HBR IdeaCast
Episodes
How to Navigate Change at Any Career Stage
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Disruption and transformation at the new normal in nearly every industry. So how do you stay ahead of the curve? Over the past four decades, Bonnie ...
Tech at Work: How the End of Cookies Will Transform Digital Marketing
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Managing technology has never been more challenging. HBR IdeaCast’s new special series, Tech at Work, offers research, stories, and advice to make t...
The Hidden Burden of Long Covid and What Companies Can Do
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Around 18 million adults in the U.S. alone suffer from long Covid, a chronic illness with a wide range of symptoms and severity. With approved therapi...
Behind the Boom in Celebrity Brands
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There was a time when consumer goods companies paid musicians, athletes, and actors for endorsements, or to license their name and likeness. But ...
Tech at Work: What GenAI Means for Companies Right Now
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Managing technology has never been more challenging. HBR IdeaCast’s new special series, Tech at Work, offers research, stories, and advice to make t...
How Bad Leaders Get Worse over Time
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's plenty of advice on how to grow into a better leader. And it takes effort to become more effective. But bad leadership gets worse almost effor...
Special Series: Tech at Work
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Managing technology has never been more challenging. HBR IdeaCast’s new special series, Tech at Work, offers research, stories, and advice to make t...
Feeling Unmotivated? Here’s How to Get Out of the Rut
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Worker disengagement is on the rise around the world. Even those of us who generally like our jobs sometimes find it hard to muster energy and focus. ...
Are You Asking the Right Questions?
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Few leaders have been trained to ask great questions. That might explain why they tend to be good at certain kinds of questions, and less effective at...
A Roadmap for Today’s Entrepreneurs
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many people aspire to entrepreneurship but we all know it's a high-risk endeavor. Bill Aulet, the Ethernet Inventors Professor of Entrepreneurship at ...
Treat Email Like Laundry — and Other Tips from Google’s Productivity Expert
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The amount of work we need to get done seems to grow daily. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, we have to become more productive than ever. Laura Mae Mart...
Why the Glass Cliff Persists
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's been nearly two decades since the term "glass cliff" was coined; it refers to the tendency for women to break through the glass ceiling to top ...
Why Leaders Need to Value Their Retirement-Age Workforce
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A growing number of workers are reaching retirement age around the globe. At the same time, many countries face a worker shortage, especially in criti...
What’s Your Interviewing Style?
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's a lot of advice out there on how to get job interviews right, whether you're the one trying to get hired or the one evaluating the candidates....
To Negotiate Better, Start with Yourself
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The coauthor of the classic book Getting to Yes has new advice on how to negotiate, designed for a world that feels more conflicted than ever. Willi...
Rethinking Growth at All Costs
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many companies, especially in the tech world, have come to embrace the idea of growth at all costs. But according to research from Gary Pisano, profes...
Companies Can Win by Reducing Overwork
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Organizations regularly reward devoted workers who put in long hours. At the same time, “always-on” communication spurred by the pandemic and new ...
When Should Companies Weigh in on Contentious Issues?
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a globally connected and highly politicized world, organizations are increasingly expected to comment on social, political, and environmenta...
Stuck on a Problem? Try Switching Up Your Approach
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many leaders confidently go about tackling challenges. After all, relying on their experience got them to where they are. But taking the same approach...
How to Reduce the Friction that Hurts You — and Harness the Friction that Helps
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Organizations too often subject their employees and customers to unnecessary friction that creates inefficiency and causes frustration. But, in some s...
What the New Freelance Economy Means for Your Talent Strategy
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The rapid pace of technological change is making a big impact on hiring. Some organizations are dynamically securing freelance workers through platfor...
Making Peace with Your Midlife, Mid-career Self
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Research shows that happiness bottoms out for people in their mid to late 40s. We might struggle with mid-career slumps, caring for both children and ...
Supercharge Your One-on-One Meetings
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most good bosses know that they should schedule regular one-on-ones with each of their team members. But fewer know exactly how to manage these meetin...
The Best Return-to-Office Policies Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A growing number of companies are mandating office time for employees and structuring hybrid work under broad, rigid rules. But pushing people into th...
Best of IdeaCast: Behaviors of Successful CEOs
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For the qualities that top-performing CEOs have in common, research shows some surprising results. It turns out that charisma, confidence, and pedigre...
