Podcast · Business

HBR IdeaCast

by Harvard Business Review · English · Business

A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 29 min
Latest: 6 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026 · 29 minNew

Optimism Is Now an Essential Leadership Skill

Optimism isn’t about ignoring problems or pretending everything will work out. It’s about acknowledging challenges while believing that your actions can still make a difference. Psychologist and researcher Michelle Gielan says leaders can cultivate that mindset in themselves and their teams and argues that, when they do, it creates a powerful performance advantage. Drawing on an 11-year dataset of more than 25,000 business professionals, she shares research linking optimism to higher productivity, sales, engagement, and lower burnout. She explains how leaders can use techniques like “power…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E1098 · 1 Oct 2026 · 28 min

How AI Is Changing Innovation: Why Speed Alone Isn’t a Strategy

AI is making it faster and cheaper than ever to turn ideas into prototypes, products, and businesses—but that abundance creates new challenges for leaders. In episode 3 of a special four-part series on how AI is changing leadership, we look at the ways industry leaders are using AI to truly gain a competitive edge and innovate for the future. Cisco Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel explains how AI is changing the pace and nature of innovation, why human judgment and taste become more important when everyone has access to the same tools, and how companies can use AI to tackle problems they…
E1098 · 29 Sep 2026 · 33 min

What Retail Legend Ron Johnson Learned from Apple’s Success and JCPenney’s Failure

How do you know when to trust your previous experience in a transformation environment, and how do you know when to listen, observe, and adapt? Ron Johnson helped create the Apple Store and transform Target into a design-forward retailer. But when he brought his approach to JCPenney, his transformation failed. He explains why leaders shouldn't rely too heavily on data when they're trying to create something that hasn't been done before, how Steve Jobs used patience and diverse perspectives to drive innovation, and why great customer experiences depend on empowering employees to solve…
E1097 · 24 Sep 2026 · 34 min

How AI Is Changing Communication: Weighing Efficiency with Efficacy

AI is rapidly changing how top leaders communicate with employees, customers, boards, and each other. In episode 2 of a special four-part series on how AI is changing leadership, we explore how executives can use AI to improve communication without outsourcing the thinking, judgment, and empathy that make it effective. Stanford professor Matt Abrahams and Zapier CEO Wade Foster discuss how leaders are using AI to synthesize information, structure ideas, prepare for difficult conversations, and rehearse for high-stakes moments. They also explain why leaders should be wary of letting AI write…
E1097 · 22 Sep 2026 · 30 min

What New CEOs Get Wrong About the Job

Becoming CEO can look like the culmination of a career. But the skills that help someone rise to the top job aren't necessarily the ones that make them successful once they get there. Nitin Nohria, former dean of Harvard Business School, has spent three decades studying CEOs and working with new leaders as they adjust to the demands of the role. He says one of the biggest surprises for new CEOs is realizing that they can't—and shouldn't—run the company themselves. Instead, their job is to create the conditions for their leadership team to run it well. He also explains how CEOs can stay…
E1096 · 17 Sep 2026 · 32 min

How AI Is Changing Talent, Not Just Tasks: Rethinking Where Human Judgment Matters Most

The decisions leaders must make about AI today go far beyond what platforms to invest in: AI is changing organizational culture and leadership for good. In episode 1 of a special four-part series on how AI is changing leadership, we look at how the technology is changing how people interact at work, the new culture it is creating, and how leaders can get smart about talent management and strategy in this rapidly advancing world. Paula Goldman, Salesforce’s chief ethical and humane use officer, argues there's currently a big opportunity to redesign work around the complementary strengths of…
E1096 · 15 Sep 2026 · 25 min

What It Takes to Make Progress When the Future Feels Out of Control

When the future feels increasingly out of our control, how can leaders and organizations make progress? University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin Seligman, a pioneer in the study of optimism, resilience, and human flourishing, argues that the answer is agency: the belief that we can influence outcomes and create positive change. He defines agency as a combination of three capabilities: efficacy—the belief that you can achieve a goal now; optimism—the belief that you can achieve it in the future; and imagination—the ability to envision possibilities that don't yet exist. And he explains…
E1095 · 8 Sep 2026 · 32 min

A Leading Restaurateur on What It Takes to Scale a Winning Culture

When a company is small, maintaining a strong culture can feel relatively easy. But as organizations grow, layers of management, geographic distance, and pressure for efficiency can make it much harder to preserve what made the company special in the first place. Restaurateur Danny Meyer has spent decades figuring out how to do just that. He founded Union Square Cafe and built Union Square Hospitality Group, then helped scale Shake Shack from a single location in New York City into a global restaurant chain. Along the way, he’s learned that culture isn’t what happens when the CEO is in the…
E1094 · 1 Sep 2026 · 25 min

Are Great Leaders Truly Great—or Just Lucky?

