Inside CVC by u-path

u-path
  • 5.0 (6)
  • BUSINESS

Welcome to Inside CVC —Inside CVC by U-Path is the podcast where corporate venture capital meets strategy, leadership, and systemic change. Hosted by Philipp Willigmann and Steve Schmith, the show brings senior voices from across corporate venture, startups, investment, academia, and policy to the table. Each episode goes beyond buzzwords to explore how capital, technology, and leadership shape the future of business and society. From AI and robotics to geopolitics, board governance, and inclusive innovation, Inside CVC is designed for executives and policymakers who want to understand not just what’s happening — but what to do about it.

  1. DEC 15

    Inside CVC: Why Europe Fell Behind in Autonomy. And How It Can Catch Up with Christian Schumacher

    Europe once led the world in autonomous driving. Massive public investment. Breakthrough demonstrations. Real vehicles on real highways long before autonomy was mainstream. So what happened? In this episode of Inside CVC, we sit down with Christian to unpack the rise, stall, and potential resurgence of autonomy in Europe. Drawing from decades of experience across research labs, OEMs, and boardrooms, Christian explains why Europe’s challenge isn’t technology. It’s culture, regulation, and execution. You’ll hear how early European leadership gave way to faster deployment in the U.S., why China’s “progress over perfection” mindset changed the global pace of innovation, and how fragmented regulation slowed momentum across the EU. We also explore the growing gap between hardware-centric automotive cultures and agile software development, and why autonomy is no longer about cars, but autonomous systems across industries. This conversation goes beyond autonomy. It’s about trust, talent, and the courage to deploy innovation before perfection. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why Europe led early in autonomy and why it lost momentumHow U.S. and Chinese regulatory models accelerated deploymentThe cultural clash between automotive hardware and agile software teamsWhy autonomy is evolving into broader autonomous systemsWhat Europe needs to rebuild trust, talent, and speedSupport the show Catch up on all episodes of Inside CVC at www.u-path.com/podcast.

    19 min

  2. DEC 8

    Inside CVC: Trust as Currency. Congruency as Strategy. A Conversation with SGNL’s Jen Randle

    In this episode of Inside CVC, Steve and Philipp sit down with Jen Randle, co-founder of SGNL, a strategic advisory and content firm known for helping leaders communicate with clarity, coherence, and purpose. Jen has spent her career advising executives, founders, and institutions on how to build trust by aligning what they say with what they do. Her work at SGNL focuses on narrative clarity, strategic storytelling, and the deeper system dynamics that shape leadership and culture. Jen introduces a simple but powerful idea. Congruency is the new credibility. When the inside matches the outside, trust grows. When it doesn’t, trust erodes. And that erosion shows up everywhere including valuation, culture, M&A integration, AI adoption, ESG strategy, customer loyalty, and even a company’s license to operate. Listeners will hear:  • Why trust should be treated like an asset on the balance sheet  • How congruency breaks and what it costs  • Why greenwashing is a failure of alignment rather than messaging  • How ESG becomes stewardship when leaders think long term  • Why M&A deals collapse when trust mapping is ignored  • How innovators earn public trust in AI, robotics, and new industrial technologies  • What leaders can ask themselves right now to find where trust is fracturing This is a conversation for anyone building innovation portfolios, running CVC programs, merging cultures, navigating public scrutiny, or operating in markets where the permission to move fast must be earned daily. Support the show Catch up on all episodes of Inside CVC at www.u-path.com/podcast.

    19 min

  3. DEC 1

    Inside CVC: Kristin Slanina and Shifting Gears on Discomfort, Mobility, and Leading Transformation

    Engineer, board director, and Shifting Gears author Kristin Slanina joins Inside CVC for a candid conversation on what it really takes to lead transformation in an industry that’s been “five years away” from disruption for more than a decade. Kristin shares how discomfort became one of her greatest teachers, what she learned building Ford’s original Blueprint for Mobility, and why electric and autonomous vehicles will only scale when leadership mindsets change as fast as the technology. She also takes us inside her work on EV adoption, boardroom blind spots, and the bold choices that have shaped her own career. Listeners will hear: How discomfort shapes stronger leaders and why Kristin sees self-trust as a superpowerWhy EV adoption still struggles and what she uncovered during the Charge Across America rallyThe real gap between boardroom assumptions and the everyday mobility experienceHow leaders can future-proof their companies by getting back to the front lines and embracing innovationBuy Kristin's book here: Shifting Gears: 7 Power Moves to Design a Life You Love, Grow Your Career, and Lead With Impact Support the show Catch up on all episodes of Inside CVC at www.u-path.com/podcast.

    48 min

  4. NOV 17

    Inside CVC: The Playbook Problem: Yaron Flint on Fixing Innovation From the Inside

    Innovation inside large companies often runs on instinct, scattered pilots, and wishful thinking. Yaron Flint joins us to explain why so many corporates still lack a true playbook — and how a more structured approach can turn chaos into clarity. Listeners will hear Yaron discuss: Why he wrote Innovative Business Development and the gap he saw across global organizations.The four pathways for bringing innovation into a company — and why partnership remains the most underused.How competitor-to-competitor collaboration can actually accelerate maturity.The fragmentation of CVC in Europe and what it takes to build strategy-driven venture programs.We also explore leadership blind spots, the tension between long-term innovation and short-term markets, the slowdown and reset of the “future of mobility,” and what executives should prioritize as they build the next decade of innovation inside their companies. Buy Yaron's book here: Innovative Business Development: Implementing Transformation from Within Support the show Catch up on all episodes of Inside CVC at www.u-path.com/podcast.

