The Insightful Leader
Expert advice and cutting-edge discoveries from one of the world's leading business schools, the Kellogg School of Management. The podcast features insights from faculty and industry leaders on leadership, strategy, and innovation. Each episode offers actionable takeaways for professionals seeking to enhance their leadership skills.
Episodes
Insight Unpacked S3E4 | Does Climate Policy Stand a Chance?
America passed its biggest-ever climate bill … only to reverse course three years later. In the fourth episode of "Insight Unpacked: Can We Still Build a Green Economy?" experts discuss why policy solutions struggle to stick.
Insight Unpacked S3E3 | Why Wall Street Slowed Its Roll on Sustainability
A few years ago, the stock market was wild about green tech and ESG funds. And then it wasn't. We look at why in the third episode of "Insight Unpacked: Can We Still Build a Green Economy?"
Insight Unpacked S3E2 | Why Companies Can't Keep Their Climate Commitments
They say they want to do better. In the second episode of "Insight Unpacked: Can We Still Build a Green Economy?" we look at an oil company, a tech giant, and an Italian energy provider to explore why net-zero pledges have barely moved the needle.
Insight Unpacked S3E1 | The Climate Crisis Is Here. Will We Ever Fix It?
Saving the planet is going to take more than net-zero pledges and shopping green. In the first episode of our series, "Insight Unpacked: Can We Still Build a Green Economy?" we take the current temperature of the climate fight.
Introducing Insight Unpacked, Season 3
Introducing Insight Unpacked, Season 3: Can We Still Build a Green Economy? In the last decade, we've seen powerful people and organizations take on the issue of climate change — making big pledges to reduce their carbon emissions by adapting their fleets, retrofitting their offices, or going paperless. And yet global emissions are still at or near record highs. So what gives? In this five-epis
When It Comes to Biases, AI's Only Human
The AI models informing many of our decisions are riddled with preconceptions. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, two experts outline how bias creeps in.
Automation, Answers, and Advice—a Playbook for AI Adoption
So you've tinkered with AI, but now you want to level up. Here are tips from Kellogg faculty on using the tech more effectively.
The Global Trends Shaping the Way We Do Business
Uncertainty is everywhere. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we examine the effect of geopolitics on everything from Barbies to Sharpies.
How Do Those Valentine's Day Roses End Up in Your Bouquet? It's Complicated.
Millions of blooms. Two continents, One day. And a very busy airport. On this (rerun) episode, we hear how our favorite symbol of love gets from point A to point B.
The Authentic Appeal of Influencer Marketing
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, learn why companies should embrace the social-media testimonial, warts and all.
Focus on Your Story, Not Your Résumé
As your career progresses, it can be easy to get stuck in a narrow professional lane. Learn how to break free on this episode of The Insightful Leader.
I Respectfully Disagree
From ketchup on hot dogs to politics, it can be hard to talk constructively about polarizing issues. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we play a game to recognize the traps we often fall into and learn how to avoid them.
In Workplace Negotiations, Put the Relationship First
It's not just about salary. On this episode of The Insightful Leader's "Ask Insight," we hear how to approach some common work tensions by finding common ground.
Managing Layoffs without Compromising Your Morals
There's no "correct" approach to laying people off, but on this episode of The Insightful Leader, we discuss how you can maintain your integrity through the process.
When We Get Too Comfortable, It's Tough to Take Flight
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, an executive coach offers three tales of leaders who let complacency get in the way of success.
How to Stay Resilient in the Face of a Major Setback
When Kellogg's Craig Wortmann lost a portion of his leg to cancer, he felt like he lost part of his identity, too. On this episode of The Insightful Leader podcast, he offers a guide to "bouncing back better."
Insight Unpacked S2E6 | When a Healthcare Expert Becomes a Patient
In this bonus episode of our series, "Insight Unpacked: American Healthcare and Its Web of Misaligned Incentives," a healthcare economist must make critical decisions with partial information. Also: Do you have advice on how to be a good healthcare consumer? Any lessons you learned the hard way? Professor David Dranove wants to hear from you. Send him an email at d-dranove@kellogg.northwestern.edu
Preventing a Potential Culture Clash at Work
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: when Fuyao Glass opened a U.S. factory, it underestimated the importance of translating company culture.
Workers Are Stressed Out. Here's How Leaders Can Help.
On this (rerun) episode of The Insightful Leader: You can't always control what happens at work. But reframing setbacks, and instituting some serious calendar discipline, can go a long way toward reducing stress.