How much does a leader actually matter to an organization’s success? We tend to credit CEOs, founders, and other powerful figures with shaping the institutions they lead, but historian Jared Diamond argues that we often underestimate the role of timing, circumstance, industry, and plain luck. Diamond explains his “Hamlet test,” which asks whether someone else could have achieved the same outcome or whether the leader was uniquely qualified to do it, and how it applies to many business leaders. He also explains why some leaders are able to seize a fleeting moment of opportunity, why founders…
E1093 · 25 Aug 2026 · 21 min

How People Without Formal Power Gain Influence

In today’s increasingly decentralized workplaces, leaders often need to get things done without having direct authority over the people they depend on. So how can you influence colleagues, clients, vendors, and even senior executives without simply telling them what to do? Pamela Meyer, founder and CEO of Calibrate, says the answer is learning to read the room—and understanding the informal networks, emotional dynamics, and hidden sources of power that shape decisions. She explains five paths to indirect influence: becoming an influence spotter, a backchanneler, a precision mover, a…
E1092 · 18 Aug 2026 · 29 min

Living and Working in the Age of Longevity

People are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. But many of our assumptions about executive careers—from climbing the corporate ladder to retiring at 65—haven't caught up. London Business School professor Lynda Gratton says we need a new way of thinking about work and life, and argues that traditional career paths are giving way to more flexible, multi-stage journeys that require greater personal agency, continuous learning, and a long-term perspective. She explains why leaders should think of their lives less as a ladder and more as a fabric they actively weave over time, and…
E1091 · 11 Aug 2026 · 31 min

The Innovation Strategy Most Companies Miss

Companies often build products for wealthy markets first and then try to adapt them for the rest of the world. But according to Dartmouth Tuck professor Vijay Govindarajan and MIT professor Amos Winter, designing for the toughest constraints first—whether that's affordability, portability, or limited infrastructure—can lead to products that perform better everywhere. They explain how leaders can identify high-impact opportunities, uncover customer needs through deep field research, and design solutions that balance performance with cost. They also discuss why organizational mindset—not…
E1090 · 4 Aug 2026 · 33 min

Why Great Turnarounds Start with Culture, Not Strategy

In an era of constant disruption, successful turnarounds require more than a new strategy—they demand a new culture. Dan Schulman, former CEO of PayPal, came out of retirement to tackle the challenge of taking over the helm of Verizon as it entered the AI age. He explains how they needed to put customers—not engineering—at the center of the business, how he reshaped company culture, and what it really took to prepare employees for an AI-native future. He explains why leaders need to embrace change, invest in reskilling, and balance optimism about AI with honesty about the disruption it will…
E1089 · 30 Jul 2026 · 33 min

Introducing The Founder Mindset: Tim Ferriss on Experiments, Risk, and Freedom

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur in today's uncertain world? How do you balance risk, decision-making, and curiosity? We’re sharing an episode from The Founder Mindset with Reza Satchu, the new podcast from Harvard Business School Foundry about what it truly takes to be a founder now. Hosted by Harvard Business School senior lecturer Reza Satchu, the show features intimate conversations with some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, including Reese Witherspoon, Kevin O’Leary, Galen Weston, and more. Satchu himself has built multiple high-profile companies and…
E1089 · 28 Jul 2026 · 26 min

What Makes Chinese Companies So Competitive?

