Thought Sparks

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 Sabina Nawaz, author of the book “You’re the Boss” leadership secrets of the world’s most successful managers. Their conversation covers the fascinating concept of leading through pressure, which when managed correctly, creates new avenues for innovation and growth, and fosters resiliency. 1:51 How a Book Begins: 12,000 pages of Data on what it’s like to work with a boss3:29 Managing at Microsoft: Sabina’s Personal Leadership Transformation4:58 How Pressure - And Not Just Power - Corrupts6:35 The Power of Doing Nothing Under Pressure 7:46 “Blank Space”: How Mental Rest Can Help Reveal Insights10:42 How Micro Habits Change Your Day, 10 Seconds At A Time12:31 Time Portfolios: Rethinking How You Spend Your Days, In Small Steps14:29 “Still Doing Their Previous Job”: When Duties Collect With Promotions16:26 “Innocent Saboteurs”: How Good Intentions Go Awry17:32 42 Questions For Senior Leaders To Get Real Insights 19:50 Power As A Broken Volume Knob: Muted Employees, Amplified Managers20:42 The Danger of the Singular Story: Avoiding Acting On Incomplete Information23:55 “Don’t Act Until You Have At Least Three Stories”25:47 Mission-Driven Strategy: How Purpose Underlies Forking Paths27:08 Practicing Divergent Thinking To Accommodate For Crises28:41 Trust and The 7 Communication Fault Lines33:57 Executive Symbolism: What A Leader’s Actions And Expressions Communicate35:46 The 5 Steps to Framing A Meeting 39:50 Leadership Insights from General Electric, Honeywell, and Build-A-Bear Workshop42:15: Sharon Price John’s “Stop Doing Stupid Stuff, Start Doing Smart Stuff”44:28 Cultural Transformation in The Age of AI and Dematerialization49:51 Combining Empathy And Accountability in the Future of Work51:33 The Benefits and Limitations of BureaucracyThought 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 YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

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 Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop and author of “Stories and Heart: Unlock the Power of Personal Stories to Create a Life You Love”.  This special live episode was taped at Columbia Business School, where Sharon Price John delivered a keynote as part of Columbia Women in Business’s Women’s History Month celebration. They discuss confidence, and how lack of confidence can hamper both personal and professional growth. They identify the 3 reasons for the lack of confidence – fear of failure, pursuit of perfectionism, and negative self talk – and give actionable strategies for how to overcome low self esteem. How striking the balance between confidence and competence is key to success. 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 ⁠YouTube⁠Follow Rita on ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠X⁠ and ⁠Blue Sky⁠.Connect with Rita on ⁠TikTok⁠Sign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on ⁠Substack⁠. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

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 Georgescu, chairman emeritus of Young & Rubicam and author of 3 books: Capitalists, Arise!, The Source of Success, and The Constant Choice. Their conversation covers how business leaders can take action in an increasingly divided society, how multi-stakeholder capitalism unlocks long-term value creation, and how passionately caring for your customers and your employees is crucial to your success as a leader.  Key Takeaways: (Add description and time codes)0:00 - Introducing Peter Georgescu: From Young & Rubicam to Capitalists, Arise!1:14 - Surviving WWII: Peter's Extraordinary Early Life Story4:40 - Child Labor Under Communism: Peter's Five Years of Forced Work7:55 - The Blackmail Ultimatum: Spy For Us or Never See Your Children Again9:40 - The Power of Public Opinion: How America Rallied to Save Two Boys11:36 - From Prison to Exeter Academy: Arriving in America Without English13:56 - Peter's Definition of the American Dream: Becoming His Best Self16:11 - The Hurricane Metaphor: Understanding Capitalism as a Powerful Force19:19 - The 1982 Turning Point: When Shareholder Value Became the Only Goal21:07 - Two Americas: The Growing Divide Between Haves and Have-Nots23:55 - $50 Trillion Transfer: The Staggering Cost of Worker Exploitation27:40 - Historical Warning Signs: Why Social Instability Always Follows Inequality29:41 - Workers as Leverageable Assets: The Secret to Business Success33:08 - Profit Sharing in Action: How Costco Revolutionized Retail34:55 - The PayPal Revelation: When 50% of Workers Needed Food Stamps42:40 - The Business Case for Multiple Stakeholders: Everyone Wins44:12 - The Planet as Stakeholder: Why Climate Action is Good Business47:09 - Education's Role in Reviving the American Dream50:21 - The Barber and the Top Surgeon: A Heartwarming Healthcare Story52:21 - The KKR Transformation: Rethinking Private Equity with Pete Stavros53:43 - The Garage Door Success Story: Workers Who Transformed Their Company56:49 - Dignity in the Workplace: Creating Meaningful Work Cultures1:01:23 - Our Shared Mission: A Call for Business Leaders to Take Action1:01:56 - Lucky Us: Final Thoughts on Making a Difference in the WorldThought 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 YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

