Think Ahead

London Business School

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BUSINESS

How can you navigate the now and be prepared for what’s next? Listen in each month as we convene a panel of London Business School thought leaders and distinguished guests to debate and discuss a hot topic in the business world and beyond. Fresh perspectives on what matters most, brought to you by Think at London Business School.

4 DAYS AGO

How influence really works in modern leadership

In a world defined by uncertainty, the leaders who thrive are those who understand how influence, trust and human psychology shape decision-making and team performance. In this episode of Think Ahead, Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics and Dean at London Business School, sits down with Niro Sivanathan, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School, and Diana Torres, Senior Managing Director at Teneo, to explore how leadership is evolving in complex, high-pressure environments. Together, they examine why people seek strong direction during turbulent times, how leaders can set a compelling vision without closing off crucial feedback, and the powerful role of transparency in building trust. From managing hybrid teams to navigating crisis-driven expectations, this episode unpacks what truly drives influence in modern organisations. Tune in to learn: How uncertainty impacts the psychology of leadership and why clarity becomes essential The difference between providing direction and limiting innovation Why trust, accountability and communication now determine long-term performance Practical insights on empowering teams, shaping culture and leading through complexity Whether you are guiding an organisation through transformation or building your own leadership approach, this episode offers research-backed insights and real-world experience from two perspectives: behavioural science and frontline corporate leadership. For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.london.edu/think⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X.com/LBS⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/school/london-business-school⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool⁠⁠⁠

35 min
15 JAN

Living the 100-year life: Leading and thriving in an age of longevity

How do you thrive in a world where living to 100 could become the norm? In this episode of Think Ahead, host Sergei Guriev is joined by two leading voices shaping the future of work and retirement: - Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour at London Business School - Andy Briggs, Group CEO of Phoenix Group, the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business. Together, they explore the profound impact of rising life expectancy and longer careers on individuals, organisations and society. From multi-stage lives and careers and lifelong learning to financial security, age diversity, and the urgent reality that only 1 in 7 people are saving enough for retirement, this conversation is a wake-up call for leaders everywhere. What are the opportunities and challenges posed by a multi-stage life? What strategies can we implement across all ages? Dive into this episode to learn: - Why the traditional three-stage life (education, work, retirement) no longer works - How to design a career that sustains energy, purpose and adaptability over decades - Practical strategies for renewal, resilience and flexible working - The role of business and government in tackling the longevity challenge - Why age diversity and reskilling are critical for organisational success - How technology and AI can support longer working lives Packed with actionable insights, real-world examples and global perspectives, this episode is essential listening. Whether you’re planning your own future or shaping the future of work, tune in to discover how to lead – and live – for the long haul. Lynda Gratton is Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour at London Business School. She has authored 'The 100-Year Life' with Andrew J. Scott. Her upcoming book, ‘Living the 100-Year Life’, releases in September 2026. Discover more about Lynda and her research: https://www.london.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/g/gratton-lc. For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit https://www.london.edu/think. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month: https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen. Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com/LBS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/school/london-business-school⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

37 min
09/12/2025

Currency crossroads: The dollar, the Euro, and the future of global power

As global monetary dynamics shift, the challenge for business leaders is no longer just about managing exchange rates but about strategy, resilience, and long-term competitiveness. Hélène Rey, Lord Bagri Professor of Economics at London Business School, joins Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics and Dean of London Business School, to explore how the erosion of the US dollar’s dominance, the Euro’s potential rise, and the rapid evolution of digital finance are reshaping international markets. This episode takes a closer look at why the dollar’s ‘exorbitant privilege’ is fading, what a Kindleberger-style gap could mean for global stability, and how technologies such as stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) might redefine monetary leadership. Could fragmentation become the defining trend of the next decade? And what does that mean for policy, investment, and growth? Tune in and dive into: The historic role of the US Dollar and its impact on global trade and reserves The Kindleberger gap and what a multipolar currency system means for businesses The rise of digital finance and its implications for payment systems and liquidity Practical strategies for managing currency risk and building resilience In an era of geopolitical tension, energy market shifts, and technological disruption, take a forward-looking perspective on how organisations can adapt with agility, hedge effectively, and build resilience. Hélène Rey is the Lord Bagri Professor of Economics at London Business School. Discover more about Hélène and her research: https://www.london.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/r/rey-h For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com/LBS⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/school/london-business-school⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool⁠⁠⁠⁠

37 min
14/11/2025

Decoding the digital consumer: Data, experimentation and AI

In an era defined by digital transformation, data abundance and consumer fragmentation, organisations face a new imperative: to thrive in complexity. In this episode, host Sergei Guriev is joined by Professor of Marketing, Anja Lambrecht and Chief Economist of Zalando, Greg Crawford to explore how firms can build agility, resilience and strategic foresight by leveraging data, economics and AI. From decoding consumer preferences to navigating real-time decision-making, the conversation unpacks the tools and organisational capabilities needed to turn complexity into competitive advantage. Drawing on academic research and industry practice, the episode offers a roadmap for leaders seeking to reorient their firms for innovation, adaptability and long-term success. For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com/LBS⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/school/london-business-school⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool⁠⁠⁠⁠