To compete in business anywhere today, leaders at all levels need to learn about the culture and mindset that sets Chinese businesses apart. Stanford research fellow Dan Wang argues that they've built an edge that goes well beyond lower labor costs or government subsidies. He explains how dense manufacturing ecosystems, relentless internal competition, deep process knowledge, and an engineering-first mindset have helped these companies become global leaders; what those in the United States and Europe can learn from them; and where they still fall behind. Wang is author of the book Breakneck:…
E1088 · 23 Jul 2026 · 29 min

Leadership Summit 2026: Inspiring Grit and Growth Amid Unprecedented Change

Most leaders are asking the same question about AI: Will it make their teams more productive—or slowly erode the very skills they're trying to build? In this special episode, as part of the recent HBR Leadership Summit 2026, University of Pennsylvania's Angela Duckworth says her long-standing research on grit—and the fact the most successful people aren't simply persistent, they stay committed to long-term goals while adapting their tactics as the world changes—is more relevant than ever in the age of generative AI. Rather than replacing human capability, she explains, AI can become a…
E1088 · 21 Jul 2026 · 29 min

Why Great Leaders Need More Than Good Judgment

What if the key to success in today's business world wasn't about making difficult decisions quickly—but about broadening the scope through which you make decisions? Leaders Alliance CEO Cornelia Choe and executive coach Marshall Goldsmith argue that being open to more perspectives can help leaders navigate an increasingly complicated world and lead better. They share their framework for this mindset shift, and examples of leaders who have done this well. Choe and Goldsmith are the authors of the book The Panoramic Leader: How Great Leaders See Differently.
E1087 · 16 Jul 2026 · 31 min

Leadership Summit 2026: AT&T CEO John Stankey on Developing Technology and Talent in the AI Era

How do you reinvigorate a legacy company without losing what made it great? In this special episode, as part of the recent HBR Leadership Summit 2026, AT&T CEO John Stankey shares how he refocused AT&T's strategy on connectivity and simultaneously transformed its culture. He explains how he encouraged team members to adopt a more customer-led, market-driven mindset, integrate AI to reshape their products and performance, and embrace in-person collaboration.
E1087 · 14 Jul 2026 · 31 min

The New Rules for Becoming an Enterprise Leader

What does it take to succeed in an enterprise-level leadership role today? Michael Watkins, professor at IMD and author of the book The First 90 Days, says that the leap from functional or business line manager to a more senior position is tricker than ever owing to three factors: AI, geopolitical complexity, and compressed leadership pipelines. He explains what that means for executives aspiring to make the transition and outlines all the new skills and capabilities they need to rise to the top now. Watkins is author of the HBR article, "3 Forces Are Redefining the Transition from Manager…
E1086 · 9 Jul 2026 · 29 min

Leadership Summit 2026: Honest Company CEO Carla Vernón on Leading with Focus in Turbulent Times

How do you take a young, purpose-led company to the next level? In this special episode, as part of the recent HBR Leadership Summit 2026, The Honest Company CEO Carla Vernón shares how she leveraged the powerful reputation and loyal customers of the mission-driven consumer brand to turn the company around. Facing shrinking margins, limited cash, and growing pressure from Wall Street to consistently profit, Vernón worked to build trust, create a shared language for change, and help employees embrace new ways of working.
E1086 · 7 Jul 2026 · 27 min

How Leaders Can Use AI to Solve Real Business Problems

Many organizations are investing heavily in AI, but too few are asking the most important question: What problem are we actually trying to solve? Journalist and author Josh Tyrangiel argues that successful AI adoption has far less to do with choosing the right model and far more to do with identifying the right business challenge—and following through. He shares why executives should resist the pressure to become "AI-native" overnight and instead focus on targeted, high-impact problems where AI can create measurable value. He also offers practical advice on improving operations,…
E1085 · 2 Jul 2026 · 28 min

Leadership Summit 2026: Mattel’s CEO on Driving Consumer Engagement and Cultural Impact

How do you reinvent an 80-year-old company without losing what made it successful in the first place? In this special episode, as part of the recent HBR Leadership Summit 2026, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz explains how he transformed the iconic toy maker into an IP-driven entertainment company that creates movies, games, live experiences, and digital products alongside its toys. He shares how simplifying strategy, reshaping talent, and fostering a culture of innovation helped drive the company's turnaround, why AI is accelerating product development without replacing creativity, and what leaders…
E1085 · 30 Jun 2026 · 31 min

