What is a Good Life? #12 - Going Your Own Way with Alison Taylor

On the 12th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am joined by Alison Taylor, who is a Clinical Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, Executive Director at Ethical Systems, and is writing a book for the Harvard Business Review Press on how business can do the right thing in a turbulent world.

In this episode Alison describes how curiosity has been her main driving force in life, taking her on a journey from investigating corporate corruption on several continents to teaching at NYU. She talks about embracing adventure, playing to your strengths, loving your work, and the importance of contributing to what you care about to remain optimistic in the face of a tumultuous world.

Given both our proclivities for jumping continents and careers at various points in life, I took a lot of inspiration from her story, and success, of backing herself and going her own way - as I’m sure you will too.

Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for daily clips and weekly reflections.

Running Order: 

01:08 Podcast begins

02:30 Stories versus Facts

06:09 What does it take for society's values to shift?

07:40 Optimism for humans?

12:30 Playing to your strengths / contributing to what you care about

15:10 Curiosity & Humility

19:50 Not having a long term plan

23:50 Trust and developing a sense of self

26:07 I know who I am / what I want

27:50 The power of humility & experimenting

33:40 Loving your work

37:20 Being yourself in a world telling you to be something else

40:55 Summary of themes in the conversation

43:22 What is a good life for Alison?

For further content and information check out the following: 

- For the podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos

- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/

- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/

- Alison's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/followalisont/