
What Next?
"What Next?" explores the evolving landscape of business, leadership, advertising, and the future of work. Hosted by Rishad Tobaccowala, the podcast dives into how globalization, technology, and demographic shifts reshape how we create, consume, and communicate. Rishad Tobaccowala engages with CEOs, creative leaders, and visionaries to discuss innovative strategies, technology’s impact on media, and leadership challenges in the future of work. Hear unique insights from academics, futurists, and media innovators on navigating today’s business world.
Latest episodes

Apr 26, 2025 • 33min
How to Grow People in Business
Nick Colucci, former chief operating officer of Publicis North America on his 40-year career in healthcare advertising and recent induction into the Hall of Fame. Having built Publicis Health into the industry's largest health focused agency network as CEO and chairman, Nick shares the top three take outs of his extraordinary career: the importance of self-management over time-management; the significance of feedback as a gift; and the impact of being a multiplier rather than a divider in leadership. His approach to mentoring focusses on the value of discipline and feedback on personal and professional growth. When we grow people around us, he argues, we grow their skills, we grow teams, we grow companies and we grow business.#Grow #Business #Upskill

Mar 29, 2025 • 37min
The new leadership operating frequency
Digital pioneer and innovator Leslie Laredo, president of Laredo Group and the Academy of Digital Media, and Deborah Burns, award-winning author of "Authorize IT!: Think Like a Writer to Win, brand storyteller, and business strategist, share their thoughts on why leadership must be redefined -- and how to it. They discuss their beliefs, stressing that traditional models of leadership need to evolve to emphasize neutrality, belief, and integrity, which are the principles of their Theta Leadership program. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to redefine leadership, expand awareness, and multiply impact in a rapidly shifting landscape.#Leadership #NewBusiness #ThetaLeadership

Mar 15, 2025 • 43min
How to Leap in the Age of Disruption
Steve Dennis, strategic growth consultant and author on risk taking in leadership strategy. His books "Remarkable Retail" and "Leaders Leap," call for companies to adapt quickly to disruption. They stress the importance of being ‘remarkable’, avoiding mediocrity, and taking bold, transformative actions to stay relevant. Explaining the key principles of leadership he describes in his latest book, he says that leaders must embrace change, foster a culture of experimentation, and pay attention to opposing points of view from a more diverse workforce.#BusinessStrategy #Leadership #Disruption

Mar 1, 2025 • 35min
ROI+Storytelling: The Sum of Success
Vikram Sharma, Operating Partner at S2G Investments, brings a wealth of experience in business strategy and technology. He discusses the vast opportunities for innovation in low-digitized industries that make up 80% of the U.S. GDP. With a focus on the importance of combining ROI with compelling storytelling, he emphasizes how technology can empower legacy sectors like agriculture and retail. Sharma also highlights the transformative potential of AI and advocates for collaboration to foster industry growth and creativity.

Feb 22, 2025 • 41min
Tao in the Age of AI
Jack Myers, a media ecologist and leadership strategist, emphasizes how ancient Taoist values can guide modern leadership amidst rising AI. He outlines five core principles: harmony, flexibility, balance, stability, and integrity. Discussion centers on the need for human values in an increasingly tech-driven world. Myers introduces the 'Nexus Generation,' youth raised with AI, who will merge intuition and creativity with technology. The conversation also highlights the significance of diversity and inclusion in driving growth and innovation in organizations.

Feb 15, 2025 • 45min
Collaborative Leadership in the Age of Job Churn
Jack Klues, former director at Publicis Groupe and architect of Publicis Media, discusses the talent crisis in advertising. He argues that investing in long-term employee growth is vital for reducing job churn. Klues emphasizes the need for leaders to foster supportive, collaborative environments rather than sticking to old boss-like behaviors. He also highlights the synergy between AI and human talent, stressing that trust and respect in client relationships are crucial for sustained success.

14 snips
Feb 8, 2025 • 39min
Digital Business in the Era of the Entrepreneur
In this engaging discussion, Mike Lazerow, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Golf.com and Buddy Media, shares insights from his journey and new book. He highlights how AI and no-code platforms are democratizing entrepreneurship, allowing diverse voices to thrive. Mike emphasizes the crucial balance between passion and persistence in the entrepreneurial journey. The conversation also touches on the rise of purpose-driven businesses among younger generations and the evolving dynamics of leadership in a hybrid work environment.

Feb 1, 2025 • 33min
AI, Elite Creativity and the Curse of the Mushy Middle
Andrew Essex, a seasoned executive at Tata Consultancy Services on the future of business, creativity, and brands in an AI-driven world. The founding CEO of the award-winning agency Droga5 and CEO of the Tribeca Film Festival argues for the importance of human ingenuity and the need for brands to maintain their value, and gives us his vision of the evolving role of Madison Avenue. He predicts that excellence in craft and the hybridization of creativity and technology will be the way to thrive in an AI world, and says that continuous learning and curiosity is the way to navigate the changing landscape effectively.
#business #leadership #advertising

Jan 25, 2025 • 42min
Aging, Climbing the Second Mountain and the Locus of Internal Meaning
Seth Green, Dean of the University of Chicago Graham School, discusses the art of navigating career transitions with a focus on lifelong learning and purpose. He emphasizes moving from the 'first mountain' of material success to a 'second mountain' shaped by personal values. Green highlights the evolution of education in response to longer lifespans and stresses the importance of joy over financial gains. He advocates for pursuing passions and maintaining healthy relationships as key to personal fulfillment in an ever-changing world.

Jan 17, 2025 • 44min
The Future of Sports Streaming and the Transformation of the Viewing Experience
Peter Naylor, seasoned media executive on the impact of streaming television and the superior experience it provides. The former global Vice President at Netflix argues that Sports streaming will explode our expectations of the viewing experience as Netflix and others begin to leverage the advertising potential of what was the last bastion of traditional media. And through his involvement with Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit focused on gun violence prevention, he reminds us of the power and responsibility of media influence as it expands exponentially, particularly on children.
*This episode was recorded on December 11, 2024.
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