Thought Sparks
Thought Sparks are the brainchild of Rita McGrath. They are insightful actions, strategic ideas, actionable suggestions and innovative approaches that help organizations and leaders master the future with less fear and more confidence. New episodes of the Thought Sparks Podcast are released every other Tuesday at 11am Eastern.
Episodes
Rethinking Education with Rita McGrath and MacKenzie Price
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with MacKenzie Price, co-founder of Alpha Schools, about the limitations of the traditional education system, and what other educational models are possible. 0:00 – Intro teaser: raising adaptable young people and the f
Getting Positioning Right with Rita McGrath and April Dunford
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with April Dunford, expert on brand and product positioning, and author of Obviously Awesome, recently rereleased in its second edition, and Sales Pitch. Their conversation covers how good positioning unlocks value and he
Leading Incorruptible Organizations with Rita McGrath and Eric Ries
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, sits down with Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup, to talk about his new book Incorruptible. They discuss what organizations beyond corruption look like, touching on financial gravity and fiduciary duty, and how we might move
Beating Burnout and Building Culture with Rita McGrath and Jennifer Moss
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Jennifer Moss, the Chief Research and Strategy Officer at the Global Wellbeing Group and the author of Why Are We Here? Creating A Work Culture Everyone Wants. She's an expert on what causes burnout, and what lea
Reimagining Work with Rita McGrath and Nilofer Merchant
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Nilofer Merchant, co-founder of The Intangible Labs, and author of the new book Our Best Work: Break Free from the 24 Invisible Norms that Limit Us. 00:28: Context for the Book 3:56: The Birdcage and Why We’re Stuck
Catalyzing Organizational Change with Rita McGrath and Michael Lurie
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Michael Lurie, Chief Catalyst at Bayer and expert in leading large-scale transformations. 00:00 Introductions & Context 1:37 The Challenge — Walking Into Bayer 5:07 How the Rollout Began, Using Two Tracks 8:37 T
Building Beloved Brands with Rita McGrath and Monica Nassif
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Monica Nassif, an entrepreneur and founder of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, as well as author of “I Bottled My Mother: The Mrs. Meyer’s Story: Grit, Grime, and Growing a Business”. [0:14] Monica Nassif: Entrepreneur, Care
The Science of Retiring Well with Rita McGrath and Teresa Amabile
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, sits down with Teresa Amabile, Edsel Bryant Ford Professor, Emerita, at Harvard Business School, and co-author of the book Retiring: Creating a Life That Works for You, which draws on over 100 case studies of individuals’ experi
Maximizing Human Capacity with Rita McGrath and Vivienne Ming
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Vivienne Ming, theoretical neuroscientist and artificial intelligence expert, named one of “10 Women to Watch in Tech” by Inc. Magazine and one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2017, and author of the new book “Robot-Proof:
Building Lasting Organizations with Rita McGrath and Dave Whorton
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Dave Whorton, Founder & CEO at Tugboat Institute, and co-author of Another Way: Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last alongside Bo Burlingham, which gives practical advice and explanations of Evergreen c
AI and Human Capabilities with Rita McGrath and Johan Roos
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, sits down with Johan Roos, Global Chief Academic Officer at Hult International Business School, co-creator of LEGO Serious Play, and author of Human Magic: Leading with Wisdom in an Age of Algorithms. 00:30: Introductions — A L
The Future of Employment with Rita McGrath and Deborah Perry Piscione
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, sits down with Deborah Perry Piscione, co-author of the book “EMPLOYMENT IS DEAD: How Disruptive Technologies are Revolutionizing the Way we Work” and co-founder and Chief Future Officer of the Work3 Institute. 0:22: Welcome an
AI and the Knowledge Economy with Rita McGrath and Sangeet Paul Choudary
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, welcomes Sangeet Paul Choudary– expert on platform economics and network effects, and the recipient of the 2025 Thinkers50 Strategy Award – to discuss his new book Reshuffle. 0:00 - Intro & Teaser 0:31 - Welcome & Guest
The Psychology of High Performance with Rita McGrath and Christian Marcolli
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, welcomes Christian Marcolli, a performance psychologist who works with elite athletes and executives on how to achieve and sustain high performance, and the author of “Winning Match: Leadership for Game Changers” 00:27 Introduc
Rethinking Authenticity with Rita McGrath and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, welcomes Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, professor of business psychology at University College London and an adjunct professor at Columbia University, and the author of Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What t
Unlimited Leadership with Rita McGrath and Jose Marcilla
