Thought Sparks

Rita Gunther-McGrath

4.8 (4)
BUSINESS
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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.

3D AGO

Rising Against the Odds with Rita McGrath and Sylvia Acevedo

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, welcomes Sylvia Acevedo, a trailblazer with experience spanning NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to executive roles at Apple, Dell, and IBM, and serving as the CEO of the Girl Scouts. 1:56: The Trailblazer’s Playbook: From a Dirt Road Town to NASA and the C-Suite 4:33: Sylvia’s Origins: A Girl Scouts Model Rocket and Lessons in Failure 8:31: Breaking Big Goals into Smaller Pieces 11:25: “Don’t Leave a Cookie Sale Until You Hear No 3 Times”: Lessons in Tenacity from the Girl Scouts 14:01: “Girls Like You Don’t Go to College”: Becoming One of the First Hispanics to Earn a Graduate Engineering Degree from Stanford 18:06: Innovating Above and Beyond at IBM 21:23: A Mental Checklist to Reach the C-Suite 30:50: Building Back Better after Failure at Autodesk 33:58: “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”: The Link Between Personal and Professional Growth 36:58: Family Tragedy, and Sylvia’s Transition from Technology to Education 39:05: The Power of Influence in Changing Opinion 42:09: Leading the Girl Scouts: Empowering Girls in Civics, Technology, and Entrepreneurship 46:11: Historically Women’s Colleges and the Girl Scouts: The Role of Single-Gender Spaces 48:49: Leadership in Chip Manufacturing 53:07: The Story of Sylvia’s Name, and Bilingual Systems Thinking 54:46: The Power of Taking Even Small Actions 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. 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. Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube. Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky. Connect with Rita on TikTok. Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

1 hr
FEB 3

Redefining Digital Identity with Rita McGrath and Don Tapscott

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 Don Tapscott, CEO of the Tapscott Group, Chairman and co-Founder of the Blockchain Research Institute, and author of “You to the Power of Two”. 00:00: Introductions and Don’s Expertise in Blockchains and Identic AI 3:04: Predictions about the Web, Revisited 20 Years On 5:20: Blockchain and The Transition from the Internet of Information to the Internet of Value 7:27: A Personalized Future with Identic AI 11:18: The 3 Phases of Digital Identities 13:10: Digital Feudalism: How Digital Conglomerates Own Our Digital Identities 18:14: “What’s the Ghost in the Machine?”: When AI Gets Embedded in Daily Life 20:06: The Jobs Question: How AI Will Affect the Nature of Employment 26:00: From Firms to Individual Contractors: When Units of Value Creation Become Smaller 31:12: The Need for a New Social Contract in the Age of AI 37:29: Rebuilding the AI Stack Around a Decentralized Physical Infrastructure 42:155: Movement Building for Self-Sovereignty over a Digital Future

45 min
JAN 27

The Remote Work Question with Rita McGrath and Peter Capelli & Ranya Nehmeh

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 Peter Capelli of Wharton and HR Strategist Ranya Nehmeh. Their book, In Praise of the Office, is a research-based assessment of the benefits and drawback of both in-person and remote work. 1:10: WFH, RTO, WFM: Acronym Soup Around Where We Should Work 3:01: Working From Home in the Early Days in the COVID-19 Pandemic 5:52: What Has Not Been Working Well, From Employer Perspectives 7:29: Generational Differences: Why Junior and Senior People Have Different Experiences with Remote Work 9:31: The Allen Curve: Poor Information Flows and Shrinking Networks 12:38: Cubicles, Long Tables, and Hot Desking: How the Physical Office Has Evolved 15:37: Why CFOs Loved Remote Work 19:50: Individual Contributors Can Thrive in Remote Work Settings 22:57: Where New Hires Get Lost in Remote Work Settings 24:10: The Intentionality of a Hybrid Setup 26:14: Why Anchor Days Fall Short 28:15: Collaboration and Learning: When KPIs Don’t Measure What Makes Work Happen 32:03: Cohorts, Friendships, and The Social Elements of Work 34:30: Identifying When Remote Work Has Become a Problem 38:30: What Leadership Misses 43:00: Blowback to the Book: How Capelli and Nehmeh Struck a Chord 46:13: Understanding Where People Land on the RTO Debate 49:40: Case Studies: Netflix and Toss 57:07: Gen Z’s Return to the Office 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. 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. Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky. Connect with Rita on TikTok Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