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 Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and author of “Unstoppable Entrepreneurs: 7 Paths for Unleashing Successful Startups and Creating Value through Innovation”. Their conversation covers how to succeed and persist as an entrepreneur and what it takes to bring innovation to fruition, including case studies from Madison Reed, Nokia, and Square. Key Takeaways: (Add description and time codes)0:00 Meet Lori Rosenkopf: Author of Unstoppable Entrepreneurs 00:59 Columbia to Wharton: Two Scholars' Parallel Journeys 3:31 The Six R's That Make Entrepreneurs Truly Unstoppable 4:12 Passionate vs. Pragmatic Entrepreneurs: Two Different Paths to Success 6:55 Recombination: Why Most Successful Innovations Are 90% Familiar, 10% New 8:20 "Unstoppable" vs. "Resilient" – The Psychology Behind Entrepreneurial Persistence 10:29 Madison Reed: Disrupting the Hair Color Industry 13:38 The Bootstrapper's Advantage: Why 80% of Enterprises Avoid Outside Funding 15:36 The Shocking Truth: Only 0.5% of Businesses Take Venture Funding 19:23 Intrapreneurship: How Jackie Reese Built a Bank Inside Square 22:06 The Innovation Arms Race: How Entrepreneurs Drive Corporate Change 23:21 Nokia's Surprising Pivot: Life Beyond Consumer Phones 24:52 From Bell Labs to Co-Working Space: The Evolution of Corporate Innovation 26:28 GenHERation: How COVID Transformed a Bus Tour Into a Thriving EdTech Platform 28:48 Beyond Profit: The Cultural Value Entrepreneurs Create for Society 32:49 Technology Commercialization: Bringing Life-Changing Ideas to Market 35:41 Harlem Capital: Transforming VC Funding for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs 38:31 Search Funds: The Little-Known Path to Business Ownership 40:24 From Funeral Homes to Tech: Unexpected Acquisition Opportunities 43:46 The Real Age of Successful Founders: Why Most Entrepreneurs Aren’t 22-Year-Olds 44:48 Inside Wharton’s VentureLab: Building the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs 49:43 AI’s Impact on Jobs: Why Entrepreneurial Thinking Is More Important Than Ever 53:47 How Top Entrepreneurs Navigate Innovation: Risk Is Not an R 54:47 The Madison Reed COVID Pivot: From 12 Stores to 100+ Through Contrarian Thinking 56:09 The Next Chapter: Promoting Unstoppable Entrepreneurs and Its Message 57:52 Breaking Free: Why Entrepreneurship Can Be More Stable Than Corporate Life 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 YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

