Ivey Impact Podcast

Ivey Business School

The Ivey Impact Podcast is the flagship series of Ivey Business School, one of Canada’s top institutions for business education. Tailored for modern leaders, each brief yet impactful episode brings the expertise and innovative thinking of Ivey’s globally recognized faculty to the forefront. The dynamic discussions tackle today’s most critical issues, from start-ups and sustainability to AI-integration, responsible leadership, and more. Released monthly, Ivey Impact Podcast is the source for leaders seeking exclusive insights and actionable ideas that ignite change.

  1. Greenwashing, greenhushing, and the truth behind corporate environmental claims

    APR 1

    Greenwashing, greenhushing, and the truth behind corporate environmental claims

    From sustainable packaging to net-zero pledges, environmental branding is everywhere. But how much of it is real? And how much falls under what experts call greenwashing, or claims that mislead us into thinking companies are more environmentally responsible than they really are?   In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw is joined by Wren Montgomery, Associate Professor of Sustainability at Ivey, to explore one of the most pressing and pervasive challenges in the sustainability space. A globally recognized expert on greenwashing, Montgomery has spent years examining how and why companies misrepresent their environmental performance, and what it costs us when they do.   The conversation also ventures into a newer and more subtle phenomenon: greenhushing. This is where companies choose to downplay or stay silent about their environmental actions altogether. Montgomery argues that silence is far from neutral, and that greenhushing carries its own risks for climate progress, public trust, and accountability.   This episode offers essential insights for business leaders, policymakers, and anyone who wants to separate genuine sustainability from spin.   In this episode: :00 Wren Montgomery’s research background 5:14 Defining corporate greenwashing and its evolution 10:38 Greenwashing 3.0 and the explosion of greenwashing 18:07 Examining the concept of greenhushing 24:33 Lying to your stakeholders is not a good way to do business

    27 min
  2. Is entrepreneurship really a level playing field?

    MAR 4

    Is entrepreneurship really a level playing field?

    We often describe entrepreneurship as the great equalizer – a space where anyone, regardless of background, can succeed if they have a great idea. But is it really that simple?  In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Janice Byrne, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and the Corus Entertainment Chair in Women in Management at Ivey, for a candid and insightful conversation about the gendered dynamics of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Drawing on three of Janice’s pivotal studies, they explore how leaders “do gender” to establish legitimacy, why well-intentioned role model campaigns can sometimes backfire, and what the rise and fall of the “girlboss” phenomenon reveals about media hype and shifting social expectations. Timely and sharply relevant, this episode challenges us to reconsider the narratives that shape who thrives in business – and what it will take to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable entrepreneurial future. In this episode:  1:20: A scholar without borders 2:22: What does it mean to “do” gender? 6:22: Do leadership standards privilege certain gendered traits? 11:18: When “Superwoman” becomes a trap 14:28: Who earns the label of “role model” for women? 16:57: The girlboss, defined 18:59: The double edge sword of hype 23:24: Changing the entrepreneurial tide To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit:  Gender Gymnastics in CEO succession: Masculinities, Femininities and Legitimacy https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0170840619879184 Role models and women entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurial superwoman has her say.https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-66233-009  The rise and fall of the girlboss: Gender, social expectations and entrepreneurial hype https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088390262500014X?via%3Dihub

    30 min
  3. What does disruption really demand of leaders?

    FEB 20

    What does disruption really demand of leaders?