1h 2m
JAN 20

Systems Leadership with Rita McGrath and Rob Siegel

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 Rob Siegel, Lecturer in Management at Stanford University , a venture investor, a former operator, and author of The Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross-Pressures That Make or Break Today’s Companies. 1:10: Teaching Systems Leadership with GE CEO Jeff Immelt 2:10: “Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?”: Lessons in Strategy from Janis Joplin 4:57: Playing for the Long Term and the Short Term, How Leaders Deal with Cross Pressures 8:11: The Benefits of Bureaucracy: Insights from Rita’s Forthcoming Book 9:50: Globalization 1.0 and Globalization 2.0 13:09: A Plea For Serious Leadership, Not Cage Match Challenges 15:40: “Leadership is about Everybody but You”: Kathy Mazzarella’s Leadership at Graybar 18:25: Moving from Megalithic Companies to Constellations of Capability 20:03: Purpose, and the False Choice Between Being Ambitious and Being Kind 24:30: Investing in Your People: Lessons from the Rise and Fall of GE’s Crotonville 29:48: Traffic Lights vs. Traffic Circles: Designing Sensing Systems 33:39: Developing AI as a Thought Partner 37:58: How Leaders Can Accept that Change is Difficult 42:00: Capitalism's Current Transition: Climate and the Economy 47:02: Bright Spots in Education 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. 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. Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky. Connect with Rita on TikTok Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

59 min
JAN 13

Legacies of Resilience with Rita McGrath and Cheryl McKissack Daniel

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 Cheryl McKissack Daniel, the fifth-generation leader of McKissack & McKissack, the nation’s oldest Black-owned design and construction services firm. Her book, “The Black Family Who Built America”, traces her family’s narrative from enslavement to building iconic American buildings, such as the National Civil Rights Museum, and Barclays Arena. Cheryl shares her insights and strategies for success in a white male-dominated industry. 00:06 Why This Book Now: Telling True Stories of the American Past 3:34: Origins: From Enslavement to Becoming the First Black Licensed Architects in America 6:47: Breaking Into the “Old Boys’ Club” 15:28: The Barclays Center Arena: The McKissacks’ Role in Revitalizing Downtown Brooklyn 19:37: The Value of Sharing the Whole Story: What Business Books and Memoirs Leave Out 21:04: The Next Generation and Effective Succession Planning 22:30: Advice for Young Black Women Considering Design and Construction 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. 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. Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky. Connect with Rita on TikTok Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

25 min
JAN 6

Celebrating Immigrant Entrepreneurs with Rita McGrath and Neri Karra Sillaman

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 Neri Karra Sillaman, founder of Moda Métiers, expert in sustainable fashion, strategy, and entrepreneurship, and winner of the Thinkers50 2025 Radar Award. She’s also the author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs. 1:32: Introductions, and Why Study Immigrant Entrepreneurship 3:23: Neri’s Journey: From a Refugee Camp to Luxury Entrepreneurship 10:19: Starting a Family Leather Goods Business 15:04: The 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs 15:28: Being a Bridge Across Cultures 15:47: Vision: Believing in Your Crazy Idea, and Yourself 17:45: Homophilic Ties: Forging Connections Based on Your Identity 20:46: The Chobani Story, and the Power of Co-Building A Business 22:00: What Immigrant Entrepreneurs Understand About Instability and Unequal Access 25:08: “Frying In Your Own Oil”: Lessons in Self-Sufficiency from Neri’s Grandfather 26:56: What American Entrepreneurship Curricula Leave Out 28:19: “What Have You Done With Your One Precious Life?”: Rethinking Business Longevity 32:09: Immigrant Entrepreneurship: Borne out of Necessity 34:34: The Role of Luck: Recognizing It and Turning it into an Advantage 39:05: Chobani’s IPO, and What Hamdi Ulukaya Got Right 40:13: What We Lose When We Demonize Immigrants 44:35: Immigrants’ Role in Creating New Wealth 50:36: How We Misunderstand Failure: Lessons from Amy Edmondson 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. 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. Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky. Connect with Rita on TikTok Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

