Jacobs: If/When

Jacobs, Kathryn Weast

5.0 (16)
BUSINESS

The world we’ll be faced with tomorrow demands big ideas today. In Jacobs’ series of interviews with some of today’s leading industry and academic problem solvers, we discuss the Ifs and Whens of disruption - those phenomena with the potential to unsettle the status quo, as well as those now imminent and emerging.

06/21/2025

A Blueprint for Social Value: How Businesses Can Shape a Better Future

Driving more social value for people, communities and investors is not a corporate tick box exercise. It’s a vital element for organizations that must increasingly demonstrate their purpose beyond profit, generating greater value for stakeholders and shareholders. Creating meaningful social value requires integrating a tailored social value strategy and an iterative mindset. To do this, you need the right mix of leadership, data-driven solutions and cross-sector expertise. When organizations make informed, responsible choices, they can drive growth, improve efficiency and enhance their reputation, all while creating long-term value for society and the environment. The two guests on this episode are celebrated for getting this mix right globally: Dr Mary-Kathryn Adams (known as MK), Chief Executive Officer of Simetrica-Jacobs, and Toyin Ogunfolaju, Director Social Value Americas at Jacobs.

37 min
04/12/2025

Safety Without Borders: Safeguarding the Health, Security and Wellbeing of a Worldwide Workforce

For companies with workers and job sites all over the world, how do you take care of every employee? Emerging technologies and digital tools are a critical part of the solution, but it all must be integrated into a sound, resilient strategy that relies on track record and local experience. This strategy needs to span time zones - and clients/partners - to ensure the health, safety and security of every colleague is paramount, no matter if they’re a hybrid employee, based in an office or working on a job site. To ensure this strategy works on the ground, you also need the right partners. Our guests for this episode are Joe Olivarez, Executive Vice President and Leader of Health, Safety, Security, Environment & Enterprise Quality at Jacobs, Dr. Myles Druckman, Global Medical Director and SVP at International SOS and Polly Willis, Strategic Account Manager and Market Lead at International SOS.

35 min
03/01/2025

CEO Conversations: Leadership Lessons in Collaboration

Leaders of global, multi-sector companies are tackling bigger, more complex challenges in our fast-evolving, highly connected world. During times of greater change and shifts, employees are looking to the C-Suite for even more direction and inspiration. Research by Harvard Business Review reveals that for leaders to be successful now, they need to be versatile, resilient and empathetic to thrive in the relentless pace of global corporate organizations. For this If/When podcast, we speak to two inspiring CEOs who embody these qualities and offer some of their experiences as leaders and collaborators. We explore the importance of key partnerships,* shared values, employee engagement and family support and learn how it's all helped shape them in their pivotal roles. My name is Arthur Jones, and the guests for this episode are Bob Pragada, CEO of Jacobs since January of 2023 and appointed Chair of Jacobs Board of Directors the following September and Christian Norris, who became CEO at PA Consulting, a global innovation and transformation consultancy, in August 2023. *Jacobs holds a 65% stake in PA Consulting, with the remaining 35% held by PA employees. Both Jacobs and PA operate as separate entities, each responsible for serving clients independently. Follow Jacobs: Website: jacobs.com If/When podcast series: If/When podcast series LinkedIn: @jacobsconnects Instagram: @jacobsconnects X: @JacobsConnects Follow our guests: Bob Pragada Christian Norris More episode details available here.

29 min
12/15/2024

Cleaner Cities: Harnessing Smarter Mobility & Urban Planning

Transportation is still the highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and one of the greatest carbon contributors globally. Governments and local authorities are continually researching ways to drive positive change through legislation and policy, and a large part of this will come down to urban mobility and transportation planning. To make the right decisions in these fields, we need the right data and measurement tools. Case in point: the Transportation Climate Impact Index by StreetLight Data. Their report uncovers how metros in the U.S. rank across eight key factors and reveals the major mobility trends impacting climate. In this episode, we discuss urban mobility and its role in climate change. We explore how to build a climate-resilient transportation system — one that offers social, environmental and commercial value. Our celebrated guests explain why urban mobility is one of the most critical areas of climate response, and more importantly, how we can better design our cities for greener futures with cleaner air and less traffic. Today, we’re speaking to Dr. Laura Schewel, CEO of StreetLight Data and VP of Transportation Software at Jacobs and Jenny Jones, Head of Transport Planning for Europe at Jacobs. Follow Jacobs: Website: jacobs.com If/When podcast series: If/When podcast series LinkedIn: @jacobsconnects Instagram: @jacobsconnects X: @JacobsConnects Follow our guests: Dr. Laura Schewel Jenny Jones More episode details available here.