    Disruption and innovation dominate today’s business conversations. But when the stakes include climate change and artificial intelligence, what do these ideas truly demand of leaders? In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Michael Raynor, MBA ’94 – Ivey Associate Professor, bestselling author, and respected authority on strategy and innovation – for a candid and thought-provoking discussion on how disruption must be understood and led in this moment. Together, they revisit the promise – and limitations – of disruptive innovation and reflect on Raynor’s collaboration with the late Clayton Christensen. The conversation then turns to two powerful forces reshaping business: greenhouse gas emissions and artificial intelligence. Raynor urges leaders to approach decarbonization not as a talking point but as a strategic reality, and to move beyond experimentation with AI toward focused, high-impact applications, particularly in medicine. Provocative and pragmatic, this episode challenges leaders to rethink strategy in an era where disruption isn’t theoretical – it’s already underway. In this episode: 1:15: The 25-Year Internship 2:10: From Christensen to ChatGPT  7:17: Net zero is dead. Long live net zero 9:25: The problem hidden in plain sight 14:32: A “credit” to the system 19:38: Hope isn’t a climate strategy 21:00: The Decarbonizer's Dilemma 23:08: When algorithms meet medicine 30:27: Why cases beat codes To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit: Using Early Gait Data From a Smart-Enabled Total Knee Arthroplasty to Identify Patient Function and Activity at 90 Days Postoperative https://www.arthroplastyjournal.org/article/S0883-5403(26)00089-6/fulltext Scope 3 decarbonization through environmental attribute certificates https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17583004.2025.2486624 Net Zero Is Dead. Long Live Net Zero https://iveybusinessjournal.com/net-zero-is-dead-long-live-net-zero/  What Is Disruptive Innovation? https://hbr.org/2015/12/what-is-disruptive-innovation

    34 min
  4. Are you prepared to lead in the modern world of work?

    2025-12-03

    Are you prepared to lead in the modern world of work?

    We talk a lot about the “future of work,” but few leaders are prepared for just how radically work is changing beneath their feet. Today, creativity and critical thinking drive results – yet they remain the hardest kinds of work to see, measure, or manage. That’s why modern leaders must rethink traditional management models. Stick with outdated approaches, and you risk slowing innovation, misreading performance, and overlooking standout talent hiding in plain sight. So where should leaders start? In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Rob Austin, Professor of Information Systems and Ivey’s Evolution of Work Chair, for a thought-provoking conversation about what leaders need to understand about modern work. Together, they explore why knowledge work resists measurement, how creative breakthroughs often stem from “productive accidents,” what AI can and can’t replace, and why neuroinclusion is emerging as a powerful catalyst for capability building. Insightful, candid, and deeply relevant for anyone navigating rapid technological and cultural change, this episode offers clear and compelling insights for building workplaces where people – and ideas – can truly thrive. In this episode:  1:20: Origins of a modern work visionary 2:07: What really is knowledge work? 3:22: Evaluating the work you can’t see 8:05: Human vs. AI: Who’s really doing the thinking? 12:05: Things that make you go hmmm 16:39: Finding the sweet spot between home and office 20:07: Redesigning work for every brain 27:52: The power of people who give a damn To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit:  How Neuroinclusion Builds Organizational Capabilitieshttps://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-neuroinclusion-builds-organizational-capabilities/ Computers as Creative Collaborators for Businesses?https://cmr.berkeley.edu/2023/09/computers-as-creative-collaborators-for-businesses/  The advantages and challenges of neurodiversity employment in organizationshttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-management-and-organization/article/advantages-and-challenges-of-neurodiversity-employment-in-organizations/E00D823A30F04CA4EA502014329C1CE9  Accidental innovation: Supporting valuable unpredictability in the creative processhttps://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/orsc.1110.0681 Performance-based incentives in knowledge work: are agency models relevant?https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/abs/10.1504/IJBPM.2000.66  Knowledge Workhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/394911987_Knowledge_work

    30 min
  5. How can businesses survive today's technological disruptions?

    2025-10-29

    How can businesses survive today's technological disruptions?