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, welcomes José Marcilla, President of Latin America and Canada (LACan) Region at Novartis, and author of “Unlimited Leadership”. 00:46: Why this Book, and The Crisis of Good Leadership 3:04: Jose’s Journey and Career Path 5:16:
Defying Organizational Drift with Rita McGrath and Steve Goldbach & Geoff Tuff
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, welcomes Steven Goldbach and Geoff Tuff, authors of Hone: How Purposeful Leaders Defy Drift. They explore how leaders can align their organizations amid the “drift” that can accompany large transformations and other contexts of
Rising Against the Odds with Rita McGrath and Sylvia Acevedo
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, welcomes Sylvia Acevedo, a trailblazer with experience spanning NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to executive roles at Apple, Dell, and IBM, and serving as the CEO of the Girl Scouts. 1:56: The Trailblazer’s Playbook: From a
Redefining Digital Identity with Rita McGrath and Don Tapscott
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, sits down with Don Tapscott, CEO of the Tapscott Group, Chairman and co-Founder of the Blockchain Research Institute, and author of “You to the Power of Two”. 00:00: Introductions and Don’s Expertise in Blockchains and Identic
The Remote Work Question with Rita McGrath and Peter Capelli & Ranya Nehmeh
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Peter Capelli of Wharton and HR Strategist Ranya Nehmeh. Their book, In Praise of the Office, is a research-based assessment of the benefits and drawback of both in-person and remote work. 1:10: WFH, RTO, WFM: Acrony
Systems Leadership with Rita McGrath and Rob Siegel
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Rob Siegel, Lecturer in Management at Stanford University , a venture investor, a former operator, and author of The Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross-Pressures That Make or Break Today’s Companies. 1:10: Teaching
Legacies of Resilience with Rita McGrath and Cheryl McKissack Daniel
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Cheryl McKissack Daniel, the fifth-generation leader of McKissack & McKissack, the nation’s oldest Black-owned design and construction services firm. Her book, “The Black Family Who Built America”, traces her fam
Celebrating Immigrant Entrepreneurs with Rita McGrath and Neri Karra Sillaman
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Neri Karra Sillaman, founder of Moda Métiers, expert in sustainable fashion, strategy, and entrepreneurship, and winner of the Thinkers50 2025 Radar Award. She’s also the author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business
The Psychology of Performance with Rita McGrath and Michael Gervais
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Michael Gervais, a leading performance psychologist and author of the book “The First Rule of Mastery”.1:14: Free Surfing and Competitive Surfing as an Introduction to Performance Psychology 4:52: The 3 Components of
Art and Human Connection with Rita McGrath and Chesney Snow
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Chesney Snow, Lecturer of Music Theater & Theater at Princeton University, Drama Desk winner, beatboxing pioneer, composer, lyricist, and more. He's created community engaged arts performances centering anti-
The Power of Storytelling with Rita McGrath and Jaye Fenderson
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Jaye Fenderson, an award-winning filmmaker and cofounder of Three Frame Media, about the power of storytelling to forge human connection. 1:08 Jaye’s Journey to Becoming a Documentary Filmmaker3:18 Storytelling, Huma
Rethinking Higher Education with Rita McGrath and Ben Nelson
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Ben Nelson, Chairman and CEO of the Minerva Project, and Founder of Minerva University. They discuss the mission behind the Minerva Project: a university that prioritizes active learning, global perspectives, and imp
Deep connections, globally and locally, with with Rita McGrath and Jean Oelwang
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Jean Oelwang, founding CEO of Virgin Unite, author of Partnering: Forge the Deep Connections That Make Great Things Happen, and fierce advocate for the planet. Their conversation features case studies from Ben &
Leading Through Pressure with Rita McGrath and Sabina Nawaz
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Sabina Nawaz, author of the book “You’re the Boss” leadership secrets of the world’s most successful managers. Their conversation covers the fascinating concept of leading through pressure, which when managed correct
Unlocking Human Potential with Rita McGrath and Scott Barry Kaufman
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Scott Barry Kaufman, a Columbia University psychologist and expert in intelligence, creativity, and human potential. They share insights into empowerment, shifting our mindsets, and actualizing our full potential in
How Digital Feedback Shaped the World with Rita McGrath and Martin Reeves
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Martin Reeves, Chair of the BCG Henderson Institute. Their conversation pulls from Reeves’ recent book "Like: The Button That Changed the World”, to explore how digital feedback has shaped our culture, political
The Secret to Radio Flyer’s Strategic Success with Rita McGrath & Robert Pasin
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer at Radio Flyer. They take a deep dive into the history of the iconic wagon brand and the three generations of Pasin’s family that have helmed the brand. Covering everything from the
