Thought Sparks

Rita Gunther-McGrath

Thought Sparks are the brainchild of Rita McGrath. They are insightful actions, strategic ideas, actionable suggestions and innovative approaches that help organizations and leaders master the future with less fear and more confidence. New episodes of the Thought Sparks Podcast are released every other Tuesday at 11am Eastern.

  1. Longterm Strategic Thinking with Rita McGrath and Roger Dennis

    2d ago

    Longterm Strategic Thinking with Rita McGrath and Roger Dennis

    In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, sits down with Roger Dennis, advisor on long term thinking and foresight and cultural transformation specialist.     00:00 Introduction   00:22 Welcome Roger Dennis   01:03 How Roger became a futurist   03:05 "Getting above strategy" explained   05:18 Current geopolitical risks & top trends to watch   07:13 Three things leaders need: capabilities, process, routines   09:44 Historical precedents for today's volatility   11:31 Example: tolls on the Strait of Hormuz/Malacca   12:35 Reversion to the mean, or a new normal?   14:19 The "Layer Player" framework   18:28 Second-order consequences & policy paradoxes   23:26 Acting under uncertainty: the Netflix story   26:15 Why you need real experts, not guesswork   28:03 The 2015 pandemic report nobody wanted   29:53 New Zealand's COVID Tracer App success story   33:08 The mindset of realistic optimism   41:58 How the music industry refused to adapt 43:38 Industries still "hanging on" today   45:02 Agentic AI and the ROI problem   46:57 From mass production to personalization   50:11 Where to learn more: The Paradox of Preparedness   55:02 Key takeaway for leaders       Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts  and Spotify.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thought-sparks/id1546758719  https://open.spotify.com/show/0xmTsYXMgTeielwZ0dGTSU    Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyXT8iJkTSciUMe0me3L7Q    Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamcgrath/  https://x.com/rgmcgrath  https://bsky.app/profile/rgmcgrath.bsky.social    Connect with Rita on TikTok and Instagram.  https://www.tiktok.com/@rgmcgrath  https://www.instagram.com/ritamcgrath.hub/    Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack.    https://thoughtsparks.substack.com/    Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com.

    58 min
  2. Building Strategy for the Future with Rita McGrath and Jonathan Brill

    Jun 30

    Building Strategy for the Future with Rita McGrath and Jonathan Brill

    In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, sits down with Jonathan Brill, business futurist and co-author of AI and the Octopus Organization: Building the Superintelligent Firm.       1:56: Explaining the Octopus Metaphor  3:25: AI-Enabled Bottom-Up Innovation  8:01: The Economic Shift: From Physical to Digital  9:05: Where Leaders Should Start with AI  14:27: Three Questions to Ask Your AI Every Month  19:10 Reading Signals Before Disruption Hits  20:37: Netflix, Blockbuster & Kodak: Lessons in Timing  24:08: HP vs. Xerox: Operational Flexibility Wins  25:24: Operational Advantage Is the New Competitive Advantage  30:16: The Danger of Organizational Myths  31:45: Why Leaders Must Be at the Edge  32:12: You Can't Outrun 32x: Rethinking Speed  34:24: The Dual Responsibility of Leaders  36:51: US Navy Case Study: Unleashing Innovation  43:25: The Emotion Chapter: Leading Through Disruption  44:29: The L-U-C-K Framework: 4 Traits of Leaders Who Thrive  48:19: Rethinking the CEO Role: Jensen Huang & NVIDIA  51:32: Psychological Safety & Execution Before Strategy  54:43: The Future of Organizations: Middle Management & Beyond  58:06: Wrap-Up & How to Connect          Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts  and Spotify.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thought-sparks/id1546758719  https://open.spotify.com/show/0xmTsYXMgTeielwZ0dGTSU    Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyXT8iJkTSciUMe0me3L7Q    Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamcgrath/  https://x.com/rgmcgrath  https://bsky.app/profile/rgmcgrath.bsky.social    Connect with Rita on TikTok and Instagram.  https://www.tiktok.com/@rgmcgrath  https://www.instagram.com/ritamcgrath.hub/    Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack.    https://thoughtsparks.substack.com/    Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com.