Why More Companies Are Getting in on the Resale Game
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For a long time, conventional wisdom ruled that companies should avoid reselling their own products in used condition. There’s the threat of canniba...
How Hybrid Work Is (And Isn’t) Reshaping Cities
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Economic activity has long been concentrated in big metropolitan areas. But has the rise of remote work technology -- and its accelerated adoption dur...
Setting AI Projects Up for Success
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Unfortunately, you can’t set up your organization’s artificial intelligence projects like just any other IT project. By their nature, AI endeavors...
New Here: Getting a Raise Is a Process, Not a Conversation
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Introducing HBR’s podcast for young professionals, New Here, hosted by Elainy Mata. Whether it’s your first job or a fresh start, New Here will he...
Fast Casual Food Pioneer Ron Shaich Explains How to Find a Niche — and then Scale
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The restaurant business is notoriously competitive and often propelled by passing fads. But, first at the helm of Au Bon Pain, and then as the ...
Why Private Equity Needs to Invest More in Talent Development
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Traditionally, private equity companies have created value at the companies they own by taking on debt, restructuring, and exploiting underserved oppo...
Nvidia’s CEO On What It Takes To Run An A.I.-Led Company Now
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The future of AI goes far beyond individuals using ChatGPT. Companies are now integrating artificial intelligence into all aspects of their businesses...
A High-Performance Coach on the Key to Achieving Your Full Potential
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What holds many people back from attaining the success they want - whether it's winning an Olympic medal or a seat in the C-suite - isn’t a lack of...
How Job Training Must Change in the AI Age
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence technology is creating, destroying, and changing jobs. And Harvard Business School professor Raffaella ...
Getting Feedback Right on Diverse Teams
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We know that teams mixing people of different generations, genders, and cultures yield better outcomes, and that frank, constructive feedback is key t...
Tools for Managers to Help Employees with Their Mental Health Challenges
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a reality that more employees are discussing their mental health in the workplace. And proactive leaders can serve their teams better by listen...
Reflecting on What Matters After a Terminal Cancer Diagnosis
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does someone who's been told he will die much sooner than expected find contentment in the time he has left? As a former therapist, cofounder of ...
How to Solve Tough Problems Better and Faster
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to solving complicated problems, the default for many organizational leaders is to take their time to work through the issues at hand. U...
Improve Your Impromptu Speaking
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know that leaders need to captivate audiences and effectively convey their ideas. But not every speaking opportunity can be prepared and practi...
How Companies Can Recommit to Their DEI Goals
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After the summer of 2020 in the United States, many organizations made a big push to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in their ranks and oper...
People with Disabilities Are an Untapped Talent Pool
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It is now accepted wisdom that increasing the diversity of your workforce in any dimension can improve both organizational culture and performanc...
If You Want Culture Change, Create New Stories
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many leaders realize they need to change their organization’s culture to save the business. But employees usually resist change and stick to past no...
Leading a Workforce Empowered by New AI Tools
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New AI technology enables anyone to become a programmer — opening doors to faster analytics and automation but also presenting big challenges. Org...
How One Ukrainian Company Cultivated Resiliency Amid War
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Companies plan for crises and aim to be resilient and adaptive in the face of all kinds of risks, but it’s always easier said than done. And perhaps...
How to Reinvent a Consumer Brand
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does a brand or product that's been around for decades suddenly become popular with a whole new segment of consumers? Terence Reilly has some poin...
The VC Fund Closing Equity Gaps — and Making Money
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Much of the business world has bought into the idea of stakeholder capitalism. But Freada Kapor Klein and Mitch Kapor say that doing some good by doin...
How Companies Can Adapt to More Government Intervention
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After decades of industrial policy that favored globalization and free trade, we are entering a new era. Prompted by the pandemic, climate change, ris...
How One F-35 Fighter Pilot Makes Decisions Under Pressure
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are few jobs that demand decisive, clear thinking under pressure more than that of a fighter jet pilot. But the best combat pilots don't act on ...
In Defense of Middle Management
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Middle managers are meant to serve as a go-between for leadership teams and individual contributors. But in large organizations, with many layers of h...
What the Best Leaders Know — and What Skills They Develop
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you had the chance to talk to hundreds of business leaders at the top of their game, what habits and patterns would you learn? Adam Bryant has done...
Best of IdeaCast: Escape Your Comfort Zone
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We know that trying new things, taking risks, and even failing are vital to most success stories. But getting out of areas where you’re comfortable ...