What Rom-coms Can Teach Business Leaders
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we'll discuss how these movies can help us navigate conflict and tackle power dynamics.
How Should You Present Yourself at Work?
Be yourself! No, not like that. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we help you navigate the competing advice about how much to share and hold back. This episode originally aired in January of 2024.
Avoiding the Likability Trap at Work
Plus: insecure employees and a flagging culture. On this episode of The Insightful Leader's "Ask Insight," a conversation with Professor Harry Kraemer. This is a (favorite!) rerun. We'll have a couple more in the coming weeks, with new episodes to follow. Stay tuned!
You Have an Idea for a New AI Tool. Now What?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: two researchers offer tips on how to get AI development right.
Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi on Her Climb to the Top
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, Kellogg's Ellen Taaffe interviews her mentor about success, self-belief, and supporting the next generation of leaders.
How to Get Delegation Right, Part 3 of 3
On this episode of The Insightful Leader's "Ask Insight," we finish our conversation by getting real about the emotional stakes that make delegating hard.
How to Get Delegation Right, Part 2 of 3
On this episode of The Insightful Leader's "Ask Insight," our conversation continues with a discussion of which tasks and functions to delegate—and which to keep.
How to Get Delegation Right, Part 1 of 3
It's a tricky skill to master. On this episode of The Insightful Leader's "Ask Insight," a Kellogg professor and executive coach says it begins with assessing your team members and playing to their strengths.
The AI Risks Your Business Should Avoid
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, why your trade secrets may not be safe, and other considerations.
How Huy Fong's Sriracha Went from Hot to Not
When missteps knocked the famous "rooster sauce" off its pedestal, a competitor seized the moment. On this episode of The Insightful Leader: Why one brand sizzled and the other fizzled.
How to Grow as a Leader Without Burning Yourself Out
In this episode of The Insightful Leader, a former president at Kraft Foods explains why "sometimes just working harder is a complete waste of time."
Third-Party Cookies Are Crumbling. What's a Marketer to Do?
New rules are making it harder to track customers' online behaviors. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we look at what this means for companies large and small.
Insight Unpacked S2E5 | American Healthcare—Is This the Best We Can Do?
In the final episode of our 5-episode series, "Insight Unpacked: American Healthcare and Its Web of Misaligned Incentives," we travel overseas, and through our own backyard, in search of a way forward. On this episode, we hear from Kellogg faculty members Craig Garthwaite, Amanda Starc, and David Dranove. We also talk to Murray Ross, vice president of Kaiser Permanente's Institute for Health Polic
Insight Unpacked S2E4 | The Bargain That Fuels Big Pharma
What will we pay for the next groundbreaking drug? In episode 4 of our 5-episode series, "Insight Unpacked: American Healthcare and Its Web of Misaligned Incentives," we explore the trade-off at the heart of pharmaceutical innovation. On this episode, we hear from Kellogg faculty members Amanda Starc and Craig Garthwaite, as well as Boston University School of Law's Kevin Outterson. Visit the ep
Insight Unpacked S2E3 | The Misadventures of Insuring America
In episode 3 of our 5-episode series, "Insight Unpacked: American Healthcare and Its Web of Misaligned Incentives," we explain how insurance companies became everybody's favorite villain. On this episode, we talk to Kellogg faculty members Craig Garthwaite, David Dranove, and Paul Campbell, alongside Wharton School professor Robert Lawton Burns. Visit the episode page for supplementary materials.
Insight Unpacked S2E2 | The Power of the Physician's Pen
We rely on doctors to keep us healthy. In episode 2 of our 5-episode series, "Insight Unpacked: American Healthcare and Its Web of Misaligned Incentives," we learn at what cost. On this episode, we talk to Kellogg professors Craig Garthwaite, David Dranove, and clinical associate professor Paul Campbell about the role doctors play in the expense and complexity of the American healthcare system. V
Insight Unpacked S2E1 | The Problem with Megaproviders
In episode 1 of our 5-episode series, "Insight Unpacked: American Healthcare and Its Web of Misaligned Incentives," we investigate how hospital systems got so big—and what that means for our health and our pocketbooks. On this episode, we talk to Kellogg professors Craig Garthwaite and David Dranove, and Wharton School professor Robert Lawton Burns. Dranove and Burns co-wrote the book Big Med: Meg
Introducing Insight Unpacked, Season 2
Introducing Insight Unpacked, Season 2: American Healthcare and Its Web of Misaligned Incentives If you lived in the nineteenth century, and you got sick, it was bad news. Simple urinary tract infections were deadly. Appendicitis killed you. And Syphilis might leave you without a nose. Thanks to modern medicine, this is pretty unimaginable today. And if you live in the United States, you kn
Why Italy's Economy Offers a Cautionary Tale for the U.S.
