- 06 Sep 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
Should US Companies Still Care About the Paris Climate Change Agreement?
American President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change one year ago. Vincent Pons discusses what it means for US business leaders in confronting environmental challenges.
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- 16 Aug 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 11: High school to JP Morgan in seven seconds: How businesses gain an edge by providing ladders of opportunity
There is a deep chasm separating the millions of Americans with limited access to college degrees from professional life. Gerald Chertavian, founder and CEO of Year Up, describes how his organization steps into this void, erecting ladders of opportunity to well-paying jobs while supplying leading businesses like Microsoft and JP Morgan with talent that would otherwise go overlooked. Where will one of their graduates end up this fall? No spoilers here.
- 09 Aug 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
Two Million Fake Accounts: Sales Misconduct at Wells Fargo
Coming out of the financial crisis, Wells Fargo was one of the world’s most successful banks. But then its sales culture went wild, opening more than 2 million fake accounts. Suraj Srinivasan discusses what went wrong. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 31 Jul 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 10: Collaborate in the classroom, compete on the grid
As regional utilities across the country faced a silver tsunami of retiring workers, they came together as an industry to develop a pipeline of middle skills workers like linesmen and technicians. From identifying critical roles and competencies to developing curriculum, utilities relied on the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) to develop industry-wide solutions. Ann Randazzo, the head of the CEWD, says success lies in asking “what can we do better together than we can separately?”
- 17 Jul 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 9: How firms are building strategy around AI
As businesses grapple with advancing artificial intelligence they must make strategic choices. Senior McKinsey Partner Scott Rutherford finds that the best companies ask: How can we delight customers? Which functions can we trust to the technology and how will employee roles evolve alongside? How do we invest in human capital? Where should we be located? How can we reorganize to become more competitive?
- 11 Jul 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 8: What can businesses learn from the present crisis of trust in tech?
Professor Sandra Sucher, an HBS faculty member who has studied trust in business for over a decade, discusses “techlash.” With customers, employees, and governments reacting to transgressions by some of the world’s largest companies, the importance of trust is more evident now than ever. Sandra explains why businesses need our trust, how they violate it, and what they can do to recover.
- 11 Jul 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
The Transformation of Microsoft
In early 2015, Microsoft CFO Amy Hood and the rest of senior leadership faced a fundamental choice. Was the company ready to invest in long-term growth at the expense of some short-term profit? Professor Fritz Foley discusses how executives thought through the tradeoffs. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 29 Jun 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 7: The CEO of ING Netherlands describes his bank’s agile “big bang”
As customers become more demanding, businesses must work fast to release new products and provide a high-quality customer experience. To keep up, ING took a radical approach one might expect from a Silicon Valley technology company, not a big bank. Bill speaks with the CEO of ING Netherlands, Vincent van den Boogert, about his company’s abrupt shift to operating as an agile organization. Is it, in his words: Brave, braver, or stupid?
- 28 Jun 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
L.A. Philharmonic Shows the American Symphony Orchestra Isn’t Dead Yet
Like many American symphony orchestras, the Los Angeles Philharmonic seemed dying on the vine, unable to attract younger audiences or new sponsors. Then new CEO Deborah Borda came aboard with a plan to revive the brand. Rohit Deshpande discusses his case study on the turnaround. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 22 Jun 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 6: From hot dogs to helicopters, the Golden Triangle’s workforce transformation
Joe discusses the ins and outs of developing an advanced manufacturing talent pipeline in rural Mississippi with Macaulay Whitaker, the Chief Operating Officer of Golden Triangle Development LINK. She describes how companies like PACCAR, Steel Dynamics and Airbus Helicopters partner with the local education system to develop the talent they need while providing middle class jobs to the region. But the real challenge is: will the region be able to sustain its current pace of “uncomfortable growth”?
- 19 Jun 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 5: Big-game fishing in rural Mississippi: Attracting employers to the Golden Triangle
Joe Fuller speaks with Joe Max Higgins, the CEO of Golden Triangle Development LINK, to discuss how a rural region in Mississippi became an attractive destination for global businesses after several local factories were shut down. Though a small part of the process, the final pitch to one outside company may have involved large helicopters, ATVs, and the removal of power lines.
- 14 Jun 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
How Chase Sapphire Made Credit Cool for Millennials
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card was one of the hottest product launches in 2016. But what would be its next act, now that the introductory offer of 100,000 points was reduced? Shelle Santana discusses JP Morgan's strategy. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 03 Jun 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 4: Jobs lost, jobs gained: Focus less on predictions, more on potential
Michael Chui, Senior Partner at McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), and an expert in artificial intelligence, believes that many jobs are going to disappear – including those done by MBAs and doctors – just not as quickly as people think. As he says to Bill Kerr, there is a lag between the rate at which technology advances and the rate at which it is adopted. Just think Star Trek.
- 03 Jun 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 3: What really worries the AFL-CIO about the future of work?
Damon Silvers, the Policy Director and Special Counsel at the AFL-CIO believes that with the Supreme Court slated to rule on Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees in June-July 2018, financial stability—not technology—is the biggest threat to America’s labor movement. Silvers tells Bill Kerr that he’s a technology optimist: technology can actually help strengthen the role of labor if it boosts productivity.
- 03 Jun 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 2: What smart employers are doing to prevent degree inflation
HBS professor Joe Fuller’s latest research Dismissed by Degrees shows that when companies start asking for a four-year college degree for jobs that previously did not require one, they not only reduce opportunities for workers but also restrict their ability to attract talent. Which is why companies like CVS, Hasbro, Lifepoint Health and State Street are taking active steps to combat degree inflation—and in the process opening up many thousands of jobs to middle class Americans.
- 03 Jun 2018
- Managing the Future of Work
Ep 1: How Vodafone’s CEO is using AI to transform the way the company works
Vittorio Colao, CEO Vodafone, is bringing about sweeping change at one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies. In a conversation with Bill Kerr, Colao shares the management challenge of using bots and advanced technology to transform activities like marketing and hiring. Digital ninjas, he says, help a lot.
- 31 May 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
Careem: Riding the First Unicorn in the Middle East
Doubling in size every two-and-a-half months, ride-hailing service Careem was experiencing growing pains operationally and culturally. Shikhar Ghosh discusses how the founders struggled to keep its 4 million customers satisfied. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 May 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
'Candy Crush' Was a Blockbuster; Can King Digital Capitalize?
The mobile game "Candy Crush Saga" was a megahit for Riccardo Zacconi and his studio, King Digital Entertainment. But can he scale up the business to include several hundred titles? A Cold Call podcast with Jeffrey Rayport. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 26 Apr 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
Why JPMorgan Chase Is Investing Millions in Detroit
JPMorgan Chase is making extensive investments into the revitalization of Detroit. What does it expect in return? Professor Joseph Bower and JP Morgan executive Peter Scher discuss the challenges and rewards of partnering with cities in this podcast. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 05 Apr 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
How a Coal Polluter Became a Renewable Energy Leader
Enel, Italy’s state-owned power company, was one of Europe’s largest coal users and polluters. Now it is recognized as a leader in renewable energy services. Mark Kramer discusses how CEO Francesco Starace drove the huge strategy shift. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
Should US Companies Still Care About the Paris Climate Change Agreement?
American President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change one year ago. Vincent Pons discusses what it means for US business leaders in confronting environmental challenges. Open for comment; 0 Comments.