What's Next! with Tiffani Bova

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. Alisa Cohn has been coaching startup founders to grow into world-class CEOs for nearly 20 years, and has even been named the Top Startup Coach in the World at the Thinkers50/Marshall Goldsmith Global Coaches Awards in London. A onetime startup CFO, strategy consultant, and current angel investor and advisor, she was named the number one "Global Guru" of startups in 2021, and has worked with startup companies such as Venmo, Etsy, DraftKings, The Wirecutter, Mack Weldon, and Tory Burch. Additionally, she is the author of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, published by Kogan Page. Alisa is a guest lecturer at Harvard and Cornell Universities, Henley Business School and the Naval War College. She is the executive coach for Runway–the incubator at Cornell NYC Tech that helps post-docs commercialize their technology and build companies. She serves on the board of the Cornell Advisory Council. She has coached public and political figures including the former Supreme Court Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and the first female minister in the transitional government of Afghanistan. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… people who work in start-up culture and leaders/managers that are looking to improve their structures and systems. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Ultimately, the foundations of a good start-up launch are dependent upon the infrastructure set up in the initial phases. The best way to track progress on your start-up growth is to have definitive goals and setting a game plan for how to get there. The rest is discipline, applied through the feedback and improvement for both workplace leaders and team members. WHAT I LOVE MOST… Alisa fully understands the "sexiness in the strategy" to improve and build upon the personal growth journey for start-ups. But most of all, her eagerness to venture into lyrical rap is impressive! Running time: 29:26 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Find Alisa online: Official Website Twitter LinkedIn Alisa's Book: From Start-Up to Grown-Up

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova. I am fortunate to have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Kara Swisher. Kara is the co-founder and editor-at-large of Recode, producer and host of the Recode Decode and Pivot podcasts, and co-executive producer of the Code Conference series. She also has a special series on MSNBC called "Revolution" on the impact of technology on work, society and more, and is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. She is also the author of "aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads and Made Millions in the War for the Web." THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone wants to hear a no-holds-barred conversation about the state of Silicon Valley, what the next generation of Unicorns might look like and what VCs want, what they need, and what they should be paying attention to. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Kara Swisher talks about the role of AI and automation moving forward and the onus that will be placed on employees to reskill. In this new job market, creativity and problem-solving will be more important than ever before. She also breaks down Kara rounds out this episode with what trust looks like in the new tech economy, the role of regulators moving forward, and the importance of ethical thinking in new technologies in an industry that is facing a crisis of privacy. WHAT I LOVE MOST… Kara Swisher is out having the tough conversations, fighting the good fight every day and staying engaged and aware as technology evolves in our society. Running time: 27:22 Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Find Kara online: Twitter Opinion Pieces "Recode Decode" (Kara's Podcast)

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. David Schonthal is an award-winning Professor of Strategy, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the Kellogg School of Management where he teaches courses on new venture creation, design thinking, healthcare innovation and creativity. Along with his colleague Loran Nordgren, David is one of the originators of Friction Theory – a ground-breaking methodology that explains why even the most promising innovations and change initiatives often struggle to gain traction with their intended audiences – and what to do about it. This work is popularized in David's Wall Street Journal and National Bestselling book, The Human Element: Overcoming the Resistance That Awaits New Ideas (Wiley). THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… people who want to innovate businesses products and services with new ideas that put people first. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… At the heart of any business lies a product that helps people and it's our job as business leaders to focus on the humanity these products can deliver. But sometimes there are challenges we face in implementing new ideas - what David calls "frictions" - that stand in the way of innovations. Ultimately, he believes that by identifying those sources and addressing the issues, we can pave the way for growth and progress. WHAT I LOVE MOST… David understands that at the core of customer service, design thinking must place the customer first. Human-centered design must consider not only the functional value the product brings, but also the social and emotional value for people as well. Running time: 29:12 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Find David online: Official Website Twitter LinkedIn David's Book: The Human Element

