Leadership Next

Vas Narasimhan is the CEO of Swiss drug giant Novartis. With a medical degree from Harvard, and a public policy degree from the Kennedy School of Government, he has unique and specialized insight into the COVID-19 pandemic. On this episode of Leadership Next, Narasimhan speaks with Fortune editor-in-chief Clifton Leaf. The two dive into a detailed discussion about the challenges in developing and manufacturing a vaccine. They also discuss the fragilities in our healthcare system, preparing for the next pandemic, what it takes to lead during crisis, and why being a global company will help Novartis weather this storm.

Cathy Engelbert is used to breaking the mold. As commissioner of the WNBA, she just hosted professional sports’ first-ever virtual draft. Under her watch, WNBA players will – for the first time – receive fully-paid maternity leave and have a shot at significantly higher salaries. Before coming in to lead the women’s basketball league, she was the first woman CEO of Deloitte, and the first woman to head one of the country’s large professional services companies. On this episode of Leadership Next, she and Alan Murray discuss how and when the WNBA will resume play, and the league’s efforts to engage fans digitally. Engelbert shares how her competitive childhood and college sports prepared her to become a business leader. And the pair debate how to elevate more women to the C-suite. Fortune’s Ellen McGirt also weighs in with some valuable insight. 

The coronavirus has pharmaceutical and biotech companies racing to find a vaccine. Moderna is the first company to test its vaccine in people and, this week, Moderna announced those early tests appear to be a success. On this episode of Leadership Next, Alan Murray speaks with the co-founder and chairman of Moderna, Noubar Afeyan. Moderna is a portfolio company in Afeyan’s biotech incubator, Flagship Pioneering. He founded Flagship in 2000 with the goal of financing companies that use innovative technologies to solve problems. Moderna certainly fits that description: its approach to the coronavirus vaccine is unlike any other. Afeyan explains why. He touches on the challenges of scaling production of the vaccine, and answer’s Alan’s blunt question: Is Moderna going to make any money off of this? The two also discuss how Flagship Pioneering differs from a venture capital firm, and how Afeyan’s immigrant roots have impacted his approach to business. 

On the newest episode of Leadership Next, Alan Murray is joined by the CEO of Mastercard, Ajay Banga. The two discuss how the global pandemic has impacted Mastercard’s business – surprisingly, it’s not all bad news.  Talk then turns to economic recovery – what it may look like, and when it’s coming. Banga believes the crisis will likely speed the adoption of digital technologies. And while this can be a great equalizer, it can also deepen divisions. Banga has a passion for financial inclusion – under his leadership, Mastercard has launched roughly 1500 products designed to promote financial inclusion. Those projects have touched some 500 million people in 80 different countries.  This drive for inclusion carries through the current situation too. Banga explains that a focus on inclusion has led him to commit to no layoffs at Mastercard right now, and to contribute $250 million to aid struggling small businesses.  Also in this episode: Fortune's Ellen McGirt asks Kate Moore - Head of Thematic Strategy at BlackRock - which industries are best positioned for an economic rebound.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff believes business can improve the state of the world. And as the world has grappled with the realities of the coronavirus, he’s used both company and personal resources to attempt to do just that. But now he says we are preparing to enter the second phase of this pandemic: returning to work. In this episode of “Leadership Next,” Alan Murray and Ellen McGirt ask Benioff what that return looks like. They discuss his challenge to companies to retain employees for at least the first 90 days of this crisis. They also ask if company devotion to issues like diversity or the environment falls by the wayside in the months to come. Benioff’s answer: CEOs who remain committed to stakeholder capitalism will ultimately find the most success.

During World War II, American industry mobilized to support the military - reconfiguring assembly lines to produce things like airplane engines and tanks. Seventy-five years later, the world finds itself in a different type of war: the battle against COVID-19. And once again, business is responding to calls for help.  On today’s Leadership Next, Alan Murray and Ellen McGirt speak with two CEOs whose companies have pivoted to fight the pandemic. KR Sridhar is founder and CEO of Bloom Energy, a clean energy company based in San Jose, CA. Responding to a call from California governor Gavin Newsom, Bloom quickly figured out how to refurbish ventilators. Jane Mosbacher Morris is founder and CEO of To the Market, a for-profit social enterprise that connects artisans from all over the world with businesses looking for products. Morris has redirected many in her network to begin producing hospital-grade masks. This work landed her on Fortune’s 2020 World’s Greatest Leaders list. While Sridhar and Morris run very different companies, they share something important: the belief that now, more than ever, they have a responsibility to put their companies to work for the greater good.  

Eileen Fisher has been putting purpose at the center of her company since 1984. The entrepreneur started her women’s clothing line with $350 in her pocket and the desire to help women feel great about getting dressed.  Although it’s more expensive to do so, Eileen is focused on using environmentally sound raw materials, and ensuring good working conditions for those creating her products. She’s observed a growing number of companies following suit. She tells Leadership Next's Alan Murray, “I think the companies that aren’t doing this kind of work will be gone in 5 years, 10 at the most.”  Eileen and Alan discuss some of the tradeoffs that have come with sticking by these sustainability practices, why Eileen has never partnered with investors, and the advice she has for other entrepreneurs. Also in this week’s episode, Ellen McGirt speaks with the founders of the fashion label Public School, who – with advice from Eileen Fisher - are retooling their business to become a more sustainable brand. 

Retraining workers for jobs in the digital economy has been a focus of IBM’s Ginni Rometty for a long time. Now, with coronavirus driving unemployment sky high, the need for reskilling is even more urgent. On this episode of Leadership Next, Rometty – who recently transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman of IBM – tells Alan Murray why corporations, not the government, are best positioned to make this happen.  The two also discuss the Business Roundtable. The group represents nearly 200 companies, and in August announced it believed business has a duty to serve all stakeholders, not just shareholders. This was a big deal, and Rometty was part of the group that pushed for the change. She explains why she believes this is essential for economic success, and how she has instituted a commitment to all stakeholders at IBM. Also shedding light on how this change from the Business Roundtable came to fruition, Alan speaks with Rick Wartzman of the Drucker Institute. 

How well are companies responding to the coronavirus crisis? That’s what today’s Leadership Next guest wants to find out.  Martin Whittaker runs JUST Capital, a non-profit which attempts to measure if companies are doing well by ALL stakeholders – employees, customers, communities and shareholders. Since COVID-19 has gripped our attention, and the economy, Whittaker’s group has been measuring how major corporations are responding to the pandemic. He highlights some specific companies he believes have risen to the challenge, protecting employees and customers alike.  Also in this episode: Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian tells Fortune’s Susie Gharib how hard it’s been to furlough thousands of workers. Plus, the steps he’s taken to try and soften that blow. And, Fortune senior editor Ellen McGirt joins Leadership Next to offer her thoughts on how this pandemic will change the future of business. 

Can business rise to meet the challenges presented by COVID-19? Can supply chains provide the medical equipment doctors and patients need? When will we have adequate coronavirus tests? And ultimately, how close are we to finding a vaccine for the disease? Those are the questions Alan Murray is asking on this week's Leadership Next. Today’s guests are two CEOs working overtime to provide the answers.  Up first, Alex Gorsky, CEO of Johnosn and Johnson. His company has just announced it will begin testing and manufacturing a vaccine that may be available early next year. Also adding insight is Stan Bergman, the CEO of Henry Schein, a dental and medical supply company. Not only does the company supply healthcare workers with disposable masks, gloves, and gowns, it's working to bring COVID-19 point-of-care tests to these workers.