Stanford GSB

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Channel • 4 Shows

Management

Management

Updated 24 Sept
Management

Management

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Business

Every two weeks
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Entrepreneurship

Twice monthly

6 AUG

Luis von Ahn Is Making Screen Time Count

Luis von Ahn was a tenured professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University who had sold a company to Google. “You were pretty set, a lot of us would say, so why were you so hungry to build something new with Duolingo?” asks Ayesha Karnik, MBA ’25. “For the first time ever, with phones, we can reach billions of people,” reflects the Duolingo co-founder and CEO. “I want it to be the case that we can show that screen time is actually useful for the world.” From human-computer interaction and pioneering early 2000s consumer tech gamification to his thoughts on leadership and the future of AI, von Ahn shares his unique perspective on where he’s been, what he’s working on today, and the future of learning. There’s also that unpredictable owl mascot. “I wouldn’t say our brand is ‘chaos,’ okay?” he jokes. “We call it wholesome unhinged.” This episode was recorded on May 5, 2025. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 Aug

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58 min
24 SEPT

GSB at 100: “The Magic”

This week on View From the Top we’re sharing an episode of GSB at 100, a limited audio series created especially for Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Centennial. GSB at 100 presents a scrapbook of memories, ideas, and breakthroughs, as the GSB celebrates its first century and looks around the corner to what the next hundred years may hold. The first episode of the series begins where the GSB begins: in 1925, Herbert Hoover, a Stanford alum and future U.S. president, had an idea. “A graduate School of Business Administration is urgently needed upon the Pacific Coast,” he wrote. One hundred years later, what has Stanford Graduate School of Business accomplished, and what might its future hold? Listen in as professors reflect on founding principles, frontier technologies, and the magic that makes the GSB the place it is — and shapes what it aspires to be. Learn more about the Stanford GSB Centennial See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

24 Sept

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21 min
18 JUN

Aravind Srinivas Has All The Answers

Aravind Srinivas leads Perplexity — whose AI-powered search engine provides direct, sourced answers to any question you might ask it. On this episode of View From The Top: The Podcast, Srinivas joins Aislin Rorth, MBA ’25, for a conversation that provides unique insight into how a young leader steers a late-stage startup with big aspirations — from finding a lane in consumer AI to rounding up investors and fighting the inertia that seems to grip startups as they grow. “If we are a reliable answer machine to everybody and widely accessible, that not just gives you answers but helps you accomplish tasks, too — make transactions, buy things, book things, book flights, get the best deals and make your life more productive, give you back more time — I think we are going to be a pretty industry-defining product and company,” Srinivas says. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Jun

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1 hr
4 JUN

Lisa Su Is Still Curious About How Things Work

Lisa Su, the chair and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), leads one of the world’s most influential technology companies, a pioneer in high-performance computing and designer of chips that power everything from cellphones to supercomputers. On this episode of View From The Top: The Podcast, Su joins Michael Liu, MBA ’25, to talk about what it takes to stay on the cutting edge of technology, the tremendous potential of artificial intelligence, and why her superpower may be her commitment to learning. “Careers are very much by chance,” Su says. “The nice thing about my early career is I was lucky enough to have bosses who asked me all the time, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ And I was like, ‘I don't know. Let me think about [it]...what I like to believe is the ability to learn at each step was what really helped me in my career.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4 Jun

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55 min
27/12/2024

View From The Top: “Jensen Huang on How to Use First-Principles Thinking to Drive Decisions”

Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA, believes leadership is about more than making decisions—it’s about empowering others to reason through ambiguity and drive transformative change. In this bonus episode of If/Then, Huang sits down with Stanford GSB student Shantam Jain, MBA ’24, on Stanford GSB’s View From The Top podcast, to discuss his journey from an ambitious engineer to the leader of one of the most innovative companies in the world. Huang reflects on the lessons learned during pivotal moments in NVIDIA’s history, from betting on 3D graphics before the market existed to embracing the potential of AI and accelerated computing. “You can’t create change by doing what everyone else is doing,” Huang explains. “You have to go back to first principles and ask: how would you build this today?” Despite navigating industry disruptions and financial crises, Huang remains focused on the future. He shares how NVIDIA has consistently stayed ahead by building technology that not only solves today’s problems but anticipates the needs of tomorrow. As this episode reveals, it’s not just about technological breakthroughs—it’s about cultivating a culture of resilience and purpose to redefine the future. For a full transcript of this episode, visit our podcast’s website. More Resources: View From The Top: The Podcast | Stanford GSBJensen Huang on How to Use First-Principles Thinking to Drive Decisions | Stanford GSB Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Kevin Cool introduces a bonus episode from the View From The Top podcast featuring CEO and founder of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang. (00:01:39) Early Career and Founding NVIDIA Huang reflects on his journey from LSI Logic to co-founding NVIDIA. (00:04:56) Securing Early Investments Convincing Silicon Valley investors to back NVIDIA in a non-existent market. (00:08:31) Pivoting in the Face of Failure The critical decisions and resets that saved NVIDIA during challenges. (00:16:24) Call That Changed Everything The pivotal phone call that led to a shift in NVIDIA's innovation focus. (00:19:21) Finding Conviction The balance of core beliefs and early indicators of future success. (00:26:45) Weathering Market Downturns Staying focused on unchanging principles to weather external challenges. (00:31:36) Creating a Flat Organization Empowering employees by sharing context and reasoning transparently. (00:38:13) The Future of Generative AI Generative AI’s potential to redefine computing and communication (00:45:38) Building Organizations for Tomorrow Designing adaptable, future-focused organizations from first principles. (00:48:22) Challenges and Opportunities Ahead Challenges NVIDIA faces, and the innovations Huang is most excited about. (00:51:33) Pace and Regulation of AI Development The need for regulatory measures alongside rapid technological advancements. (00:55:35) Rapid-Fire Insights and Final Advice Personal reflections, leadership advice, and hopes for NVIDIA’s legacy. (00:57:21) Conclusion See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