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova. This week serves as a pleasant reminder of the honor and pleasure I had to connect with the accomplished Beth Comstock. Beth is a self-described change-maker who has been the President of Integrated Media at NBC Universal, overseeing Ad-sales, Marketing, and Research. She led the company's digital efforts, including Peacock Equity acquiring iVillage.com and oversaw the founding of Hulu. She was also the first female Vice Chair and first Chief Marketing Officer at GE in more than 20 years. She is a member of Nike's board of directors and a Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women. Additionally, she is a published author with her most recent book "Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change." THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who wants to learn from one of the most successful 'introverted change-makers' about how to inspire teams, get uncomfortable, change jobs and companies gracefully, and transform a 125 year-old brand. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Beth shares nuggets of gold gleaned from her 20-year career at GE and NBC Universal. Beth provides inspiration and guidance in an age of staggering technological advancement, the ever-stronger pull of the "next big thing," and the gravity of the unknown. It is becoming exceedingly important to be self-aware and cognizant of the things that make our businesses human and creative. We work with and for humans, our customers and audiences are human, and likewise, it is important that our leadership be just as rooted in our humanity. It is our honest and dynamic experience as human beings that will allow us, and our businesses, to thrive in a world ruled more and more by algorithms and automation. WHAT I LOVE MOST… Beth is always looking to write her next story and live it as a courageous human being. She has learned along the way that our jobs do not define us. Who we are, the networks we create, the people we meet along the way–that's what is important. With each new opportunity comes the next story we will create! Running time: 35:05 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Find Beth on social: Website Twitter LinkedIn Beth's Book: Imagine It Forward

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. Ranjay Gulati is the Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor and the former Unit Head of the Organizational Behavior Unit at Harvard Business School. Until recently, he chaired the Advanced Management Program, the flagship senior leader executive program, at the school. Professor Gulati studies how "resilient" organizations—those that prosper both in good times and bad—drive growth and profitability. His work bridges strategy (establishing clear strategic pillars for growth), organizational design (reimagining purposeful and collaborative organizational systems), and leadership (fostering inspired, courageous and caring execution). He is the author of a number of books, with the most recent release of "Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies" in 2022. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… people who want to rediscover their own purpose on a deeper level and support others as they find their own sense of purpose. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… purpose is a multi-layered concept that spans many different parts of one's life, both personally and professionally. Purpose can provide you the motivation to achieve something beyond the present state of being, guide you in the direction of the goals you truly want to accomplish in life, inspire others to follow in your footsteps, and create connections within communities that align with your goals and share your vision for the future. WHAT I LOVE MOST… Ranjay is very clear about the need for corporations to understand "purpose." Defining a strong sense of purpose is good business because if you aren't thinking for the long term, you won't be in business. Running time: 30:46 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani on Social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Find Ranjay online: Official Website Twitter LinkedIn Ranjay's Book: Deep Purpose

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova. Throwback to our conversation with the ever-candid yet always sincere Kim Scott. Kim is the author of three novels, and the New York Times & Wall Street Journal bestseller "Radical Candor: Be A Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity." Previously, Kim was the Co-founder and CEO of Juice Software, a collaboration startup. She led ad sense, YouTube, and double-click online sales and operations at Google, before she joined Apple to develop and teach a leadership seminar. She also has been a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and several other tech companies. She received her MBA from Harvard and her B.A. from Princeton University. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who is open to becoming more self-aware, interested in learning how to give and receive candid and effective feedback. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Be able to show you that you care for those around you while also challenging them to be better. Candid, effective feedback is important, indispensable, and harder to come by than you might think. When you do get it, it's in your best interest to embrace it, apply it, and continue to encourage it. Kim shares her best advice on how you can be a better giver of this valuable feedback (both positive and negative), as well as a better receiver of it. WHAT I LOVE MOST… Kim believes, as do I, that giving feedback is not mean, if it's clear. Her personal anecdotes were illustrative, especially her own career re-focus with Sheryl Sandberg. I also love that she makes a point to remind us how important it is to make sure you take a moment in the day to thank somebody and recognize what they do and all that they bring to work, your business, or your life, every day. Running time: 40:42 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Find Kim on social: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Kim's Book: Radical Candor

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I am thrilled to bring back girl boss Whitney Johnson for this week's episode of the What's Next! Podcast. Whitney is CEO of the tech-enabled talent development company Disruption Advisors, an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company in America (2020). She also co-founded the Disruptive Innovation Fund with Harvard Business School's late Clayton Christensen, worked as an award-winning equity analyst on Wall Street, and was named one of the top ten business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. Whitney is an accomplished author of four books, and recently released "Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company" in 2022. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… people who want to maximize their growth potential and broaden their horizons. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Whitney doesn't think the term "The Great Resignation" accurately describes the workplace culture shift, rather she believes in "The Great Aspiration" - the idea that people are aspiring to jobs that give them greater fulfillment and more opportunities for learning and growth. WHAT I LOVE MOST… Whitney's takes the S-Curve model one step further to apply the theory as an assessment tool for managers to help guide their team members and become the best boss a person will ever have. Running time: 31:42 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Find Whitney online: Official Website Twitter LinkedIn Whitney's Book: Smart Growth

