
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

Jan 11, 2025 • 43min
Climate Security: the Opportunities for Business
Donna Dupont, founder and chief strategist for Purple Compass on the importance of good governance and forward planning in business as we face the challenges of climate security and extreme weather events. As an award-winning designer and futurist who helps organizations build their future literacy, she argues how in preparation for future risks, we can see future opportunities. She reminds us that the ramifications of climate change impact every one of us, both as leaders and as individuals, but that in business, it will affect how we hire talent, how we manage risk and where potential clients might or might not spend their money.
#ClimateChange #Business #FutureOfWork

Dec 14, 2024 • 51min
Storytelling in the Digital Age and the Speed of the Startup
Scott Donaton, Chief Marketing and Content Officer at Versus Game, is a brand storytelling expert with a rich background at Hulu and Digitas. He discusses how AI-driven engagement can revolutionize media, arguing for the need to embrace new technologies to stay relevant. Donaton emphasizes the agility of startups compared to large corporations and the importance of meaningful audience engagement rather than just subscriber growth. He also highlights the necessity of rethinking business models in the AI era to foster genuine connections and sustainable growth.

Dec 7, 2024 • 49min
Everything can be taught: the art of leading by inspiring
David Kenny, Chairman of Nielsen, dives deep into the evolving landscape of talent, data, media, and technology.
David explores the critical intersection of people and business goals, offering powerful insights on creating synergy between the two. He discusses how to navigate the complexities of industry shifts, the importance of adaptability in leadership, and how the future of data-driven decision-making will impact companies and consumers alike.
#Leadership #Media #Technology #Data #BusinessStrategy #Innovation

11 snips
Nov 16, 2024 • 35min
EQ+IQ; the coaching equation for an AI workplace
Sairan Aqrawi is an inspiring engineer and business coach who helps midlife women unlock their hidden talents. She shares her journey from Iraq to the U.S. and emphasizes the vital blend of emotional intelligence and technical skills in leadership. Sairan discusses the transformative impact of coaching, particularly for women seeking purpose and fulfillment. She champions the importance of trust, communication, and adaptability, revealing how mentorship can cultivate future leaders while encouraging personal and professional growth.

Nov 8, 2024 • 45min
AI and the creative experience
Joaquin Gil, author, filmmaker, composer and digital artist on AI and the creative experience. He’s also a programmer, creator of graphic novels, live action, animated films and shorts, electronic music albums and the technical director of special effects for classic feature films like Starship Troopers, Godzilla and Oscar winners like Contact and As Good As it Gets. And his children’s book, The Caretakers whose use of AI illustration is one of the first experiments of its kind. He discusses new interfaces, the importance of imagination, the power of creativity and the exciting new world available to creative people.
#AI #Creative #Advertising #Media #contentcreation

Nov 2, 2024 • 46min
The Autonomy of Micro Media
Brian Morrissey, founder of Rebooting and former president of Digiday Media, dives into the evolution of sustainable media. He discusses the shift from mass media to micro media, emphasizing individual creativity and niche expertise. Morrissey highlights how AI will complement human talent rather than replace it, and explains the rise of independent work post-pandemic, advocating for a new perspective on entrepreneurship. He also underscores the importance of personal branding and adaptability in today's changing job landscape.

Oct 26, 2024 • 35min
AI and the New Age of Reason
Itamar Friedman, CEO of Qodo on the evolution of AI in software development, and the changing philosophy of AI. The former director of Machine Vision, which was bought out by Alibaba, established Codium AI before ChatGPT, predicts a future in which increasingly AI will think like humans, and argues that System 2 Thinking could even improve human reasoning. He gives us an insight into many of the tools that his own company is creating, and explains that jobs for developers will grow rather than fall victim to AI. The need for coders and software engineers, he says, will increase, but their jobs will expand and operate at a higher level.
#Business #Leadership #AI #SoftwareEngineer

Oct 19, 2024 • 38min
A Fraction of The Workplace
James Vanreusel, founder and CEO of Vanreusel Ventures, brings over 25 years of finance experience to the conversation. He dives into the benefits of fractional staffing, exploring the roles of interim CFOs and international contractors. James also shares insights on how AI is revolutionizing the workplace, pushing leaders toward continuous learning. He discusses integrating for-profit approaches into nonprofits for better sustainability and emphasizes the importance of blending talent with technology for effective business solutions.

Oct 12, 2024 • 41min
The Species of AI
Greg Kahn, CEO of GK Digital Ventures, and Shiv Singh, the author of Marketing with AI for dummies and Chief Marketing Officer at C3 AI on the transformative impact of AI and to its potential to revolutionize the industry. They argue that AI is a technological shift as life-changing as the internet and mobile phones, sparking existential questions about the future of work itself such as who and what to trust. But they stress the importance of companies to be pragmatically enthusiastic, to embrace openness to change, critical thinking, and diverse perspectives in navigating the AI landscape, enabling technology to give birth to more job opportunities than ever before.
#AI #Business #advertising #media #FutureofWork

Oct 5, 2024 • 37min
How AI + Psychometrics is Transforming the Future of Work
Juan Betancourt, CEO of Humantelligence, shares insights on how AI transforms HR tech with innovative psychometric tools. Companies like Accenture use his software for quick assessments enhancing collaboration and training. He discusses how customization in communication boosts team dynamics and counters skepticism about AI's role in HR. Juan emphasizes the value of human intuition amidst AI's rise and explores new job roles that enrich human work. The conversation highlights the balance between technology and genuine human connection in today’s workplaces.
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