Why Entrepreneurs Don’t Need Venture Capital to Scale
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With all the hype in the startup world around unicorns and hypergrowth, entrepreneurs feel enormous pressure to raise massive amounts of cash from ven...
NBA Star Chris Paul on Mentorship and Taking a Stand
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us can point to a few key people who have made a real difference in our lives and careers - a family member, a coach, a boss. And many who get...
When Small Stresses Lead to Big Problems
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's easy to see how big stresses at work or home -- like layoffs, illnesses, or even a complex and important project -- cause anxiety too spike. But ...
Why More Companies Should Have a Sabbatical Policy
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sabbaticals have long been thought of as an academic privilege, but a growing number of companies offer them, especially since the pandemic. DJ DiDonn...
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai on Leadership, AI, and Big Tech
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The use of artificial intelligence and specifically generative AI is growing rapidly, and tech giants like Google have an important role to play in ho...
How Generative AI Changes Strategy
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Strategy is about making the future happen, not just reacting to it, according to author Gary Hamel. And with generative artificial intelligence, seni...
Stop Looking for the Perfect Job
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the first things we learn about people is what they do for a living. But the link between work and identify has moved far beyond that, especial...
How Generative AI Changes Organizational Culture
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Read just about any business history and you realize just how much a firm’s success depends on its culture. Without the right culture, you can't hav...
Breaking Through When You Feel Stuck
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You don’t have to be a famous author to suffer from writer’s block. We all can get stuck in our thought processes and mired in our actions. That's...
How Generative AI Changes Creativity
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From prehistoric cave paintings to an inventor’s Eureka moment, creativity has always been described as a particularly human trait. But something st...
A Marketing Professor and a Matchmaker Talk Personal Branding
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Unless you're famous - or want to be - you might not think of yourself as a brand. But whether you're in a meeting or on social media, interviewing fo...
How Generative AI Changes Productivity
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How Generative AI Changes Everything is a special series from HBR IdeaCast. Each week, HBR editor in chief Adi Ignatius and HBR editor Amy Bernstein ...
Disruption Isn’t the Only Path to Innovation
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Disruptive innovation has proven such a powerful idea that many people now equate innovation with market disruption. But INSEAD strategy professor Ren...
Special Series: How Generative AI Changes Everything
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Generative AI seems to be everywhere right now, but what do you actually need to know? HBR IdeaCast is cutting through the noise in the special ser...
Reid Hoffman on Building AI and Other Tech More Responsibly
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a founding board member of PayPal, cofounder of LinkedIn, and a partner at Silicon Valley VC firm Greylock, Reid Hoffman has long been at the foref...
Stop Neglecting Low-Wage Workers
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many people blame the shortage of low-wage workers on the enduring impact of the pandemic. But management professor Joseph Fuller and senior researche...
How Managing Your Anxiety Can Make You a Better Leader
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The business world has increasingly begun to recognize the importance of mental health, but we still have a long way to go in openly acknowledging our...
A Forensic Accountant on How Companies Can Avoid Fraud and Scandal
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From Theranos to Enron, we can't get enough of corporate scandals. We also can't get enough of the intriguing people who perpetrate them. But instigat...
X’s Astro Teller on Managing Moonshot Innovation
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you solve the world's toughest problems? Or find the next big thing in tech? Lots of organizations fail to explore and take big bets on new ide...
Brain Tech Is Getting Really Good. Here’s What Managers Need to Know
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What seemed like science fiction for decades is now a reality: companies are selling wearable tech and monitoring devices that can sense people’s br...
Why You (and Your Company) Need to Experiment with ChatGPT Now
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The online application ChatGPT and its integration into Microsoft search engines have put generative artificial intelligence technology in the hands o...
IBM’s Ginni Rometty on Skill-Building and Success
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For years, employers have used university degrees as a major requirement for hiring. But, for many jobs, success depends more on skills -- and the abi...
The Ins and Outs of the Influencer Industry
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Online influencers are an increasingly important way for companies to find new customers and drive sales. Whether you're a marketer who wants to more ...
Why Leaders Should Rethink Their Decision-Making Process
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many people believe that leaders instinctively make the best decisions based on past experience, almost like muscle memory. But Carol Kauffman, assist...
The Subtle Art of Disagreeing with Your Boss
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you're someone who enjoys ruffling feathers or the type of person who'd like to challenge the status quo but shies away, you'll benefit from u...