    Technological disruption has become the defining challenge for modern business. And perhaps no one understands this better than legacy firms. Too often, they’re cast as casualties of change, bound by old strategies and outdated thinking. But what if that narrative is wrong? What if established companies aren’t victims of disruption at all? In this thought-provoking episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Tima Bansal, Ivey Professor of Sustainability and Strategy, interviews Julian Birkinshaw about his new book Resurgent, coauthored with John Fallon, former CEO of Pearson.   Together, they unpack the surprising finding that over 95 per cent of pre-internet Fortune 500 firms still exist today, and explore why resilience, not reinvention, may be the true hallmark of enduring success.   Their conversation also looks closely at why some firms falter in the face of digital change while others embrace disruption, pivot successfully, and emerge stronger. From the evolution of companies like Fujifilm and the New York Times to the rise of AI, Birkinshaw reflects on what it takes for leaders – including those in business schools – to guide their organizations through uncertainty.   Engaging, personal and relevant, this episode reveals how businesses, and business leaders, can face disruption head-on – and come out stronger.   In this episode: 0000 – Digging into Resurgent 0838 – Is there something fundamentally different with artificial intelligence 1457 – What do business schools need to do to cope with digital disruption 2223 – How is Julian so productive?   To learn more about the topics discussed in this episode, please visit: Inside Resurgent: How legacy companies stay in the game https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/impact/read/2025/07/inside-resurgent-how-legacy-companies-stay-in-the-game/   Julian Birkinshaw | Resurgent https://www.julianbirkinshaw.com/resurgent.html

    31 min
  6. When does “just joking” become workplace harassment?

    2025-10-16

    When does “just joking” become workplace harassment?

    We like to think workplace harassment is a problem of the past – but the numbers tell a different story. In Canada, nearly half of women and almost a third of men report experiencing harassment or assault at work. Despite major investments in training, it’s clear that too few programs drive real engagement or meaningful cultural change. So where are we falling short, and what will it take to move the needle? In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Shannon Rawski, Ivey Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour and a leading scholar on workplace sexual harassment, to explore why harassment training so often misses the mark – and how organizations can build cultures that truly make a difference. Drawing on more than two decades of research, Rawski reveals how workplace cultures can normalize harmful behaviour under the guise of “just joking,” why compliance-driven programs can backfire, and how immersive tools like virtual reality (VR) can help employees better recognize and respond to harassment. The discussion extends to Rawski’s latest book, What the #MeToo Movement Highlights and Hides about Workplace Sexual Harassment: Spotlights and Shadows, an in-depth examination of how #MeToo advanced the dialogue on workplace harassment but left important blind spots unaddressed. Honest, urgent, and deeply practical, this conversation challenges business leaders to move beyond checkbox compliance and instead build cultures of genuine respect, accountability, and safety. If you are experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, please remember that you are not alone and that support is available. The following resources can provide guidance and assistance: -              Your Company’s HR team -              The Ontario Human Rights Commission -              Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres -              Assaulted Women’s Helpline In this episode:  1:19: A scholar ahead of her time 3:15: It’s all fun and games…until someone gets hurt 6:17: What to do when humor crosses the line 9:25: The problem with most harassment training 13:17: Could VR be the future of harassment training? 17:09: When VR enters the Ivey classroom 18:45: Why we still need to talk about #MeToo 21:43: How to step in as a bystander – at every level To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit:  The Devil is in the Details: Sexual Harassment e-Training Design Choices and Perceived Messenger Integrity:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-023-05479-w It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Hurt: An Interactional Framing Theory of Work Social Sexual Behavior: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3976535  Sexual Harassment Bystander Training Effectiveness: Experimentally Comparing 2D Video to Virtual Reality Practice:https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/AMBPP.2022.139  The direct and indirect effects of organizational tolerance for sexual harassment on the effectiveness of sexual harassment investigation training for HR managers:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hrdq.21329

    29 min

Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
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About

The Ivey Impact Podcast is the flagship series of Ivey Business School, one of Canada’s top institutions for business education. Tailored for modern leaders, each brief yet impactful episode brings the expertise and innovative thinking of Ivey’s globally recognized faculty to the forefront. The dynamic discussions tackle today’s most critical issues, from start-ups and sustainability to AI-integration, responsible leadership, and more. Released monthly, Ivey Impact Podcast is the source for leaders seeking exclusive insights and actionable ideas that ignite change.

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