The Strategic Edge of Storytelling with Rita McGrath and Frank Rose
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Frank Rose, a senior fellow at the Columbia University School of the Arts, and author of “The Sea We Swim In”. Their conversation revolves around narrative thinking and the importance of storytelling in our lives: fr
The Future of Manufacturing with Rita McGrath and Karla Trotman
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Karla Trotman, CEO of ElectroSoft, Inc, the largest Black- and woman-owned electronics contract manufacturer in the United States, and author of “Dark, Dirty, Dangerous”. They shed light on the unique challenges that
Unlocking Confidence with Rita McGrath and Sharon Price John
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop and author of “Stories and Heart: Unlock the Power of Personal Stories to Create a Life You Love”. This special live episode was taped at Columbia Business School, whe
Reclaiming Capitalism for Social Good with Rita McGrath and Peter Georgescu
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Peter Georgescu, chairman emeritus of Young & Rubicam and author of 3 books: Capitalists, Arise!, The Source of Success, and The Constant Choice. Their conversation covers how business leaders can take action in
Becoming An Unstoppable Entrepreneur with Rita McGrath and Lori Rosenkopf
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and author of “Unstoppable Entrepreneurs: 7 Paths for Unleashing Successful Startups and Creating Value through I
What WD-40 Got Right About Corporate Purpose with Rita McGrath & Garry Ridge
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Garry Ridge, the former CEO of WD-40, and author of “Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO of a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company”. They share lessons from Garry’s 25-year tenure at WD-40 on how le
Party City’s Retail Innovation: Rita McGrath & Steve Mandell
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Steve Mandell, founder of party goods retail giant Party City. With recent headlines about Party City’s bankruptcy after nearly 40 years in business, they discuss Steve’s journey to founding the company, including th
When To Pivot - with Rita McGrath by Hidden Brain
When should you stay the course in life, and when should you shift with changing tides? This week, we bring you case studies from the world of business to explore the science of inflection points — changes that dramatically transform the course of events. Researcher Rita McGrath of Columbia University explains why we fail to see impending moments of upheaval, and what we can do to be more adept at
How to Lead amid Constant Disruption - Rita McGrath & Terence Mauri
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Terence Mauri, founder of the AI-trends think tank Hack Future Lab, and a MIT Entrepreneur Mentor. Their conversation covers everything from the meteoric rise of AI tools like Deep Seek, how we should consider tackli
Why Employee Experience is Crucial to Business Success: Rita McGrath & Stephan Meier
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Stephan Meier, a Columbia Business School Professor and expert on behavioral strategist. His recent book, “The Employee Advantage”, explains how companies that put their employees first are more profitable, innovativ
Random Acts of Medicine: How unexpected events shape our health - Rita McGrath & Anupam Jena
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Anupam Jena, the host of the Freakonomics MD Podcast. Anupam is here to talk about his recent book “Random Acts of Medicine”, which shows how unexpected—but predictable—events profoundly affect our health. What are t
The Microsoft Playbook: Business Strategies That Work - Rita McGrath, Dean Carignan and JoAnn Garbin
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Dean Carignan and JoAnn Garbin about their new book The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft. Together, the three innovation experts discuss the strategies and models that enabled Microsoft to continuously inno
Thought Sparks with Rita McGrath & Matt Beane author of “The Skill Code: How to Save Human Ability in an Age of Intelligent Machines"
Join me in this chat with Matt Beane as we dive into one of today’s biggest workforce challenges: upskilling at scale. 📈 In a rapidly evolving world, the skills our teams need are constantly changing, and leaders everywhere are asking: How do we equip people to adapt and thrive?
Matt, author of “The Skill Code: How to Save Human Ability in an Age of Intelligent Machines, a groundbreaking book on s
Thought Sparks with Rita McGrath & Susannah Fox, former Chief Information Officer at Health and Human Services
Sitting down with Susannah Fox, former Chief Information Officer at Health and Human Services and author of “Rebel Health.” Susannah is a true innovator in healthcare, and her work on “Rebel Health” explores how patients, caregivers, and survivors are using digital platforms to unite, advocate, and change the system from within. 💡
From inspiring stories of grassroots health movements to practical
Rita McGrath joins KFNN
Rita McGrath joins KFNN
Thought Sparks with Rita McGrath & H.R. McMaster Author of "At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House"
H.R. McMaster's new book "At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House" is an incisive account of his time as National Security Advisor during Trump's presidency. Be sure to tune in this Friday at 11:15 am EST to ask questions, and hear firsthand about the political experience of a lifetime.