Since the 1990s, taxes, debt, and regulations have hamstrung the Italian economy. On this episode of The Insightful Leader: Could America be next?
Why You Need a Killer Answer to "So, What Do You Do?"
A great response to this question can open doors. On this episode of The Insightful Leader: we've got tips for fine-tuning your answer.
When AI Becomes a TA
Curious about using AI at work? On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we hear from one professor who found a fascinating, low-stakes way to bring AI into his workplace: the classroom.
What's It Take to Get on a Board, Anyway?
It's not like applying for a job. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, an expert demystifies the process.
AI Is a Tool. How Do We Want to Use It?
Generative AI is like "a hammer looking for a nail." On this episode of The Insightful Leader: we have to decide what the nail should be.
Need to Make a Point? Tell a Good Story.
Plus: more leadership advice in this episode of The Insightful Leader's "Ask Insight" series.
Need Product Inspiration? Meet Your Customer in the Wild.
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: a consumer anthropologist takes us behind the scenes as she interviews a "pet parent."
Can Complexity Science Help Us Understand Organizations?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: From climate change to neuroscience, this new approach is reshaping how we study complicated systems.
The Complicated Promise of ESG
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: Are companies as socially responsible as they claim? And how much should investors care?
How Should You Present Yourself at Work?
Be yourself! No, not like that. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we help you navigate the competing advice about how much to share and hold back. Book links: The Mirrored Door: Break Through the Hidden Barrier that Locks Successful Women in Place. Embrace the Power of You: Owning Your Identity at Work Advertising Strategy Cambridge Handbook of Consumer Psychology Creative Brief Blueprint
Get Inside Your Customer's Mind
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: how understanding consumer mindsets can help you make the sale.
Podcast: Using AI Comes with a Tradeoff. Now Multiply That by 8 Billion.
On this episode of The Insightful Leader podcast: what happens when everyone uses the same generative AI tools?
Avoiding the Likeability Trap at Work
Plus: insecure employees and a flagging culture. On this episode of The Insightful Leader's "Ask Insight," more from our conversation with Professor Harry Kraemer.
You're the Boss! Now What?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader's "Ask Insight," Professor Harry Kraemer discusses how to lead your former peers and build trust with your team.
Insight Unpacked BONUS | Why Canada Goose Soared and Shinola Sputtered
Luxury is dominated by older brands. So what happens when newer entrants try to break through? In the second of two bonus episodes, we show what can go right—and wrong.
Insight Unpacked BONUS | So You Want to Be a Luxury Brand
So opulent! So exclusive! In the first of two bonus episodes, we explore everything that helps brands like Ferrari and Manolo Blahnik scream luxury.
The Case for Admitting (Some) Flaws at Work
On this episode: Why showing vulnerability can actually be a boon for leaders.
Platforms Are Experimenting on Their Users…a Lot. Is That Okay?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: Opaque algorithms on platforms like LinkedIn, Uber, and TaskRabbit have more power than ever. It's starting to impact livelihoods. Please take our quick listener survey: https://kell.gg/survey
How to Prepare for Your New Algorithmic Coworker
For better or worse, generative AI is here to stay. On this episode of The Insightful Leader: What could it mean for you and your team?
How to Discuss Performance Issues
Please take our listener survey: kell.gg/podsurvey On this episode of the Insightful Leader: giving negative feedback is not easy, but such critiques can be meaningful for both parties if you use the right roadmap.
How to Tell Compelling Stories with Data Visualizations [rerun]
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: a blueprint for making strong (and honest) arguments with data.
How to Discuss Politics When You Disagree
Talking politics in this polarized climate is a dicey proposition. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, an expert in the psychology of persuasion offers tips on how to approach the topic constructively.
Is There a Right Way to Monitor Worker Productivity?
In this episode of The Insightful Leader, we consider the benefits and drawbacks of keeping a very close eye on employees.
"It's Hard to Regulate U.S. Banks!"