    1 hr
  3. Unlocking Human Potential with Rita McGrath and Chris Shipley and Scott Barry Kaufman

    Jun 23

    Unlocking Human Potential with Rita McGrath and Chris Shipley and Scott Barry Kaufman

    In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with fellow Silicon Guild Members Chris Shipley and Scott Barry Kaufman, editors of the upcoming essay collection “Leading for Tomorrow: Unlocking Human Potential in the Era of Continuous Change and Endless Possibility” which equips leaders with the skills needed for effective leadership in the modern era.     0:00 - Intro & Welcome 0:45 - About the Book "Leading for Tomorrow" (July 8th release) 1:07 - The Origin Story: Silicon Guild & Thinkers50 Collaboration 3:13 - Overview of the Book's 5 Core Themes 5:26 - Mindset Shift towards Collaboration & Adaptability 6:24 - Purpose & Organizational Values 6:45 - Learning as a Core Competence 7:37 - The Epochal Transition: From Physical to Digital World 8:33 - AI as Accelerant, Not the Cause of Change 9:16 - What the Book Teaches Us to Do in Uncertain Times 9:52 - Surprises During the Editing Process 11:15 - Advice for Young People Entering the Workforce 17:46 - The Decline of Traditional Corporate Employment 21:13 - From Transactional to Relational Value Creation 24:27 - Fear of Change & Experiencing Disruption as Loss 25:34 - The Information-to-Illumination Reframe (Sanyin Siang) 27:50 - Whitney Johnson: "When the Ground Gives Way" (Chilean Miners Story) 30:43 - Brian Solis: The AIQ Mindset 31:43 - Chip Conley on Wisdom as a Leadership Value 32:40 - The Importance of Empathy in Leadership 33:50 - Defining True Empathy (vs. Just Being Nice) 36:51 - What Leaders Actually Owe Their Teams 39:44 - What Readers Will Discover in the Book 40:22 - Coherence Among the World's Top Business Thinkers  43:13 - Wrap-Up & How to Pre-Order "Leading for Tomorrow"  Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts  and Spotify.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thought-sparks/id1546758719  https://open.spotify.com/show/0xmTsYXMgTeielwZ0dGTSU    Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyXT8iJkTSciUMe0me3L7Q    Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamcgrath/  https://x.com/rgmcgrath  https://bsky.app/profile/rgmcgrath.bsky.social    Connect with Rita on TikTok and Instagram.  https://www.tiktok.com/@rgmcgrath  https://www.instagram.com/ritamcgrath.hub/    Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack.    https://thoughtsparks.substack.com/    Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com.

    44 min
  4. Leadership and Transformation with Rita McGrath and Sharmla Chetty

    Jun 16

    Leadership and Transformation with Rita McGrath and Sharmla Chetty

    In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Sharmla Chetty, CEO of Duke Corporate Education and expert on human-centered leadership, AI, and workforce transformation.    0:00 Introduction  0:57 Sharmla's Story: Growing Up Under Apartheid  3:30 Systems Change: From Personal to Global  10:27 Overton Windows & Tipping Points  12:51 The Global Economy: Uneven Worlds & Emerging Markets  16:22 A Once-in-a-Century Inflection Point (Carlota Perez's Framework)  21:41 The End of Competitive Moats: Strategy in the Age of AI  23:16 Strategic Centering: Five Ways to Define Your Company  26:18 Purpose, Ecosystems & the Role of Government  27:59 Trust as the New Currency  28:34 Remote Work, Human Connection & Social Capital  38:15 The Future of Education: New Models  45:37 Executive Education Reimagined: Duke CE's Approach  41:21 Do We Still Need Degrees?  47:05 The Care Economy & Kindness as a Capability  58:42 Distributed Leadership & Navigating Complexity  59:28 A Human-Centered Economy: Closing Reflections      Want to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators?      Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts  and Spotify.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thought-sparks/id1546758719  https://open.spotify.com/show/0xmTsYXMgTeielwZ0dGTSU    Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyXT8iJkTSciUMe0me3L7Q    Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamcgrath/  https://x.com/rgmcgrath  https://bsky.app/profile/rgmcgrath.bsky.social    Connect with Rita on TikTok and Instagram.  https://www.tiktok.com/@rgmcgrath  https://www.instagram.com/ritamcgrath.hub/    Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack.    https://thoughtsparks.substack.com/    Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com.