How Top World Cup, NBA, and NFL Coaches Make Better Decisions Under Pressure

When the stakes are high and the clock is ticking, how do great leaders make the right call? Sports performance consultant Alan McCall and sports scientist Johann Bilsborough say that leaders can improve decision-making before, during, and after critical moments, based on lessons they've learned from elite sports coaches. They share research on why preparation matters more than instinct, how to filter signal from noise, and why trust and relationships often determine the quality of decisions long before a crisis occurs. McCall and Bilsborough are coauthors, along with Adrian Wolfberg and…
E1084 · 23 Jun 2026 · 28 min

Creating Products with Curiosity, Humility, and Play

Most leaders know they need to innovate, but many take a strong instinct and hold too tightly to an idea, rather than testing, experimenting, and playing to find the best solution. Mark Pincus, founder of Zynga, argues that by approaching product development with more curiosity, humility, and experimentation, leaders can improve their odds of building something people truly love. He shares lessons from launching hit products, scaling a fast-growing company, and creating a culture where play, rather than perfectionism, drives innovation. He explains why leaders should focus less on…
E1083 · 16 Jun 2026 · 21 min

The Right Way to Manage Rule Breakers

Most leaders assume that when employees break rules, punishment is the answer. But according to researcher Michael Gill, associate professor at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School, that mindset overlooks a crucial reality: not all rule breaking is self-serving, and some of it may actually help organizations perform better. He explains his research synthesizing more than 250 studies and details the four main motivations behind why people break rules, why repeated violations may signal deeper organizational problems, and how leaders can distinguish harmful misconduct from employees…
E1082 · 9 Jun 2026 · 26 min

We All Hate Meetings—Here’s How to Make Them Work

Meetings are one of the biggest drains on time, energy, and morale at work, yet most managers are never actually taught how to run them well. Paul English, cofounder of Kayak, argues that organizations underestimate just how costly bad meetings can be. He says meeting culture is one of the most overlooked drivers of productivity, morale, and organizational effectiveness. Drawing on lessons from companies like Amazon, LinkedIn, Airbnb, and Shopify, as well as his own experience building high-performing teams, he explains how leaders can run meetings that create clarity, energy, and better…
E1081 · 2 Jun 2026 · 28 min

Reinventing an Organization to Do More with Less

What does it take to manage a complex global institution when change is constant and resources are scarce? For Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), it's about building resilient teams, partnering across sectors, and balancing operational efficiency with humanity. In her more than a decade with the agency, Clements has helped steer key reforms in challenging circumstances, and she shares lessons for both public and private sector leaders about how to modernize systems, decentralize decision-making, and embrace innovation.
E1080 · 26 May 2026 · 29 min

What Leads Companies to Betray Their Own Principles

Why do so many organizations lose their way as they grow? Eric Ries, entrepreneur and author, says that corruption inside companies rarely begins with bad people or dramatic scandals. More often, it emerges slowly, through broken incentives, unchecked bureaucracy, and systems that reward the wrong behaviors. He explains why even successful organizations drift from their values, and what companies can do to stay adaptable, trustworthy, and mission-driven as they scale. Ries wrote the book Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad... and How Great Companies Stay Great.
E1079 · 19 May 2026 · 30 min

How to Break Free of Negative Thought Spirals

Why do we replay cryptic emails, small workplace slights, and past business decisions over and over in our heads? Science journalist Donna Jackson Nakazawa has looked deep into the research and discovered the hidden brain mechanisms that get us into these loops. She explains why a need for achievement, as well as modern work culture, make the problem worse. And she shares practical techniques for recognizing when reflection has crossed into rumination, interrupting destructive thought patterns, and helping teams create more psychological clarity and safety. Nakazawa is author of “Mind Drama:…
E1078 · 12 May 2026 · 31 min

The Leadership Skills That Make Transformation Stick

Why do so many organizational change efforts stall or flat out fail? Julia Dhar, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, says the problem often isn’t strategy, it’s behavior. Leaders spend enormous time designing change, but far less understanding whether employees are willing, motivated, and equipped to adopt it. She shares research around how leaders can create genuine alignment, and what it takes to sustain momentum once the novelty fades. Dhar is coauthor, along with Kristy Ellmer and Philip Jameson, of the book "How Change Really Works: Seven Science-Based Principles…

About HBR IdeaCast

A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management.

HBR IdeaCast is a English business podcast from Harvard Business Review. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Harvard Business Review
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 29 min
Latest episode: 6 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id152022135
Website: hbr.org/podcasts/ideacast

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