32 min
11/24/2024

The Future Flight Path: Gaining Altitude with Intelligent Airports

How can we modernize airports to be better for passengers, communities, balance sheets and our environment? It’s a complex challenge that can’t be solved by talent or policy alone — it also requires the right application of digital tools and technologies. These transport hubs play a vital role in our communities and economies, and to empower a better, more sustainable future for all, we need an elevation in industry-wide innovation and collaboration. Our guests for this episode are leaders in this field: Ersin Inankul, Head of Aviation Digital at Jacobs, and David Miranda, Digital Expert at PA Consulting.* *Jacobs holds a 65% stake in PA Consulting, with the remaining 35% held by PA employees. Both Jacobs and PA operate as separate entities, each responsible for serving clients independently. Follow Jacobs: Website: jacobs.com If/When podcast series: If/When podcast series LinkedIn: @jacobsconnects Instagram: @jacobsconnects X: @JacobsConnects Follow our guests: Ersin Inankul David Miranda More episode details available here.

31 min
09/05/2024

Navigating PFAS: Pioneering Solutions for a Healthier Tomorrow

How are PFAS affecting your work and our world? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a large class of long-lasting, synthetic chemicals used extensively in industrial and household products. Many PFAS don’t degrade readily on their own, and some are highly mobile in the environment. They can be found worldwide in water, soil, air, plants, animals and even our bloodstreams. We’re still uncovering the full impact of these chemicals on the health of humans and our environment, but here’s what is clear: it’s a complex challenge at scale to remediate these so-called “forever” chemicals. Add fast-changing regulations in different geographies and regional differences to the scale and response to the PFAS challenge, and it all compounds the difficulty. The way forward requires a greater understanding of the risks and challenges of PFAS, but it’s just the start. We’ll need cross-sector collaboration and innovation to tackle these issues and apply the right measurement tools and technology. Our guests for this episode are defining the solutions for clients and the industry at large: Sharon Minchak, Global Solutions Director for Remediation and Regeneration at Jacobs, and Dr. Russell Ford, Global Director for Drinking Water & Reuse Solutions at Jacobs. Follow Jacobs: Website: jacobs.com If/When podcast series: If/When podcast series LinkedIn: @jacobsconnects Instagram: @jacobsconnects X: @JacobsConnects Follow our guests: Sharon Minchak Russell Ford More episode details available here.

28 min
08/06/2024

Culture Stock: Driving Purpose in Times of Transformation

Transformation has become an over-used buzzword for companies and consultants in the last five years, but the market-proven truth is that companies, and by extension, employees, are now required to be more agile and resilient — and willing to upskill. So, how do large companies manage significant, lasting changes across their operating model during times of transition with organizational performance, innovation and collaboration as priorities? Success is driven by engaged and empowered employees, but it requires the right leadership, corporate culture and silo-busting collaboration. There’s one golden thread that runs through all three: the power of collective purpose. My name is Arthur Jones, and I’m joined by our guests Shelie Gustafson, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Jacobs, and education and leadership development coach Michael Chavez, who is Founder & Managing Director at Broad Vista Partners. Follow Jacobs: Website: jacobs.com If/When podcast series: If/When podcast series LinkedIn: @jacobsconnects Instagram: @jacobsconnects X: @JacobsConnects Follow our guests: Shelie Gustafson Michael Chavez More episode details available here.

43 min
07/01/2024

The Power of Partnerships: Driving Social Value in the Water Sector

Like most markets and industries globally, the water sector is facing greater and more complex challenges due to climate change, population growth, rising costs and a shortage of incoming talent. The question is: how can water companies deliver the best value for customers by turning these challenges into opportunities for people and places? In this episode, we unpack innovation, core values and close collaboration between Jacobs and Northumbrian Water, which supplies 2.7 million people with water and wastewater services in North East England, and 1.8 million people with water only in Essex and Suffolk. My name is Arthur Jones, and I’m joined by our guests, Heidi Mottram, CBE, CEO of Northumbrian Water Group, and Kate Kenny, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Buildings & Infrastructure Europe at Jacobs. Follow Jacobs: Website: jacobs.com If/When podcast series: If/When podcast series LinkedIn: @jacobsconnects Instagram: @jacobsconnects X: @JacobsConnects Follow our guests: Diana Anderson Matthew Holmes More episode details available here.

49 min

5

out of 5

16 Ratings

The world we’ll be faced with tomorrow demands big ideas today. In Jacobs’ series of interviews with some of today’s leading industry and academic problem solvers, we discuss the Ifs and Whens of disruption - those phenomena with the potential to unsettle the status quo, as well as those now imminent and emerging.

Creator

Jacobs, Kathryn Weast
Years Active

2020 - 2025
Episodes

97
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2023 Jacobs
Show Website

Jacobs: If/When