This week we reminisce over our insightful conversation with Adam Grant on our reload episode of the What's Next! Podcast. Adam is the leading expert on finding motivation, meaning, living more generous and creative lives. He's been recognized as one of the world's 10 Most Influential Management Thinkers and Fortune's 40 under 40. He's a #1 New York Times bestselling author and has written five books: Think Again, Give and Take, Originals, Option B, and Power Moves. Adam now hosts WorkLife, a TED original podcast after his TED talk got more than 12 million views. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… team members and team builders. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Adam's research shows that interpersonal interactions can make a difference in our success. At various points of our day humans operate in three realms: (1) a giver, or people who ask what can I do for you?, (2) a taker, someone who asks what can you do for me?, and (3) matchers, who follow the law of reciprocity. Yes, there are grey areas, but people usually fit in one of these categories. One would think that placing a group of givers on a team would guarantee a culture of givers, but that's not the case. Yet, when you have a team of takers, more harm is done that good. Adam believes it's more important to screen out takers, leaving a good mix of givers and matchers. Forming teams is more than finding similarities or matching "culture fit." Forming teams is an important skill that finds differences, diversity of thought, and identifies the holes in current teams. WHAT I LOVE MOST… Adam's work around being better teammates and better individuals in our home and work life is inspiring. He forces us to think if we are a giver, a taker, or a matcher. How are we adjusting each day to bring out best selves to our day? This is an important question to ponder and to try to implement in your life. Running time: 26:31 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Find Adam on social: Website Twitter LinkedIn

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova. This week I am thrilled to bring you this episode of the What's Next! Podcast with Robert Siegel! Robert is a Lecturer in Management at the Stanford Business School. He researches strategy and innovation in both large and small companies, and how companies combine digital and physical solutions for their customers. He is also a general partner at XSeed Capital and a venture partner at Piva Capital. He sits on the board of directors of Luumopen and Avochato. Robert was previously general manager of the video and software solutions division for GE Security, with annual revenues of $350 million, and executive vice president of Pixim, Inc. (acquired by Sony). He is the co-inventor of four patents and served as lead researcher for Andy Grove's best-selling book, Only the Paranoid Survive and recently published his own book, The Brain and Brawn Company. I am so excited to bring you this episode of the What's Next! Podcast with Robert Siegel! THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… those leaders who want to learn how companies successfully combine digital and physical solutions. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… The big takeaway here is that incumbents are not doomed, and disruptors are not ordained. WHAT I LOVE MOST… the value of understanding the fluidity and fusion between the physical and digital worlds we exist in. Running time: 33:38 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Find Robert online: Official Website Twitter LinkedIn Robert's Book: The Brains and Brawn Company

Welcome to the What's Next! podcast with Tiffani Bova. This week I am bringing back another classic episode of the What's Next! Podcast with Guy Kawasaki. This was a special episode because I was able to capture a frank conversation with my friend and fellow Hawaiian. He's the Chief Evangelist at Canva, a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, and an Executive Fellow at the Haas School of Business. He is also the author of The Art of the Start, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and nine other books. THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who wants to up their social media game. TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… Even for an expert, there is still room to learn. Guy is dedicated to making a difference via social media every day by pushing the envelope and learning as he goes. In the world of social media, we both believe that you have to be thoughtful with your posts. The days of simply showing up are over. You can't just tweet once and call it a day. Video has to be better. Graphics have to be better. Guy, however, takes a more aggressive approach. He's comfortable posting about politics and difficult conversations that seemingly don't relate to his brand. He's less risk-averse and is willing to take chances on social media. I, on the other hand, will craft a Tweet and not hit send. I won't Tweet something if the content doesn't represent my "brand," if the intention isn't correct, or if it doesn't add value. I am more cautious. There's no right or wrong way to approach social, just choices. Guy believes social media is similar to life: error correction and experimentation. WHAT I LOVE MOST… Guy focuses on making a difference. He doesn't look back – he pushes forward to keep learning, experimenting and growing. This forward-thinking is something we can all learn from. Running time: 35:40 Subscribe on iTunes Find Tiffani on social: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Find Guy on social: Website Twitter Facebook