57 min
12/30/2025

The Psychology of Performance with Rita McGrath and Michael Gervais

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 Michael Gervais, a leading performance psychologist and author of the book “The First Rule of Mastery”. 1:14: Free Surfing and Competitive Surfing as an Introduction to Performance Psychology 4:52: The 3 Components of Performance - Training Your Body, Your Technical Skills, and Your Mind 6:03: Allodoxphobia and The Real Fear of Others’ Opinions 7:15: Going from Theory to Applicable Advice 8:17: Unmask, Assess, Redefine - The Book’s 3 Steps to Improving Performance 10:21: Practicing Self-Discovery Through Mindfulness, Journaling, and Conversations 12:20: Mental Systems: Your Brain as the Hardware, Your Mind as the Software 13:42: “Putting Your Own Life Vest On First”, and Supporting Yourself to Support Others 15:33: How the Lack of Social Belonging Impacts Performance 17:40: “Listening Hard” and Practicing Simple Curiosity as Tools for Connection 22:05: Honest Relationships, in Board Rooms and Locker Rooms 25:43: Bringing Coaching Mindsets Into Organizations 26:56: The Importance of Timeliness in Feedback 30:08: Psychological Safety as a Foreground for Improving Performance 32:16: Coaches’ Role as the “Chief Repeating Officer" 34:33: Michael’s Superbowl Experience with the Seattle Seahawks 42:58: The Epidemic of Disengagement, and How Modern Stressors Affect Us 46:44: The Trap of Mechanistic Models of Organizations 48:32: Going Beyond Mental Health to Training Mental Skills 50:08: Taking Courageous Decisions 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. 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. Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTube Follow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky. Connect with Rita on TikTok Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

56 min
12/16/2025

Art and Human Connection with Rita McGrath and Chesney Snow

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 Chesney Snow, Lecturer of Music Theater & Theater at Princeton University, Drama Desk winner, beatboxing pioneer, composer, lyricist, and more. He's created community engaged arts performances centering anti-violence and community building throughout the country, and in this conversation, shares his insights on how art changes lives and forges connections. 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. 00:11: Introductions and “Performing the Peace” at Princeton University’s Keller Center3:47: Chesney’s Early Life 6:52: “This Sandwich Isn’t Sexy” and Focusing on the Stories YOU Want To Tell9:54: “Honor and Heal”, and How to Create Work That Improves Lives11:29: Art and Technology’s Roles in Nurturing Human Connection15:20: Data-Led Approaches to Supporting First Responders’ Mental Health 21:58: Renting an Apartment from Richard Bright: Coming Up on Broadway26:46: The Power of Creative Economy, and Williamsburg’s Transformation28:11: Beatboxing as a Fine Art and as Speech Therapy32:02: MTV Unplugged in Poland, and the Value of Ownership of Music38:05: Improving Wellbeing with Technology40:05: McCarter Theatre and Teaching at Princeton University46:54: A Typical Engagement: Connecting Teaching Artists and Drama Therapists with Law Enforcement Officers, People in Foster Care, and Veterans49:29: The Impact of Art Therapies on De-Escalation41:49: Emphasizing the “Human” in Humanities 55:33: The Value of “Real” Theater in the AI Age59:32: Conclusions, and What’s Coming NextWant to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators?

1h 2m

4.8

out of 5

4 Ratings

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.

Creator

Rita Gunther-McGrath
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

128
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Rita Gunther-McGrath
Show Website

Thought Sparks