189 episodes

Something big is happening in the world of business. CEOs increasingly say their jobs have become less about giving orders, more about inspiring, motivating, setting a north star. They are taking the lead on big issues like climate change, worker retraining, and diversity and inclusion. They are under pressure from employees, customers and investors not just to turn a profit, but to prove they are doing good in the world. And in the process, they are fundamentally redefining the relationship between business and society. Join Fortune CEO Alan Murray and Editor-at-Large Michal Lev-Ram as they probe the best of these leaders for insight into what they're doing, why they're doing it, and what impact it is having.

Leadership Next Fortune

    • Business
    • 4.5 • 97 Ratings

Something big is happening in the world of business. CEOs increasingly say their jobs have become less about giving orders, more about inspiring, motivating, setting a north star. They are taking the lead on big issues like climate change, worker retraining, and diversity and inclusion. They are under pressure from employees, customers and investors not just to turn a profit, but to prove they are doing good in the world. And in the process, they are fundamentally redefining the relationship between business and society. Join Fortune CEO Alan Murray and Editor-at-Large Michal Lev-Ram as they probe the best of these leaders for insight into what they're doing, why they're doing it, and what impact it is having.

    What USAA Learned From The Pandemic

    What USAA Learned From The Pandemic

    In 1922, 25 military veterans came together to start USAA. At the time, military families were having difficulty getting car insurance. Fast-forward to today, and USAA provides insurance and financial services to millions of veterans and their families. This clear mission, says CEO Wayne Peacock, has actually helped the 102-year-old company remain innovative.
    On this episode of Leadership Next, Peacock talks to Alan and Michal about inflation’s impact on the insurance and housing sectors, hiring military veterans, and how early investments in technology gave USAA an advantage during the pandemic.
    Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

    • 28 min
    How Lyft's Customer Focus Has Helped It Compete Against Rival Uber

    How Lyft's Customer Focus Has Helped It Compete Against Rival Uber

    When David Risher became CEO of Lyft in 2023, he realized the ridesharing company had a speed problem. At the time, it took Lyft cars on average four extra minutes to arrive compared to wait times for cars from Uber, its main competitor. A year later, thanks to onboarding many more drivers onto the Lyft platform, the difference is down to 10 seconds. 

    On this episode of Leadership Next, Risher chats with Alan and Michal about innovation in ridesharing and Lyft's customer-centric focus, including new features designed to make women drivers and passengers feel safer when they use the platform. For Risher, transparency isn't just a buzzword: His work email is readily publicized and drivers often reach out directly with feedback. He also makes a habit of driving Lyft cars every six weeks, an opportunity to hear from customers directly as well. 

    Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

    • 43 min
    Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan Shares Valuable Lessons Learned From Apple and Google

    Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan Shares Valuable Lessons Learned From Apple and Google

    Volvo Cars has an ambitious goal of going all electric by 2030. But, according to CEO Jim Rowan, the EV push won't be linear. Major population centers are way ahead of rural communities, both in the U.S. and globally when it comes to things like charging infrastructure, critical for the move away from gas-powered cars.

    Rowan became CEO of Volvo Cars in 2022 after a long career in tech, including stints as the CEO of Dyson and COO of Blackberry. He says Volvo's market position as a premium brand gives it a distinct advantage in a crowded field. On this episode of Leadership Next, Alan and Michal talk to Rowan about innovation in automotive, China's EV-manufacturing infrastructure, and Volvo's 70-year history bringing Scandinavian design sensibility to the U.S. car market.

    Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

    • 35 min
    Why One of Fintech’s Most Powerful Women Bet $52 Million On A Community Bank

    Why One of Fintech’s Most Powerful Women Bet $52 Million On A Community Bank

    None of Jackie Reses’s fintech contemporaries were surprised that she bought a bank. A former Square executive, Reses bought Lead Bank to address compliance and technology challenges facing fintechs.

    She discusses with Michal how she’s turning a 95-year-old family-owned banking institution into an innovative provider of banking infrastructure for fintechs; the importance of consistent culture across NYC and Kansas City headquarters; the spirit of entrepreneurialism in her family; her experience at Square; and what she learned from Jack Dorsey.

    Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

    • 37 min
    The Inventor Behind the Apple Watch Shutdown: Masimo CEO Joe Kiani Discusses Lawsuit and Health Care Innovation

    The Inventor Behind the Apple Watch Shutdown: Masimo CEO Joe Kiani Discusses Lawsuit and Health Care Innovation

    Medical-device maker Masimo has been embroiled in a legal battle with Apple over alleged patent infringement and trade-secret theft—resulting in a temporary import ban on some Apple Watch models late last year. But before the medtech company was going up against tech giants in court, Masimo was a quintessential startup story running out of CEO Joe Kiani’s garage. 
     
    Kiani himself is every bit the prototypical American dream success story. He emigrated with his family from Shiraz, Iran, to Huntsville, Ala., attended college at 15, and started his career as an electrical engineer. He speaks with Michal Lev-Ram about both his and his company’s origin stories; how he’s managed to navigate Masimo’s legal disputes; how he’s stayed ahead of the AI curve; and more.

    Note: Apple continues to deny Masimo’s IP claims. Additionally, Apple defended its standards for suppliers, telling Fortune it conducted thousands of assessments and audits last year to ensure healthy labor practices. Apple disputes Kiani's characterization of its App Store commissions.

    • 33 min
    Axios CEO Jim VandeHei Calls Out The Problem With Most Media

    Axios CEO Jim VandeHei Calls Out The Problem With Most Media

    The media industry has seen a lot of turbulence in the last several decades, but Jim VandeHei managed to cut through the noise and found not just one but two successful news organizations—Axios, where he still serves as CEO, and Politico. As a student, VandeHei says, he struggled academically, but found his calling as a political journalist before ultimately stepping up to be a media entrepreneur.

    He speaks with Alan and Michal about his unconventional path to success; lessons he’s learned as an industry-disrupting leader; his thoughts on the media landscape at large; how AI will radically shape newsrooms; his turn as a lifestyle and wellness guru; and more.

    Leadership Next is powered by Deloitte.

    • 35 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
97 Ratings

97 Ratings

MovieJ24 ,

Great insight

I am liking the podcast’s format and its content so far. I specifically like how Alan Murray invites leading figures in the business world to the episode in order to get their different perpsectives on the topic. I also appreciate how the episodes are not long. However ,there are better episodes than others. As a suggestion, you may include a few questions from listeners on the topic at hand so that they get answered in the podcast.

Keep the podcasts coming...

541red ,

Volvo - Lyft

Love this
Volvo one super good!

Lyft lol omg - D Risher sounds like every entrepreneur dork at Young Business Council meetings in every city - hahahahaahhaahhaaha - amazing. He looked data. Wow. No way. Hahahahahaah

Czar One ,

A veritable companion

I find this podcast continually fascinating by your choice of guests and their pivotal view of business, and what business should do WITH society. I think you are onto a major mindshift on the purpose of business.

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