27/12/2024

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58 min
23 APR

Leena Nair Refuses to Be the Last

Leena Nair doesn’t just talk about leadership — she redefines it. In a wide-ranging conversation with Ayesha Karnik, MBA ’25, Nair reflects on her journey from a factory floor in India to the corporate office in London, and ultimately, to Chanel’s C-suite. With humor and heart, Nair describes how she approaches leading a global luxury brand, shares insights about risk and resilience, and explains what it means to “lift as you climb.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

23 Apr

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59 min
30/11/2018

Oprah Winfrey: Failure Is the Thing Moving You Forward

"Stop the crazy mind chatter in your head that tells you that you are not good enough,” said Oprah Winfrey during a visit to Stanford Graduate School of Business. She advised students that even when their long-term goals are unclear, the important thing is to banish self-doubt and continue forward, no matter how small the step. "The way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, 'What is the next right move?’ and then, from that space, make the next right move and then the next right move." Listen to Oprah’s conversation with Amanda Facelle, MBA ’14, on leadership, education, and following your “inner GPS.” Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the Dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

30/11/2018

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1h 5m
24 SEPT

GSB at 100: The Magic

This week on If/Then, we’re sharing an episode of GSB at 100, a limited audio series created especially for Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Centennial. GSB at 100 presents a scrapbook of memories, ideas, and breakthroughs, as the GSB celebrates its first century and looks around the corner to what the next hundred years may hold. The first episode of the series begins where the GSB begins: in 1925, Herbert Hoover, a Stanford alum and future U.S. president, had an idea. “A graduate School of Business Administration is urgently needed upon the Pacific Coast,” he wrote. One hundred years later, what has Stanford Graduate School of Business accomplished, and what might its future hold? Listen in as professors reflect on founding principles, frontier technologies, and the magic that makes the GSB the place it is — and shapes what it aspires to be. If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member. Learn more about the Stanford GSB Centennial See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

24 Sept

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21 min
9 JUL

Think Fast, Talk Smart: "Ambiguity to Action: Tensions and Trade-Offs of Leadership and Communication"

This week on If/Then, we’re sharing an episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, a podcast hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer and friend of the show, Matt Abrahams. How do you communicate with others when you’re confused yourself? For fellow GSB lecturer Rob Siegel, leadership isn’t about avoiding uncertainty: it’s about embracing the clarity that ambiguity can bring. In his latest book, “The Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross Pressures That Make or Break Today's Companies,” Siegel explores how leaders today are “living in dualities,” caught between managing existing processes and adapting to emerging disruptions. “The sooner we get comfortable with [change] in the sense of ‘I don't have to like it, but I can deal with it,’ then [we can] lead our teams and give them the calm to know they can get through this.” On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Siegel and Abrahams explore how to communicate effectively amid constant change. From preparation strategies for spontaneous speaking to building trust through candid conversations, you'll hear practical tips for communicating with clarity when nothing is certain but change. More Resources: Rob Siegel, faculty profileMatt Abrahams, faculty profileThink Fast Talk Smart If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. For a full transcript of this episode, visit our podcast’s website. Chapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Kevin Cool previews season three and introduces a featured episode from Think Fast Talk Smart. (00:00:40) Introduction to Rob Siegel Matt Abrahams welcomes Rob Siegel and introduces his new book The Systems Leader. (00:01:34) Teaching in a Time of Chaos Rob explains how his course on systems leadership evolved amid global uncertainty and AI disruption. (00:02:39) Frameworks for Modern Leadership Rob outlines key leadership frameworks, including five cross pressures from his book. (00:04:01) Communication’s Role in Leadership They discuss how facts, context, and communication help leaders navigate uncertainty. (00:06:18) Balancing Innovation and Execution The conversation turns to managing the tension between creative innovation and operational goals. (00:08:00) Leading Through Ambiguity They explore how leaders can embrace ambiguity as a normal, strategic part of leadership. (00:09:41) Navigating Short- vs Long-Term Thinking Rob breaks down how leaders balance quarterly goals with long-term planning and vision. (00:12:32) Strength and Empathy in Leadership Matt and Rob examine how leaders can balance warmth and strength in team relationships. (00:16:03) How to Keep Students Engaged Rob shares his best practices for engaging students through preparation, spontaneity, and challenge. (00:18:55) Building Trust Through Genuine Care They reflect on the role of genuine interest in others as a foundation for trust and communication. (00:21:35) Communication Role Models and Recipes Rob names Irv Beck as a communicator he admires and shares his top three ingredients for great communication. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 Jul

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24 min
16 JUL

Ken Griffin Still Checks His P&L

Ken Griffin heads the most profitable hedge fund in history. But Citadel’s founder and CEO is focused on the future — not the scoreboard. “I like to think I haven’t accomplished yet what I will be remembered for,” Griffin tells Michael Liu, MBA ’25. “That this is not a view from the top, but a journey to a destination yet to be determined.” From entrepreneurship — “If you want to be an entrepreneur, you have to first learn how to sell” — to the importance of lifelong learning — “If you’re going to go to work at a firm and you’re the smartest person in the room, you have so screwed up your Stanford MBA” — Griffin reflects on what he’s learned since the early days of Citadel and why he's still laser-focused on learning today. “I think legendary investors really know when they have an advantage — and they press it. They’re confident in their conviction, and when they're wrong, they move on.” This conversation was recorded on April 25, 2025. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Jul

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48 min

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