Thought Sparks with Rita McGrath & Steven Brill, Author of "The Teamsters" and "America's Bitter Pill"
Steven Brill is a veteran journalist and author whose previous books include "The Teamsters," "America's Bitter Pill," and "Tailspin." His new book is exactly as terrifying as it sounds. It's called "The Death of Truth: How Social Media and the Internet Gave Snake Oil Salesmen and Demagogues the Weapons They Needed to Destroy Trust and Polarize the World - and What We Can Do About It." Brill outli
Thought Sparks with Rita McGrath & Frederik Pferdt Adjunct Professor at Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design
Frederik Pferdt was Google's Chief Innovation Evangelist, building a world-class organization that trained tens of thousands to face the world in a future-ready way. He is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, where he teaches courses called things like "Hacking Your Innovation Mindset." His brand-new book, "Next is Now: How to Live Future Ready" was jus
Thought Sparks with Rita McGrath & Julia Boorstin, Senior media & technology reporter at CNBC and Author of "When Women Lead
There was a time when there was a standard template for what kinds of people became leaders. They were confident. They had the answers. They led by example. They told people exactly what needed to be done. Oh, and they were usually tall, and nearly always, men. We've learned, though, that while that kind of leadership certainly has its place, in rapidly changing, uncertain situations, a differ
Rita McGrath & Paul LeBlanc Author of "Broken: How Our Social Systems are Failing Us and How We Can Fix Them" - Thought Sparks
This week's guest is Paul LeBlanc, who has just stepped down as President of Southern New Hampshire University. In his tenure, he took back online education from predatory for-profit institutions to give thousands of students access to higher education. He's also the author of a fascinating book called "Broken: How Our Social Systems are Failing Us and How We Can Fix Them".
We&
Rita McGrath & Barron Witherspoon Author of "The Black Exec: And the Seven Myths"- Thought Sparks
Today we are hosting Barron Witherspoon on my Friday Fireside Chat. He's the author of "The Black Exec: And the Seven Myths", which draws from his 38-year career at Procter & Gamble, where he retired as Senior Vice President for Global Industry Affairs & The Corporate Race Initiative. He now enjoys a second career as an ordained minister, out of Cincinnati.
Rita McGrath & Steve Wunker co-author of "The Innovative Leader" - Thought Sparks
The phrase "innovate or die" has never been more relevant, yet the track record of most companies for organic innovation is dismal. But, there are leaders who demonstrate that making innovation an actual proficiency can be accomplished. Steve Wunker, together with his co-authors Jennifer Luo Law and Hari Nair, de-mystify the process. Examples include Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Panera
Rita McGrath & Anupam B Jena, Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School - Thought Sparks
Here's my conversation with Anupam B. Jena! He's the Joseph P. Newhouse Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School and a physician in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and if that weren't enough, he hosts the Freakonomics MD podcast, and has just written a fascinating book called "Random Acts of Medicine". We'll be talking about
Rita McGrath & Chip Conley, Author of "Learning to Love Mid-Life"- Thought Sparks
Chip Conley is on a mission to make mid-life a welcome and joyous part of life's journey! His new book "Learning to Love Mid-Life" is an invitation to explore the wisdom that comes with experience, to let go of baggage that doesn't serve you well and to transform toward a fulfilling future. He'll be joining me by the fireside on February 23 at noon EST to talk about lessons h
Rita McGrath & Bob Sutton, Author of the "The Friction Project" - Thought Sparks
Stanford's Bob Sutton is one of the smartest people on the planet with respect to what goes on in organizations and why (hint - he's the guy that helps you deal with organizational A**holes). He has a brand-new book coming out, "The Friction Project" with Huggy Rao on the subtle ways in which leaders can make the right things easier and the wrong things harder. Boy do we need tho
Rita McGrath & Matt Abrahams Award-winning Podcast Host - Thought Sparks
Here's my first Friday Fireside Chat of 2024, I'll be talking to award-winning podcast host and communications expert Matt Abrahams. He'll share time-tested techniques for rocking that unexpected conversation in which you have a great opportunity to make an impression. Much better than flubbing it and wishing you got the chance for a do-over.