Silicon Valley Bank spectacularly collapsed—and a new analysis suggests that its precarious situation is not as much of an outlier as we'd hope. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we learn what went wrong and what should happen next.
Workers Are Stressed Out. Here's How Leaders Can Help.
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: You can't always control what happens at work. But reframing setbacks, and instituting some serious calendar discipline, can go a long way toward reducing stress.
How Last Fall's Climate Bill Is Creating Opportunities for Businesses
With major incentives starting to kick in, here's how the legislation is poised to affect the economy.
How Letting Teams Fail Can Help Them Succeed
It can be tempting for leaders to swoop in to solve problems. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we hear from a U.S. Army colonel about why doing so is a disservice.
What to Expect When Joining a Family-Owned Business
There are cons—but a lot of pros, too. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we'll explore what it's like to work at a family business when you're not a family member.
Does Your Life Reflect What You Value?
Please take our listener survey: kell.gg/podsurvey In this episode of The Insightful Leader, a former CEO explains how to organize your life around what really matters—instead of trying to do it all.
China's Economy Is in Flux. Here's What American Businesses Need to Know.
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: the end of "Zero Covid," escalating geopolitical tensions, and China's potentially irreplaceable role in the global supply chain.
How to Engage a Disengaged Employee
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we hear how leaders can work with their "quiet-quitters" and rebuild morale.
What the FTX Meltdown Means for the Future of Crypto
The implosion of the crypto exchange has sent the industry reeling. We dig into what happened and whether cryptocurrency, as a concept, can weather the storm.
Insight Unpacked S1E5 | Is Your Brand Working?
In the fifth and final episode of our series, "Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them," we look at how to measure your brand's health–and what you should do if you don't like what you learn. Kellogg professors Julie Hennessy, Jennifer Cutler, Jim Lecinski, and Tim Calkins will explain how to use tools like Twitter to understand how customers feel about your brand, and what happened when Old Sp
Insight Unpacked S1E4 | How Will You Tell Your Brand's Story?
In episode 4 of our 5-episode series, "Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them," professor Mohan Sawhney discusses the importance of transmedia brand storytelling–and how to do it right. Every brand has a story to tell. But consumers only have so much time, energy, and attention. You will need to find a story that cuts through our collective "story fatigue" and find creative ways to deploy it.
Insight Unpacked S1E3 | What Should Your Brand Look (and Sound and Smell) Like?
In episode 3 of our 5-episode series, "Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them," we discuss the associations you want customers to make with your brand, and how to use design to make it happen. On this episode, Kellogg professor Bobby Calder looks at how great brands define themselves, how stale brands revitalize themselves, and why you should use all your senses when creating a brand image. Ch
Insight Unpacked S1E2 | What Should You Name Your Brand?
In episode 2 of our 5-episode series, "Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them," we dig into the importance of finding the right name for your brand. With apologies to Shakespeare, a rose by any other name wouldn't smell as sweet. On this episode, Kellogg professors Paul Earle and Tim Calkins offer advice on where you might look for naming inspiration, what great names convey, and when you shou
Insight Unpacked S1E1 | Why Does Your Brand Need to Exist?
In episode 1 of our 5-episode series, "Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them," we reveal the key questions you should answer before you start to craft your brand. Because if you can't articulate your brand's value to yourself, you won't stand a chance of convincing customers. On this episode, Kellogg professors Tim Calkins and Alice Tybout discuss brand purpose, point of difference, and the M
Ask Insight | How Can Entrepreneurs Develop a Stellar Sales Pitch?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader podcast, two seasoned entrepreneurs share wisdom from the trenches.
Ask Insight | Managing Up, Managing Across, and Retaining Your Best Employees
On this episode of The Insightful Leader podcast: you asked and our faculty answered. We dig into a mailbox of listener questions on leadership and management.
What One School District's Fiasco Says About the Strengths and Limits of AI
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: When Boston Public Schools looked to algorithms to solve equity issues and save money, it ran into a roadblock—the complicated lives of parents and students.
Executive Presence—Do You Have It?
This week, an episode from the archives: It's not enough to be good at your job. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, learn how to develop the gravitas that commands attention and respect.
What People Get Wrong about Setting Goals
In this episode of The Insightful Leader, we hear how leaders can help their teams—and themselves—turn ambitious goals into reality.
Ask Insight | What Should DEI Work Actually Look Like?
On our first episode of Ask Insight, we learn that changing the status quo will take self-reflection and time.
