IMD Podcasts

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Channel • 4 Shows

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated 22/04/2021
Management

Management

Every two months
Business

Business

Every two weeks
Careers

Careers

Every two weeks

17/11/2025

The real story of AI’s rise from winters to workplaces

AI has leapt from obscurity to ubiquity, reshaping work and society. But its flaws run deep, forcing leaders to balance its promise with its dangerous limitations. From the frosty skepticism of AI’s early winters to the blazing hype of today’s workplace revolution, artificial intelligence has undergone a dramatic transformation. In this episode, IMD’s Didier Bonnet and Oxford University’s Michael Wooldridge take us behind the scenes of AI’s evolution, revealing how neural networks rose from the dead, why conversational AI dazzles but deceives, and what leaders must understand about the paradox at its core: a powerful tool that’s useful, but not always correct. As AI reshapes industries, boosts productivity, and quietly erodes certain roles, Wooldridge urges us to rethink how we work, learn, and lead. Whether you’re a CEO, educator, or everyday user, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and offer a grounded view of what AI can and can’t do. Tune in to explore the real story behind the headlines and discover how to navigate the new normal with clarity and caution.

17/11/2025

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41 min
18/08/2025

How to bounce back after summer, with Michael Watkins and Brenda Steinberg

In this I by IMD podcast, host Michael Watkins, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change, sits down with executive coach Brenda Steinberg to discuss a common challenge: the "post-summer blues." They reframe this experience not as a slump but as a transition and discuss the importance of acknowledging and processing the seasonal change. For many, returning to work triggers a “survival mode” attitude. Watkins and Steinberg say it's common to feel a sense of loss or "grief" for the holiday break and to fear returning to the "go-go-go" office dynamic. The show provides practical advice for leaders, including the need to create space for team members to reflect on what they learned about themselves over the summer and what their new priorities are. They also delve into the strategic importance of managing one’s energy, a core tenet of leadership, and how personal reflection can be a catalyst for meaningful professional change.

18/08/2025

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37 min
28/07/2025

How Mars CEO Poul Weihrauch is future-proofing the legacy of one of the world’s largest family-owned companies

Poul Weihrauch explains how family ownership gives him the opportunity to prioritize purpose alongside profit. In an era where CEOs are under relentless pressure to deliver short-term gains while also addressing long-term challenges like sustainability, Poul Weihrauch considers himself fortunate. As the CEO of Mars – the 114-year-old, family-owned confectionery and pet care giant – he operates with a rare advantage: time. “We like to say that we act in generations, not in quarters,” says Weihrauch, who joined the firm 25 years ago and steadily rose through the ranks. Thanks to the Mars family’s long-term outlook and the company’s practice of reinvesting over 90% of its profits annually, Weihrauch has the freedom to prioritize lasting impact over short-term wins. The company evaluates success through four “compass quarters”: strong financial performance, quality growth, positive societal impact, and trusted partners. Notably, 40% of the long term compensation of Mars’ top 2,000 leaders, including Weihrauch, is tied to non-financial goals, an unusual commitment for a company of this scale in a corporate world still dominated by quarterly earnings targets.

28/07/2025

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46 min
14/07/2025

First-time CEO pitfalls, and how to avoid them

What got you here won’t get you there. But that’s not all, says Kevin O’Brien, CEO of Gammon Construction in conversation with Professor Ric Roi. You’re also going to need to really unpack the detail of your new brief, marshal the data to spot the opportunities, figure out how to unlock future potential, and bring everyone with you on the journey.

14/07/2025

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33 min
26/06/2024

Ringing the changes: Vodafone ‘insider’ Margherita Della Valle makes some tough calls as CEO

Margherita Della Valle tells IMD President Jean-François Manzoni how she is delivering radical change to reenergize Vodafone and paving the way for greater diversity in leadership. -- Read our magazine, I by IMD, here. Discover IMD's leadership programmes here.

26/06/2024

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41 min
10/04/2025

The Interview: Jim Pulcrano speaks with Ruchita Sinha of AV8 Ventures

This interview with Ruchita Sinha, partner at AV8 Ventures, explores her journey from science to venture capital and her approach to early-stage investing. She discusses AV8’s focus on AI-driven innovation in healthcare, enterprise tech, and financial services, and shares insights on evaluating founders, what distinguishes a good company builder, navigating tough situations, and making impactful investment decisions beyond just picking winners.