40 min
15/10/2025

Regulation, reporting, and the value question: ESG in a shifting landscape

As sustainability regulation accelerates across global markets, the real challenge for business leaders is no longer just about ticking boxes but about strategy, transparency, and long-term value creation. Professor Marcel Olbert, Assistant Professor of Accounting, and Katharina Neureiter, Co-Head of Global Sustainability at The Carlyle Group, join host Sergei Guriev, Dean of London Business School, to explore how new rules – from ESG disclosures to tax incentives – are reshaping corporate behaviour and investor expectations. This episode takes a closer look at the rise of sustainability reporting as both a regulatory requirement and a strategic tool. We examine how disclosure is evolving – from high-level programme reviews to granular, data-driven tracking – and what this means for private equity, portfolio resilience, and operational performance. The conversation also explores the tension between transparency and competitive advantage, the role of fiscal stimulus in shaping corporate responses, and the broader implications of global regulatory divergence. Rather than viewing ESG reporting as a compliance burden, could it be a lever for innovation, accountability, and investor trust? In an era of geopolitical flux and shifting market expectations, take a forward-looking perspective on how businesses can lead with clarity, adapt with agility, and create value that lasts. For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠X.com/LBS⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/school/london-business-school⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool⁠⁠⁠⁠

37 min
26/09/2025

Beyond greenwashing: How ESG became a corporate battleground

As political backlash against the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework intensifies, the real questions facing corporate leaders are no longer about terminology or disclosure but about strategy, legitimacy, and resilience. Ioannis Ioannou, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Anna Lungley, Head of Sustainability Consulting at Fujitsu, join host Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics and Dean of London Business School, to explore what the backlash reveals about deeper market failures and the evolving role of business in society. We examine how capital markets remain structurally misaligned with ecological and social realities, why many corporate commitments have proven fragile under pressure, and how sustainability has become a proxy for deeper power struggles within firms. With global standards in flux and investor expectations shifting, the conversation turns to what it means to lead through uncertainty and why silence, hesitation, or superficial rebranding may no longer be viable options. Rather than treating ESG as a compliance issue or communications challenge, this episode explores it as a systemic and strategic fault line – one that tests corporate purpose, governance, and the capacity to act with foresight in an era of disruption. For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit ⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think⁠⁠⁠. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think/subscribe⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠X.com/LBS⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/school/london-business-school⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool⁠⁠⁠

31 min
24/07/2025

think ahead: Highlights from season two

As London Business School marks its 60th anniversary, the season finale of Think Ahead  steps back to reflect on the defining conversations that shaped this year’s series. Host Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics and Dean of London Business School, revisits pivotal moments with faculty, alumni, and global leaders who explored the forces reshaping business – from ethical leadership and employee engagement to polarisation, AI disruption, and the future of corporate responsibility. We hear how ethical leadership means challenging the status quo, why real engagement goes beyond pay, and how polarisation can both energise and alienate. In the age of AI, guests urge leaders to look past the hype and focus on long-term vision, data integrity and human-centred design. Rather than offering easy answers, this episode distils a year of insights into one powerful message: to lead in an era of disruption is to think ahead – with clarity, courage, and purpose. As we look to the next 60 years, the challenge is not just to adapt to change, but to shape it. For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit ⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think⁠⁠⁠. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠london.edu/think/subscribe⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠X.com/LBS⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/school/london-business-school⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool⁠⁠⁠

22 min
02/07/2025

think ahead: The future of AI: Regulation, geopolitics and business impact

As AI continues to reshape the global business landscape, regulation is emerging not merely as a compliance issue, but as a strategic concern. From data governance and energy demands to talent mobility and market access, the evolving policy environment around AI is influencing where and how organisations can innovate, invest, and compete. In this episode, Michael Jacobides, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, is joined by Nnenna Ilomechina, currently CEO at Crownpeak, with over 25 years advising businesses through transformation with firms like AlixPartners and Accenture, for a conversation hosted by Professor of Economics and Dean of London Business School, Sergei Guriev. Together, they explore how geopolitical competition and fragmented regulatory regimes are redefining the role of business and business leaders in the age of AI. Drawing on cutting-edge research and real-world leadership experience, they discuss the strategic decisions organisations must make to navigate this complexity, build trust, and unlock long-term value. As the conversation turns to thinking ahead, they challenge leaders to move beyond the hype and focus on putting AI to work—ethically, transparently, and effectively. To read Professor Michael G Jacobides’ white paper on AI regulation, visit https://www.evolutionltd.net/post/the-political-economy-and-geopolitics-of-ai-regulation. For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit ⁠⁠london.edu/think⁠⁠. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠london.edu/think/subscribe⁠⁠. Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠X.com/LBS⁠⁠ ⁠⁠linkedin.com/school/london-business-school⁠⁠ ⁠⁠facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool⁠⁠

35 min

How can you navigate the now and be prepared for what’s next? Listen in each month as we convene a panel of London Business School thought leaders and distinguished guests to debate and discuss a hot topic in the business world and beyond. Fresh perspectives on what matters most, brought to you by Think at London Business School.

Creator

London Business School
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

27
Show Website

Think Ahead

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