In today’s knowledge economy that prizes intellectual capital—where we need all individuals to build passions and develop their full human potential—our education system is no longer sufficient. Amid the disaster since the pandemic’s assault on society and schools over multiple school years, there is an opportunity to rebuild better by altering the fundamental assumptions undergirding our present-day schooling model. Today's book isn’t about disruptive innovation. Nor is it about the devastation and disruption that the pandemic caused. It’s about what we build out of this devastation. What we choose to create. And our guest proposes that It starts with educators. We welcome a friend of the show and someone I have also become to see as a friend, he is here to share his new book, From Reopen to Reinvent, Recreating School for Every Child, Michael Horn Find Michael here: https://michaelbhorn.com  

Topics we cover: 00:01:18 The Imagination Network in the Brain 00:03:34 Creativity is about Inhibition as well as activation 00:05:48 Brainstorming 00:08:22 Convergent and Divergent Thinking 00:10:58 Educating People out of Creativity 00:12:29 Organisations and Creativity 00:16:39 Creative Exercises like de Bono’s 6 Thinking Hats 00:22:22 The Von Restorff Effect Find Helena here: https://www.chequeredleopard.com

We welcome back Helena Boschi, the author of "Why We Do What We Do Understanding our brain to get the best out of ourselves and others" Here are our topics today   If You Are Human You Are Biased Cognitive Dissonance and Motivated Reasoning Cognitive Energy Choice Overload, Complexity Avoidance Anchoring Effects and Wine Lists How Language Shapes Behaviour We Are Poor At Judging Risk The Availability Heuristic In Group/Out Group Find Helena here: https://www.chequeredleopard.com

The brain is the basis of everything we do: how we behave, communicate, feel, remember, pay attention, create, influence, and decide. Today’s book combines scientific research with concrete examples and illustrative stories to clarify the complex mechanisms of the human brain. It offers valuable insights into how our brain works every day, at home and at work, and provides practical ideas and tips to help us lead happy, healthy, and productive lives.  The thoughts you have and the words that you speak all have an effect on your neural architecture - and this book explains what that means in a way you can understand. We welcome Helena Boschi, the author of "Why We Do What We Do Understanding our brain to get the best out of ourselves and others" Find Helena here:  https://www.chequeredleopard.com  

This podcast episode explores the neuroscience of reward and the importance of finding a balance between pleasure and pain. It discusses the power of radical honesty, the role of shame in societies and parenting, the importance of honest feedback, the impact of the pandemic on addiction, and the relationship between attention spans, habits, and the role of dopamine in addictive behaviors.

Dr Anna Lembke, author of 'Dopamine Nation', discusses various topics including the accessibility and potency of addictive substances, the impact of modern technology on our dopamine signals, evaluating drinking habits and understanding motivations behind drug use, the components of dopamine (abstinence, mindfulness, insight, and next steps), finding balance and self-discovery, and the detrimental consequences of seeking escape and pleasure.

In Hidden Truths, David Fubini delivers is that awareness of the critical capabilities and issues that come with the territory - capabilities and issues that often take leaders by surprise - goes a long way toward helping leaders perform at a high level. He presents the essential skills that will keep leaders delivering success - both professionally and within their organizations. We welcome the author of Hidden Truths: What Leaders Need to Hear but Are Rarely Told, David Fubini  Time stamps: 00:00 Sponsor Message Zai 01:38 CEOs Shocked by the Volume of Demands  06:17 Failure to Delegate 07:58 All Eyes Watching You as CEO 10:06 Jeff Clarke and Kodak in Free Fall 13:12 Information Vacuums and Managing Constituencies  17:30 Change Management Starts With Changing the Management 21:21 The How And Then The What  23:37 The Tradeoff: New Team V Retraining the Old One 25:40 Roger Smith and The Allure of Changing Slowly 27:33 Change: Slow and Polite V Fast and Pragmatic 29:55 Successfully Transitioning After A Merger Or Acquisition and The Case Of American Airlines 34:04 Sponsor Message Zai

Today’s episode provides practical knowledge that will not only help leaders do their jobs better, but assist boards, HR, consultants, and others in working effectively with these executives. One of the book’s themes is that appearance is not reality. Much has been written and discussed about the apparent roles and responsibilities of CEOs and managing directors and other leaders. Courses are taught in MBA and executive development programs that provide a lot of information about the job. Direct reports and teams also observe leaders in action. But it’s not until you assume a leadership job that the reality of the position hits home. The reality is that leaders operate in a crucible, one in which emotions run high and interpersonal relationships are at risk. Being in the spotlight, not having nearly enough hours in the day to address key issues, confronting right-versus-right decisions - all of this ratchets up the degree of difficulty. The good news that our guest and his book delivers is that awareness of the critical capabilities and issues that come with the territory - capabilities and issues that often take leaders by surprise - goes a long way toward helping leaders perform at a high level. He presents the essential skills that will keep leaders delivering success - both professionally and within their organizations. We welcome the author of Hidden Truths: What Leaders Need to Hear but Are Rarely Told, David Fubini Find David here: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=102821

Companies spend billions of dollars annually on diversity efforts with remarkably few results. Too often diversity efforts rest on the assumption that all that's needed is an earnest conversation about "privilege." That's not enough. To truly make progress we need to stop celebrating the problem and instead take effective steps to solve it. Through her own exhaustive research, fresh evidence and first-hand work with companies our guest shows how it's done, and, reassuringly, how easy it is to get started. We welcome the author of Bias Interrupted: Creating Inclusion for Real and for Good, Joan C. Williams, welcome to the show. Find Joan here: https://joancwilliams.com Find bias interrupters here: https://biasinterrupters.org  

Companies spend billions of dollars annually on diversity efforts with remarkably few results.  Too often diversity efforts rest on the assumption that all that's needed is an earnest conversation about "privilege."  That's not enough.  To truly make progress we need to stop celebrating the problem and instead take effective steps to solve it. Through her own exhaustive research, fresh evidence and first-hand work with companies our guest shows how it's done, and, reassuringly, how easy it is to get started. Chapter titles include 1. What’s the path forward? 2. Is bias training worthless? 3. We’re a meritocracy. Are you asking us to change that? 4. Why do some groups need to be politically savvier to succeed? 5. Are you saying that white men have it easy? I don’t feel privileged. 6. We cherish our culture. Can we retain that and still achieve DEI goals? 7. Can we make progress on DEI without getting all rigid and bureaucratic? 8. Women’s priorities change after having kids. Are you saying I should ignore that? 9. Isn’t it natural—and inevitable—that people who work harder go further? 10. If we hire more women and people of colour, won’t the DEI problem take care of itself? What does the CEO need to do to finally deliver on DEI goals? How can a company change who gets access to opportunities? (Hint: Only the CEO can) How can CDOs and HR get buy-in—and deliver— on DEI goals? How can HR and DEI departments work together to interrupt bias in basic business systems? How can individual managers help move the needle—and manage more effectively? We welcome the author of Bias Interrupted: Creating Inclusion for Real and for Good, Joan C. Williams, welcome to the show.  Find Joan here: https://joancwilliams.com Find bias interrupters here: https://biasinterrupters.org