    1h 2m
  5. Rethinking Education with Rita McGrath and MacKenzie Price

    Jun 9

    Rethinking Education with Rita McGrath and MacKenzie Price

    In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with MacKenzie Price, co-founder of Alpha Schools, about the limitations of the traditional education system, and what other educational models are possible.     0:00 – Intro teaser: raising adaptable young people and the future of learning  1:37 – Mackenzie's backstory: her own memories of schooling   3:17 – The "I don't want to go to school tomorrow" moment   4:36 – The root problem: one teacher, many different learners  6:16 – The Alpha Schools vision: academics + life skills + passions   6:56 – Alpha School's results and student growth   7:37 – The industrial-era origins of the school system   9:07 – Moving into a new era: information abundance and problem-solving   11:03 – The skill of learning how to learn   12:03 – Why base knowledge still matters in the age of AI + what the traditional model got wrong   16:05 – The 2 Hour School Day   23:01 – The foundation problem: algebra before multiplication tables   24:33 – Results for kids at all levels — 20th to 95th percentile   28:00 – Why ed tech alone doesn't work, and the role of motivation  28:57 – The distinction between Guides and teachers   33:37 – Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation and screen time   42:26 – Teaching kids to use tools (including tech) for good   43:07 – Education at an inflection point: the question of scale and accessibility   45:12– Selection effects criticism — and the response   47:36 – Relationships with charter and public schools  52:38 – The relationship to failure the traditional system gets wrong  58:27 – Shout-outs, self-reflection, and accountability — even at age 5   1:00:25 – Where Alpha Schools is headed: expansion, summer programs, new models   1:01:52 – Closing thoughts and thank you    Want to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators?      Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts  and Spotify.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thought-sparks/id1546758719  https://open.spotify.com/show/0xmTsYXMgTeielwZ0dGTSU    Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyXT8iJkTSciUMe0me3L7Q    Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamcgrath/  https://x.com/rgmcgrath  https://bsky.app/profile/rgmcgrath.bsky.social    Connect with Rita on TikTok and Instagram.  https://www.tiktok.com/@rgmcgrath  https://www.instagram.com/ritamcgrath.hub/    Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack.    https://thoughtsparks.substack.com/    Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com.

    1h 3m
  6. Getting Positioning Right with Rita McGrath and April Dunford

    Jun 2

    Getting Positioning Right with Rita McGrath and April Dunford

    In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with April Dunford, expert on brand and product positioning, and author of Obviously Awesome, recently rereleased in its second edition, and Sales Pitch. Their conversation covers how good positioning unlocks value and helps to clarify organizational purpose.       0:19 – Welcoming April Dunford  1:59 – The Classic Positioning Statement and What Leaders Get Wrong  5:18 – April's Journey: Tech Exec → Consultant → World-Class Positioning Expert  6:24 – Software vs. Consumer Goods Positioning  13:00 – April's Definition of Positioning  14:45 – The Five Components of Positioning  16:44 – The Investment Banking CRM Story  20:07 – Discovering the 'Reason to Call'  28:11 – Misreading Who the Competition Really Is  29:03 – 'If You Didn't Exist, What Would a Customer Do?'  31:04 – Horizon Competitors: The Vibe Coding Debate  35:17 – 'We Can Only Sell What's on the Truck'  36:01 – AI Excitement vs. Where Customers Actually Are  38:25 – Telltale Signs Your Positioning Is Off  45:27 – The Positioning Workshop  49:13 – What Changed in the New Edition of Obviously Awesome  54:46 – Strategic Centering and Positioning  56:58 – IBM Software Group: Positioning Thousands of Products  59:51 – Where to Find April Dunford      Want to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators?      Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts  and Spotify.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thought-sparks/id1546758719  https://open.spotify.com/show/0xmTsYXMgTeielwZ0dGTSU    Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyXT8iJkTSciUMe0me3L7Q    Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamcgrath/  https://x.com/rgmcgrath  https://bsky.app/profile/rgmcgrath.bsky.social    Connect with Rita on TikTok and Instagram.  https://www.tiktok.com/@rgmcgrath  https://www.instagram.com/ritamcgrath.hub/    Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack.    https://thoughtsparks.substack.com/    Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com.

