and recognize when a technology is failing a team. The conversation highlights challenges of information overload in remote work versus hybrid setups and suggests evaluating video conferencing effectiveness. They emphasize the need for leaders to consider employee feedback when selecting tools, ensuring technology enhances communication without adding confusion.

Ilya Strebulaev, a Stanford Graduate School of Business professor and co-author of 'The Venture Mindset', shares insights from his expertise in venture capital. He discusses how established companies can learn from the risk-taking and agile decision-making of VCs. Emphasizing the importance of structured debates and challenging consensus, he reveals practical strategies to optimize decision-making. Strebulaev advocates for a cultural shift in larger organizations to embrace a venture mindset, ultimately promoting innovation and growth.

Bonnie Hammer, Vice Chair of NBCUniversal and author of "15 Lies Women Are Told at Work," shares her insights from four decades in the media industry. She discusses how to thrive amid disruption, emphasizing adaptability and a positive mindset. Bonnie highlights the importance of interpersonal skills in leadership and encourages young professionals to embrace change with trust and humility. Her strategies for making smart decisions and building collaborative teams provide valuable advice for anyone navigating their career path.

Garrett Johnson, an associate professor at Boston University specializing in digital advertising, joins Jamie Seltzer, global executive VP at Havas Media Network, to discuss the impact of phasing out third-party cookies by 2025. They dive into emerging technologies designed to replace cookies and the balance between privacy and personalized marketing. The conversation touches on how digital marketers must adapt to maintain consumer engagement and revenue in a rapidly changing landscape, emphasizing the importance of new analytics and consumer relationships.

Lyudmila Praslova, a professor of organizational psychology, and Beth Pollack, a research scientist at MIT, dive deep into the challenges posed by long Covid. They discuss the staggering number of U.S. adults affected and the significant gaps in employer support. The duo emphasizes the need for tailored workplace accommodations and flexibility to help those struggling with this chronic condition. They advocate for a shift in workplace culture towards inclusivity, urging companies to view affected employees as valuable assets rather than liabilities.

Ayelet Israeli, a Harvard Business School professor and co-author of the article on celebrity brands, dives into the explosive trend of celebrities launching their own businesses. She discusses how social media and direct-to-consumer sales have fueled this phenomenon. Israeli highlights successful case studies like Kim Kardashian’s Skims, pointing out the need for authenticity and quality. She also shares key insights for both famous and non-famous entrepreneurs, emphasizing effective storytelling and engagement to build consumer loyalty.

Ethan Mollick, a management professor at The Wharton School and author of Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, dives deep into the challenges of integrating generative AI in workplaces. He discusses the balance between using AI for enhanced productivity while preserving human skills. Mollick emphasizes the necessity of fostering innovation and transparency within organizations to leverage AI effectively. He also explores how AI can affect team dynamics and motivation, urging leaders to thoughtfully navigate these changes for a successful cultural shift.

Barbara Kellerman, a Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School and author of "Leadership from Bad to Worse," delves into how bad leaders worsen over time. She discusses the Volkswagen emissions scandal as a cautionary tale illustrating poor leadership's systemic pitfalls. Kellerman emphasizes the need for followers to critically assess their leaders, highlighting examples from tech and beyond. She offers insights on recognizing ineffective leaders and stresses the importance of personal values in leadership dynamics.