unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc

How can Legacy companies transform themselves to compete with Startups? What lessons can be learned from the different ways legacy companies Microsoft and IBM navigated the new business landscape. What can we expect from the new tech hubs popping up around the world that aim to be a recreation of what makes Silicon Valley work?Vivek Wadhwa is an academic, entrepreneur, and author of five best-selling books: From Incremental to Exponential, Your Happiness Was Hacked, The Driver in the Driverless Car, Innovating Women, and The Immigrant Exodus.Greg and Vivek discuss Vivek’s journey from tech entrepreneur to academic and prolific author. They discuss Vivek’s different books focusing on innovation, legacy companies, and the impact of technology on society. Vivek highlights the failures of traditional innovation methods, the cultural transformations necessary for company revitalization, and the broader societal impacts of technology addiction. Additionally, Vivek shares his personal strategies for managing tech distractions in his own life and emphasizes the necessity of face-to-face interactions for true innovation in business.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.***This episode was recorded in 2021.**Show Links:Recommended Resources:MicrosoftSatya NadellaClayton ChristensenFord Greenfield LabsDoug McMillonFrederick TermanSilicon ValleyMichael PorterMark ZuckerbergMitch KaporSteve CaseGuest Profile:Wadhwa.comLinkedIn ProfileWikipedia ProfileFragomen ProfileSocial Profile on XHis Work:Amazon Author PageFrom Incremental to Exponential: How Large Companies Can See the Future and Rethink InnovationThe Driver in the Driverless Car: How Your Technology Choices Create the FutureYour Happiness Was Hacked: Why Tech Is Winning the Battle to Control Your Brain—and How to Fight BackThe Immigrant Exodus: Why America Is Losing the Global Race to Capture Entrepreneurial TalentInnovating Women: The Changing Face of TechnologyEpisode Quotes:The reason silicon valley can't be replicated14:19: Silicon Valley can't be replicated because you need much more than a few people. It's all about culture, the fact that we interact with each other. I mean, you go to parties over here. I mean, I remember coming to Silicon Valley 12 years ago and bumping into Mark Zuckerberg. I said, "Oh my God, Mark Zuckerberg is here." And then you bump into Mitch Kapor, you know, all of these people, and you just go up to them, and they talk to you like normal people. So it's informal; you go to any coffee shop over here, and you ask someone, "You know, what are you doing?" First of all, they'll start telling you about all the things that they failed in. They'll show off about their failure, and then they'll openly tell you what they're doing. Try doing that anywhere else in the world.On how are the people being addicted to technologies 47:41:The fact is that all of us are addicted. We're checking email. We wake up in the morning, and we check email. We go to bed late at night; we're checking email. We're traveling home from work; we're checking email. Right? We're now exchanging texts, you know, 24/7. When we have any free time, we'll start watching some TikTok videos. I mean, the kids, from the time they're like six months old now, seem to be on their iPads and so on. And the result is that teen suicide rates are high. We're not aware. All the studies about happiness show that we are less happy than we ever were. So everything good that should have happened hasn't happened. Instead, we've become addicted, and it's become a big problem for us. Disruption can come from anywhere08:38: You have to be aware that disruption would come from everywhere, and you need to have all hands on deck. It's no longer R&D departments that specialize in developing some specific technology—it's everyone in your company, right? Marketing, customer support, sales, your engineers, of course, finance—everyone now has a role in disruption, helping you reinvent yourself. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this engaging conversation, John Danner, an esteemed faculty member from UC Berkeley and Princeton, dives into the transformative power of failure. He challenges the glorification of failure in Silicon Valley, urging listeners to see it as a catalyst for growth. Danner discusses the importance of self-knowledge and how understanding one's personality can dramatically influence success. He underscores the need for open communication about mistakes and promotes innovation by recognizing failures as valuable learning experiences.

Jeffrey J. Bussgang, General Partner at Flybridge Capital and Harvard Business School lecturer, dives into the transformative power of AI in the startup world. He discusses how founders are leveraging generative AI for quicker experimentation and optimization. The conversation highlights the importance of combining timeless entrepreneurial principles with modern technology. Bussgang also shares strategies for navigating the evolving roles of venture capitalists and the significance of direct customer engagement in driving success. Practical advice for prioritizing experiments and enhancing productivity is also explored.

Webb Keane, a University of Michigan anthropology professor, delves into how technology reshapes our moral landscape. He examines the cultural nuances of anthropomorphizing AI and the emotional ties we form with machines. Keane discusses ethical dilemmas in our interactions with animals and robots, contrasting the West's moral views with those of other cultures. He also explores the historical evolution of legal accountability for inanimate objects, prompting us to reconsider what it means to be human in a tech-driven world.

In this insightful conversation, Hatim Rahman, an Associate Professor at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management and author of "Inside the Invisible Cage: How Algorithms Control Workers," discusses the complexities of digital platforms on labor dynamics. He explores the balance between algorithmic transparency and accountability, the evolution of traditional bureaucracy in the gig economy, and the power dynamics shifting under algorithmic governance. Rahman emphasizes the need for fairness and informed consent in these evolving employment landscapes.

James Boyle, a law professor at Duke University and former chair of Creative Commons, dives into the ethics of AI and personhood. He discusses how historical views on personhood can inform our understanding of AI's rights. The conversation highlights the significance of empathy and literature in shaping these debates. Boyle argues for recognizing both human and non-human rights, advocating a multidisciplinary approach to navigate the complexities of our evolving definitions of personhood amidst advancing technologies.

Amar Bhidé, a Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University and author of "Uncertainty and Enterprise," dives into the fascinating nuances of uncertainty in economics. He critiques traditional economic models for overlooking the role of imagination and judgment in decision-making. The conversation also emphasizes the power of storytelling in teaching economics and how a narrative approach can enhance understanding. Bhidé challenges listeners to rethink organizational dynamics, advocating for collective engagement over hierarchical control.

Marietje Schaake, a fellow at Stanford's Cyber Policy Center and author of The Tech Coup, delves into the evolving dynamics between tech giants and democracy. She critiques the complacency of political leaders regarding corporate power and highlights the historical shift from technology as a liberating force to a profit-driven threat. The conversation also touches on the need for better tech governance, regulatory frameworks like GDPR, and the urgent demand for lawmakers to become more tech-savvy to protect democratic values.

Richard Overy, an honorary professor at the University of Exeter and renowned military historian, delves into the psychological and social aspects of war. He discusses the shifting landscape of military history, emphasizing the role of cultural factors in conflict. The conversation covers the evolution of war trauma from ancient times to today, contrasting warfare strategies in modern conflicts like Ukraine. Overy also reflects on the significance of leadership in wartime and how historical perspectives shape contemporary understandings of violence and cooperation.

Kartik Hosanagar, a Professor of Technology at The Wharton School, discusses the impact of AI on decision-making. He explores the similarities between human algorithmic thinking and machine intelligence, emphasizing the need for AI literacy. Hosanagar highlights the importance of trust and transparency in AI systems, particularly in fields like healthcare. He also delves into the evolving roles of CTOs and CIOs, and the intersection of AI with creativity, advocating for a balance between human expression and algorithmic influence.