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HBR IdeaCast

HBR IdeaCast

Harvard Business Review 650 Episodes Jul 23, 2026

A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management, produced by Harvard Business Review.

Episodes

Leadership Summit 2026: Inspiring Grit and Growth Amid Unprecedented Change
Leadership Summit 2026: Inspiring Grit and Growth Amid Unprecedented Change Jul 23, 2026 1710 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
Why Great Leaders Need More Than Good Judgment
Why Great Leaders Need More Than Good Judgment Jul 21, 2026 1726 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 mind
Leadership Summit 2026: AT&T CEO John Stankey on Developing Technology and Talent in the AI Era
Leadership Summit 2026: AT&T CEO John Stankey on Developing Technology and Talent in the AI Era Jul 16, 2026 1880 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 p
The New Rules for Becoming an Enterprise Leader
The New Rules for Becoming an Enterprise Leader Jul 14, 2026 1872 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
Leadership Summit 2026: Honest Company CEO Carla Vernón on Leading with Focus in Turbulent Times
Leadership Summit 2026: Honest Company CEO Carla Vernón on Leading with Focus in Turbulent Times Jul 9, 2026 1741 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 consistent
How Leaders Can Use AI to Solve Real Business Problems
How Leaders Can Use AI to Solve Real Business Problems Jul 7, 2026 1624 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 pr
Leadership Summit 2026: Mattel’s CEO on Driving Consumer Engagement and Cultural Impact
Leadership Summit 2026: Mattel’s CEO on Driving Consumer Engagement and Cultural Impact Jul 2, 2026 1672 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
How Top World Cup, NBA, and NFL Coaches Make Better Decisions Under Pressure
How Top World Cup, NBA, and NFL Coaches Make Better Decisions Under Pressure Jun 30, 2026 1885 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 fi
Creating Products with Curiosity, Humility, and Play
Creating Products with Curiosity, Humility, and Play Jun 23, 2026 1688 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
The Right Way to Manage Rule Breakers
The Right Way to Manage Rule Breakers Jun 16, 2026 1250 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 d
We All Hate Meetings—Here’s How to Make Them Work
We All Hate Meetings—Here’s How to Make Them Work Jun 9, 2026 1568 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 co
Reinventing an Organization to Do More with Less
Reinventing an Organization to Do More with Less Jun 2, 2026 1657 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

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