    1h 1m
  7. Leading Incorruptible Organizations with Rita McGrath and Eric Ries

    May 26

    Leading Incorruptible Organizations with Rita McGrath and Eric Ries

    In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, sits down with Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup, to talk about his new book Incorruptible. They discuss what organizations beyond corruption look like, touching on financial gravity and fiduciary duty, and how we might move beyond making shareholder primacy to more holistic views of creating and assessing value.   0:00 Introduction & Eric Ries's New Book “Incorruptible”  2:11 The Legend of Sol Price & the Origin of Modern Retail   3:31 Shareholder Primacy vs. Fiduciary Duty to Customers   7:00 How FedMart Was Destroyed & the Birth of Costco   11:16 Financial Gravity as The Invisible Force Corrupting Companies   14:13 The Mechanics of Financial Gravity in Organizations   21:45 Redefining Corruption: Making Money Without Creating Value   23:46 Measuring Human Flourishing Instead of Just Profit   33:38 The Role of Government & Carlota Perez's Economic Waves   39:07 Mission-Controlled Companies and The Incorruptible Blueprint   44:48 Corporate Charters, Shareholder Primacy & the Public Benefit Corp   53:42 The Vectura Case Study: Value Destruction in the Name of Profit   1:00:23 Shareholder Primacy Is Already Over, and Other Reasons for Optimism      Want to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators?      Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts  and Spotify.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thought-sparks/id1546758719  https://open.spotify.com/show/0xmTsYXMgTeielwZ0dGTSU    Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyXT8iJkTSciUMe0me3L7Q    Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamcgrath/  https://x.com/rgmcgrath  https://bsky.app/profile/rgmcgrath.bsky.social    Connect with Rita on TikTok and Instagram.  https://www.tiktok.com/@rgmcgrath  https://www.instagram.com/ritamcgrath.hub/    Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack.    https://thoughtsparks.substack.com/    Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com.

    1h 3m
  8. Beating Burnout and Building Culture with Rita McGrath and Jennifer Moss

    May 19

    Beating Burnout and Building Culture with Rita McGrath and Jennifer Moss

    In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Jennifer Moss, the Chief Research and Strategy Officer at the Global Wellbeing Group and the author of Why Are We Here? Creating A Work Culture Everyone Wants. She's an expert on what causes burnout, and what leaders can do to build workplace cultures centered on hope, purpose, and community.  0:00 Intro   0:17 Welcome & Introduction to Jennifer Moss’s Work  1:52 What Prompted the Book   2:37 The Great Resignation & Mortality Salience   15:03 Burnout: Still Getting Worse   15:03 The Purpose Gap Between Leaders and Frontline Workers   16:48 CEO vs. Frontline Experience   19:37 Hope as a Foundation   26:13 Learned Helplessness & Building Hope Skills   26:39 Purpose: What It Really Means   28:39 Rituals, Friendships & Belonging at Work   32:10 Building Community (Bowling Alone, Dunbar's Number)   36:28 Business Challenges: Compassion, Freedom & Openness   40:42 Why AI Hasn't Moved the Needle Yet   45:30 GDP & Measuring What Matters   49:57 Fertility Rates & Hope as Economic Strategy   51:45 The Lost Wallet Experiment: People Are Good   56:00 Reflections Since “The Burnout Epidemic” Book   58:47 What's Next for Jennifer Moss     Want to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators?      Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts  and Spotify.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thought-sparks/id1546758719  https://open.spotify.com/show/0xmTsYXMgTeielwZ0dGTSU    Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyXT8iJkTSciUMe0me3L7Q    Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamcgrath/  https://x.com/rgmcgrath  https://bsky.app/profile/rgmcgrath.bsky.social    Connect with Rita on TikTok and Instagram.  https://www.tiktok.com/@rgmcgrath  https://www.instagram.com/ritamcgrath.hub/    Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack.    https://thoughtsparks.substack.com/

    1h 2m
See All (149)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Thought Sparks are the brainchild of Rita McGrath. They are insightful actions, strategic ideas, actionable suggestions and innovative approaches that help organizations and leaders master the future with less fear and more confidence. New episodes of the Thought Sparks Podcast are released every other Tuesday at 11am Eastern.

Information

  • Creator
    Rita Gunther-McGrath
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    149
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rita Gunther-McGrath
  • Show Website
    Thought Sparks

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