10/04/2025

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18 min
26/05/2022

What does AI mean for management? with Professor Amit Joshi

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, can be a divisive topic. For some, it simply represents the next stage of the digital age; the golden technological era of tomorrow. Others worry about a very different future and the potential destruction of the entire human race. But which of these visions is likely to win out? And for that matter, what is AI really? How is it distinct from machine-learning, big data, and the other tech terms? Amit Joshi, Professor of AI, Analytics, and Marketing Strategy at IMD, is asked these questions daily. As an award-winning professor and researcher, he has extensive experience of analytics-driven transformations in industries such as banking, fintech, retail, automotive, telecoms, and pharma. In this episode of ManagementCast, Joshi discusses the origins of AI and why this is important for businesses outside the tech sector today." Read our new magazine, I by IMD, here.Discover IMD's leadership programmes here. Guest: Professor Amit JoshiHost: JohnJo DevlinProduced by: JohnJo DevlinEditing: Max Bower

26/05/2022

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16 min
09/06/2022

How to bring AI into your business, with Professor Amit Joshi

Some think of Artificial Intelligence as a futuristic concept – used only by the firms of tomorrow and developed by tech giants like Google or Amazon. But this technology isn’t the preserve of Silicon Valley. A range of industries are implementing AI to get ahead. From banks and fintech companies to pharma, automotive and telecoms firms, it has become an integral part of business in 2022. So how can executives make AI work for them today? As Professor of AI, Analytics, and Marketing Strategy at IMD, Amit Joshi has helped companies figure this out. In this episode of ManagementCast, the award-winning researcher discusses how firms can roll out Artificial Intelligence today, and what it will mean for their company tomorrow. Read our new magazine, I by IMD, here.Discover IMD's leadership programmes here. Guest: Professor Amit JoshiHost: JohnJo DevlinProduced by: JohnJo DevlinEditing: Max Bower

09/06/2022

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18 min
11/01/2024

Understanding failure, with Zhike Lei

World-beating organizations are always striving for success, but sometimes even the most dedicated teams fall short. Companies miss their sales goals, lose out on funding rounds, and have PR disasters. Failure, in short, is a natural part of life, and how firms cope with it is of vital importance. Zhike Lei says this may seem obvious, but in practice, many are unable to meet failure in productive ways. They don't see it as the opportunity it is: the chance to give and receive feedback and to innovate and change for the better. Over four episodes, Lei will take ManagementCast listeners through that journey, and explain how to turn failure into success. ***** Zhike Lei is Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior. She is an award-winning organizational scholar and an expert on psychological safety, team dynamics, organizational learning, error management, and patient safety. Lei studies how organizations, teams, and employees adapt and learn in complex, time-pressured, consequence-laden environments. As a global management educator, she has taught executives and PhD, DBA, EMBA, and MBA candidates, as well as undergraduates, and has won numerous teaching awards and recognitions. Find out more about IMD at imd.org

11/01/2024

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18 min
25/01/2024

How to manage emotions when facing defeat, with Zhike Lei

Experimentation can bring many benefits in the workplace. New products, cost-saving efficiencies, and profits are often the result of new and progressive ways of thinking. But having the confidence to try new methods comes with risks. Often we must fail on our way to success, and that failure can give rise to fear. Many fear admitting mistakes, says Zhike Lei, due to shame, or the possibility of losing their position. That in turn leads teams to avoid innovation, growth, and eventually success. So how can we lead and achieve in the face of failure? Lei suggests managers the world over need to compensate for their negative biases and those of their team members by fostering an open and trusting environment. In her second appearance on ManagementCast, she discusses how to create a failure-positive workplace and the central role of fear in our psyche. ***** Zhike Lei is Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior. She is an award-winning organizational scholar and an expert on psychological safety, team dynamics, organizational learning, error management, and patient safety. Lei studies how organizations, teams, and employees adapt and learn in complex, time-pressured, consequence-laden environments. As a global management educator, she has taught executives and PhD, DBA, EMBA, and MBA candidates, as well as undergraduates, and has won numerous teaching awards and recognitions. Find out more about IMD at imd.org

25/01/2024

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23 min

Founded by business executives for business executives, IMD is an independent academic institution with Swiss roots and global reach. We strive to be the trusted learning partner of choice for ambitious individuals and organizations worldwide.

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IMD Podcasts

Top Shows

The real story of AI’s rise from winters to workplaces

How to bounce back after summer, with Michael Watkins and Brenda Steinberg

How Mars CEO Poul Weihrauch is future-proofing the legacy of one of the world’s largest family-owned companies

First-time CEO pitfalls, and how to avoid them

Ringing the changes: Vodafone ‘insider’ Margherita Della Valle makes some tough calls as CEO

The Interview: Jim Pulcrano speaks with Ruchita Sinha of AV8 Ventures

What does AI mean for management? with Professor Amit Joshi

How to bring AI into your business, with Professor Amit Joshi

Understanding failure, with Zhike Lei

How to manage emotions when facing defeat, with Zhike Lei

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