Why Many Companies Get Layoffs Wrong
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From Microsoft to Google to Meta, many of the world's biggest tech companies have been announcing layoffs recently. Their explanation is usually that ...
A Deeper Understanding of Creativity at Work
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know that creativity is the backbone of innovation and, ultimately, business success. But we don't always think deeply about how creative peopl...
Guy Raz on What Great Business Leaders Have in Common
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
By hosting the podcasts How I Built This and Wisdom from the Top, Guy Raz has won an inside look at how visionary leaders build their own careers a...
Money, Flexibility, Development? Figuring Out What Employees Really Value
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Even in a slowing economy, the battle to attract and retain talent persists. But employers need to look beyond what people are currently demanding —...
Work Insights from the World’s Longest Happiness Study
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's the start of a fresh year, and optimism is in the air. But if you want happiness to extend far beyond your New Year's resolution, Robert Waldinge...
Best of IdeaCast 2022
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From incivility for frontline workers to struggles with hybrid work to actual progress made since the murder of George Floyd, HBR IdeaCast spent 202...
LinkedIn’s CEO on Hiring Strategies and the Skills That Matter Most (from The New World of Work)
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In The New World of Work video series, host and HBR Editor in Chief Adi Ignatius explores how top-tier executives see the future and how their compani...
Ron Howard on Collaborative Leadership and Career Longevity
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, actor-producer-director Ron Howard has made popular and critically acclaimed movies while also maintaining a reputation for being one of ...
Why Some Start-Ups Fail to Scale
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Managing rapid growth is a huge challenge for young businesses. Even start-ups with glowing reviews and skyrocketing sales can fail. That’s because ...
You’ve Made Some DEI Progress. Don’t Stop Now
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past few years, organizations around the world have invested in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives with varying results. But to ach...
The Growing “Do Good” Economy
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From corporate social responsibility to ESG to “doing well by doing good,” an increasing number of organizations are pursuing positive social impa...
Let’s Protect Our Frontline Workers from Rude Customers
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From videos of drunk and disorderly airline passengers to stories of hospital visitors angrily refusing to wear masks, customer-facing work seems to h...
What We Still Misunderstand About Mentorship and Sponsorship
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Companies offer sponsorship programs to help a more diverse group of high performers and future leaders advance. But the efforts can often misfire. He...
Grit Is Good. But Quitting Can Be, Too.
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From politics to sports to business, we tend to glorify those who persevere, show grit, never give up. But former professional poker player and consul...
How Women (and Everyone) Can Form Deeper Bonds to Fight Bias at Work
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The number of women—especially women of color—in leadership ranks at the world’s largest companies remains desperately small. Tina Opie, associa...
4 Business Ideas That Changed the World: Emotional Intelligence
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the early 1990s, publishers told science journalist Daniel Goleman not to use the word “emotion” in a business book. The popular conception was...
What Leaders Need to Know About a Looming Recession – and Other Global Threats
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nouriel Roubini, professor emeritus at NYU’s Stern School of Business, says that a confluence of trends – from skyrocketing public and private deb...
4 Business Ideas That Changed the World: Shareholder Value
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The idea that maximizing shareholder value takes legal and practical precedence above all else first came to prominence in the 1970s. The person who a...
NASA’s Science Head on Leading Space Missions with Risk of Spectacular Failure
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 2021, the U.S. space agency NASA launched a spacecraft toward a pair of asteroids more than 11 million kilometers away. The target? The smaller of ...
4 Business Ideas That Changed the World: Disruptive Innovation
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1980s, Clayton Christensen cofounded a startup that took over a market niche from DuPont and Alcoa. That experience left Christensen puzzled. H...
What Kara Swisher Has Learned From Decades Covering Tech
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No industry has had more impact than technology over the past few decades. Tech companies have changed the way we live, work, and interact with each o...
4 Business Ideas That Changed the World: Scientific Management
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 1878, a machinist at a Pennsylvania steelworks noticed that his crew was producing much less than he thought they could. With stopwatches and time-...
To Improve AI Outcomes, Think About the Entire System
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence technology has been advancing, and businesses have been putting it into action. But too many companies are just gathering a bu...
Introducing 4 Business Ideas That Changed the World
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Influential business and management ideas have tremendous influence over us. Like it or not, they shape how organizations are run and how people aroun...