Rita McGrath is a best-selling author, so
Rita McGrath & Kelly Richmond-Pope, a Professor at DePaul University - Thought Sparks
Forensic accounting and filmmaking? How does that go together? Well, join Kelly Richmond-Pope, a Professor at DePaul University in Chicago as we delve in what she's learned from years of studying fraudsters, scammers and backroom operators of all kinds. Her new book is "Fool Me Once" and it uncovers what makes perps tick, why victims are so gullible, and why whistleblowers are so mor
Rita McGrath & Kai D. Wright, Columbia Professor- Thought Sparks
Kai D. Wright is a scholar-practitioner who has taught at Columbia University for over 10 years while serving as a leader at global marketing agencies Ogilvy and Dentsu, advising Fortune 100 companies. He's a change expert that helps organizations and industries advance DEI, is a member of Ad Age’s diversity council, and host of the "System Overload" series on Ad Age, which is how I
Rita McGrath & Sheena Iyengar - Thought Sparks
Here's my conversation by the fireside with Sheena Iyengar, one of Columbia's most popular professors and author of the new book "Think Bigger". The book is getting great acclaim and is a fun and practical read, just full of stories from Sheena's extensive experience.
Rita McGrath is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and longtime professor at Columbia Business Sc
Rita McGrath & Jeremy Utley Author of "Ideaflow." - Thought Sparks
Have you ever wondered about the essence of an idea? According to Jeremy, there are no entirely new ideas, as our brains cannot create something from nothing. He explains that a new idea is simply a connection between two concepts that haven't been linked before. In other words, it's a novel synthesis of existing knowledge.
Sharing with you our exhilarating conversation with Jeremy Utley,
Rita McGrath & Tiffani Bova, Author of "The Experience Mindset" - Thought Sparks
Join Tiffani Bova and I for actionable insights from her book "The Experience Mindset" and the respective research supporting how you can drive revenue growth by getting the balance between focus on customer experience and focus on employee experience right.
Rita McGrath & Zeynep Ton - Thought Sparks
It is staggering how many truly awful jobs Americans hold. Low pay, unpredictable hours, no opportunity for advancement and no chances of development. Little surprise then is that what we get as a result is high turnover, poor customer service and even higher risks in our everyday lives. In this masterful and entirely readable book, Zeynep Ton systematically dismantles the argument that bad jobs a
Rita McGrath & Freada Kapor Klein, Co-author of "Closing the Equity Gap - Thought Sparks
It's easy to despair at high levels of inequality and lack of access to capital and resources that still face entrepreneurs who aren't white, male or well-connected. @Freada Kapor Klein's career is a beacon of hope for those of us looking for real, practical solutions. The Fund, @Kapor Capital, which she co-founded puts its money into underrepresented founders with huge impact on the e
Rita McGrath & Rob Cross and Karen Dillon , Authors of "Micro-stressors"- Thought Sparks
Do you feel as though you are perennially chasing your tail? Look up from your screen and wonder where the morning went? Feel as though you accomplished nothing but are totally exhausted by it? The problem may not be one big thing, but an accumulation of lots of little things. On Friday, I'll be talking with Rob Cross and Karen Dillon about their highly anticipated new book "Micro-stresso
Rita McGrath & Morra Aarons Author of "The Anxious Achiever." - Thought Sparks
Hiding in the Bathroom: How to Get Out There When You’d Rather Stay Home - Is this a great title, or what?? My Friday fireside chat guest is Morra Aarons-Mele, a globally recognized speaker, podcast host and author of the new book "The Anxious Achiever." She's on a mission to get people to understand that anxiety can actually be a superpower if you train yourself to manage it well. M
Rita McGrath & Bob Sutton Professor and Organizational Psychologist @stanford - Thought Sparks
If you haven't been keeping up with Bob Sutton's research-based but incredibly practical work, you are missing a treat.
Rita McGrath is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and longtime professor at Columbia Business School.
As one of the world’s top experts on innovation and growth, Rita’s work is regularly published in the Harvard Business Review. She is consiste
Rita McGrath & Richard Rumelt Professor Emeritus at UCLA Anderson - Thought Sparks
Richard Rumelt has been described by no less than McKinsey as a "giant in the field of strategy." He's also a dear friend and an enormously influential thought leader. We're going to chat about his latest book, "The Crux" in which he illustrates the principles of challenge-based strategy. The idea is that strategists need to identify the main obstacle to overcome, and do so again
Rita McGrath & Rita Kakati Shah, Award-winning gender inclusion strategist - Thought Sparks
Rita Kakati-Shah, an award-winning gender inclusion strategist, is the author of "The Goddess of Go-Getting," a fun guide to making your way in the world when you are not in the majority group. Rita’s spin on diversity, equity and inclusion is that most people get it wrong and, as a result, the outcomes are causing people to segregate rather than unify. Rita attended Sandhurst, the British equival
Rita McGrath & Christian Stadler, Professor of strategy at Warwick Business School - Thought Sparks
@Christian Stadler is a Professor of strategy at Warwick Business School in the UK (formerly at the Tuck School). He was short-listed for the @Thinkers50 strategy award in 2021. His new book "Open Strategy: Mastering Disruption from Outside the C-Suite" explores how interconnected and open strategies can challenge conventional wisdom about keeping things to yourself!