    34 min

  5. NOV 10

    Inside CVC: Resilience Over Sovereignty: Philipp Mueller on Europe’s Strategy for a Disrupted World

    In this episode, Philipp Mueller, Vice President, Public Sector at DriveLock and Co-Founder of the European Resilience Summit Series, joins Inside CVC to explore why resilience — not sovereignty — is becoming Europe’s defining strategy in an age of constant disruption. He shares how leaders can rethink governance, investment, and collaboration around adaptation and trust rather than borders and control. Philipp, Steve, and Philipp Willigmann discuss: How resilience shifts from a defensive posture to an enabling mindsetWhy “flows, not borders” defines the new logic of global managementThe four pillars of European resilience and what they mean for businessThe role of corporate leaders as ethical guardrails amid rising divisionIn a world defined by disruption, what if resilience — not sovereignty — were the true measure of strength? Support the show Catch up on all episodes of Inside CVC at www.u-path.com/podcast.

    30 min

  6. NOV 3

    Inside CVC: The 16% Problem: Andy Binns on Why Corporations Struggle to Scale Innovation

    In this episode of Inside CVC, hosts Steve Schmith and Philipp Willigmann speak with Andy Binns, co-founder and Managing Director of Change Logic, and co-author of Corporate Explorer and the forthcoming Corporate Explorer Fieldbook. Andy has spent his career helping CEOs, boards, and innovation leaders at companies like Analog Devices, RELX, and UNIQA Insurance build new growth businesses while sustaining the core. Listeners will hear: Why most corporations fail to scale innovation—the “sixteen-percent problem”How boards and CEOs can rethink governance and incentives to unlock real growthWhat it takes to build an ambidextrous organization capable of exploring and executing at onceLessons from Europe’s Mittelstand and what large enterprises can learn from themWhy embracing uncertainty and saying “I don’t know” may be the smartest move a leader can makeBuy Andy's books here: Corporate Explorer: How Corporations Beat Startups at the Innovation Game and Corporate Explorer Fieldbook: How to Build New Ventures In Established Companies Support the show Catch up on all episodes of Inside CVC at www.u-path.com/podcast.

    31 min

  7. OCT 27

    Inside CVC: Defending Europe’s Miracle: Gerald Knaus on the Future of Peace, Prosperity, and Democracy

    In this powerful episode of Inside CVC, Steve and Philipp are joined by Gerald Knaus, founding chairman of the European Stability Initiative and author of The European Miracle and Its Enemies. Knaus reflects on how post-war Europe built an unprecedented framework of peace, democracy, and economic cooperation—and why that “European miracle” is now under its greatest threat since 1949. From the war in Ukraine to the rise of populist movements and waning transatlantic trust, he explores what’s at stake and what leaders—corporate, civic, and political—must do to defend Europe’s most vital competitive advantage: the rule of law. Listeners will hear: Why complacency and forgotten history threaten Europe’s foundation of peaceHow corporate leaders can strengthen Europe’s unity and innovation through the rule of lawWhat a truly independent, secure, and globally competitive Europe could look like by 2050Buy Gerald's books here: Which Europe do we need? Support the show Catch up on all episodes of Inside CVC at www.u-path.com/podcast.

    34 min

  8. OCT 20

    Inside CVC: Disability as an Innovation Superpower: Pete Horsley on Building Remarkable Futures

    Disability is often seen through the lens of charity — but what if it’s actually one of the greatest drivers of innovation? In this episode of Inside CVC, hosts Steve Schmith and Philipp Willigmann speak with Pete Horsley, founder of Remarkable, a global accelerator for disability technology startups. From Sydney, Pete shares why inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s the smart thing to do for corporations, investors, and innovators. Listeners will hear: Why disability tech represents a $70B+ market opportunity by 2030How corporations like Apple are proving inclusion is both profitable and transformativeThe promise (and risk) of AI and robotics in shaping accessible futuresWhy every boardroom should see disability as an innovation advantage, not a side projectWhether you’re an investor, corporate leader, or innovator, this conversation will shift how you think about talent, technology, and the future of inclusive business. Support the show Catch up on all episodes of Inside CVC at www.u-path.com/podcast.

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to Inside CVC —Inside CVC by U-Path is the podcast where corporate venture capital meets strategy, leadership, and systemic change. Hosted by Philipp Willigmann and Steve Schmith, the show brings senior voices from across corporate venture, startups, investment, academia, and policy to the table. Each episode goes beyond buzzwords to explore how capital, technology, and leadership shape the future of business and society. From AI and robotics to geopolitics, board governance, and inclusive innovation, Inside CVC is designed for executives and policymakers who want to understand not just what’s happening — but what to do about it.

Information

  • Creator
    u-path
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Inside CVC by u-path
  • Show Website
    Inside CVC by u-path