Rita McGrath is a
Rita McGrath & Ryan Close, Bartesian CEO - Thought Sparks
"Let's take it yard by yard." This philosophy, shared by my Guest entrepreneur and Bartesian CEO Ryan Close is one reason his company is poised to triumph in a market in which far larger and better-funded competitors have stumbled. Drop in on this clip from our longer conversation to see how true entrepreneurs build things worth building!
Rita McGrath is a best-selling author, sought-
Rita McGrath & Eric J. Johnson , Director of the Center for Decision Sciences at the Columbia Business School - Thought Sparks
In 2018, Goldman Sachs reported that Google paid Apple $9 billion to be the default search engine on the iPhone; by 2022 that number is reportedly $20 billion. Why is a position that a user could easily change with just a few clicks so valuable? The answer, according to my Friday Fireside Chat guest, Eric J. Johnson, has to do with choice architecture. How choices are presented to us affect our de
Rita McGrath & Matt Richtel, Pulitzer prize-winning author and journalist - Thought Sparks
My guest this week is Pulitzer prize-winning author and journalist Matt Richtel. His work has focused on science, technology, business and narrative-driven story telling around these issues, including cancer immunotherapy, electronic cigarettes, and the impact of heavy technology use on behavior and the brain. His latest book (one of many!) is "Inspired: Understanding Creativity: A Jou
Rita McGrath & Stephen Bailey, ExecOnLine co-founder - Thought Sparks
It isn't just anyone who can run an organization that has an impact on tens of thousands of leaders in over 100 countries, but ExecOnLine co-founder Stephen Bailey is that person. Prompted by a sense that access to high-quality online education could unleash career breakthroughs for diverse talents, the fast-growing company is a leader in its category. Stephen has also won recognition as the New Y
Rita McGrath & Keith Ferrazzi, Best-Selling Author of "Never Eat Alone" - Thought Sparks
Want to be successful? Well connected? Richer? Maybe even happier? Well, join me in a front-row seat for a man who has decoded a great deal of not only why to do these things but how. Meet Keith Ferrazzi, author of the best-selling "Never Eat Alone" join and listen.
Rita McGrath is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and longtime professor at Columbia Business School. As one of the
Rita McGrath & Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-a-Bear - Thought Sparks
Sharon Price John, the CEO of Build-a-Bear workshop, has had a fabled career that includes losing (even though you won), taking big risks and having them pay off, the mom thing and more recently the turnaround and transformation of the beloved brand. She's written about her experiences in a great book called "Stories & Heart" which offers not only lessons learned from her own experiences but g
Rita McGrath & Michael Bungay Stanier, Founder of Box of Crayons - Thought Sparks
Michael Bungay Stanier (or "MBS" as those who know him affectionately call him has written books that have sold over a million copies, rebelled against a traditional path that would have been his fate after his Rhodes scholarship and developed an approach to coaching that "un-weirds" it. His latest book is "The Advice Trap: Be Humble, Stay Curious and Change the Way You Lead Forever." I'm looking
Rita McGrath & Ruth Gotian, Chief Learning Officer at Weill Cornell Medicine - Thought Sparks
Sure, we're all Olympic athletes and Nobel prize winners in our own minds, but have you ever wondered what makes them different than you and I? My guest has a great new book out that encapsulates the answer, synthesized from hundreds of hours of interviews with hugely successful people. "The Success Factor," Ruth Gotian's new book, describes how intrinsic motivation, perseverance, a strong foundat
Thought Sparks with Rita McGrath & Roger Martin
We all think that we are rational decision-makers who determine what stuff we'll buy and how we will spend our time on the basis of rational calculation. But, as my Friday Fireside Guest and top-ranked thinker Roger Martin observes, our minds are like an iceberg - the stuff that we can access consciously is a fraction of what is actually there. Instead, our minds seek convenience, comfort and fami
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