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 Steve Mandell, founder of party goods retail giant Party City. With recent headlines about Party City’s bankruptcy after nearly 40 years in business, they discuss Steve’s journey to founding the company, including the passion, hard work, and attention to detail that established Party City as a powerhouse. They discuss the future of retail, as online shopping continues to dominate over brick-and-mortar stores, and the impact of US tariffs remains to be seen.  Key Takeaways: (Add description and time codes)00:00 Meet Steve Mandell: Party City Founder & Serial Entrepreneur00:55 The Birth of Party City: One Store and a Simple Dream02:59 From Brooklyn Street Corner to Retail Empire: Steve's Entrepreneurial Roots 04:09 Retail is Detail: The Obsession That Built an Empire06:10 Listening to the Customer: The Secret to Party City's Evolution08:30 The Revolutionary Picture Wall That Experts Called 'Crazy'11:31 Accidental Franchising: The Surprise Visitor That Changed Everything13:14 Three Times the Expected Sales: The First Day That Proved the Concept15:40 The Entrepreneur's Mindset: 'What Are We Going to Do for an Encore?'19:56 The Vendor Connection: Creating a Retail Category Together21:17 Culture Through Mentorship: The Sam and Joe Story23:55 The Secret Hiring Formula: Three Traits of Exceptional Performers28:11 Culture of Caring: The Human Touch Behind Business Success30:16 When Success Turns to Crisis: The Audit That Changed Everything34:29 'Don't Run the Business for Wall Street': The Advice That Guided Party City 35:14 The Model That Couldn't Be Killed: Party City's Lasting Legacy38:19 Reinvention: From Party Stores to Online Costume Empire41:54 Hurricane Sandy and the Warehouse Under Water: When Nature Forces Change 43:20 The Entrepreneur's Idea Inventory: How Opportunities Take Shape45:05 The Cookie Wall: Bringing Retail Innovation to E-Commerce48:59 Solving the Hard Problems: Why Difficult Industries Create Opportunities 51:03 'I Don't Like It, I LOVE It': Passion as the Ultimate Driver51:58 No Free Rides: Advice for Young Entrepreneurs56:13 The Mandell Formula for Success: Luck, Luck, and Getting Off the Couch 57:38 Incrediblecookies.com: The Next Chapter of Retail InnovationThought 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 YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

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 Terence Mauri, founder of the AI-trends think tank Hack Future Lab, and a MIT Entrepreneur Mentor. Their conversation covers everything from the meteoric rise of AI tools like Deep Seek, how we should consider tackling today’s climate crises, and how bureaucracy can help or hinder innovation. 00:00 Meet Terence Mauri: Author of "The Upside of Disruption" & Thought Leader on Thriving in Uncertainty00:50 "The Day a Car Hit Me Changed Everything" – Terence's Life-Altering Moment & Profound Awakening03:06 "Artificial Idiocy vs. Human Truth" – Esther Perel's Warning & The Three Pillars for Ethical AI05:26 The $11 Trillion Threat: How Modern Cyber Crime Challenges Trust in the Digital Age06:16 "The Shadow Boss" – Why Great Leadership Means Less Managing & More Leading08:55 The DARE Framework Decoded: Four Mindset Shifts to Thrive in a Post-AI World11:36 The Agility Paradox: Why 77% of Leaders Claim Agility But Can't Actually Achieve It13:52 Light Speed Behaviors: Pfizer's Revolutionary Approach to Crushing Bureaucracy14:43 "Marie Kondo Your Organization" – Two Powerful Examples of Fighting Complexity with Simplicity17:50 The DeepSeek Advantage: How Constraints Sparked 100x Innovation Under China's Chip Ban19:36 "Questions Are the Answer" – How Hack Future Lab Reframes Disruption as an Invitation to Reinvent23:00 Hope Machines: The Progress Network & MIT Solve's Approach to Global Challenges25:56 Climate Action Blueprint: What the Ozone Layer Success Story Teaches Us About Tackling Today's Crises31:30 AI as Customer Ally: Inside OpenAI's Partnership with T-Mobile & John Deere's 190-Year Innovation Journey35:19 The Strategic Question Trifecta: What's Enduring, Evolving, and Eroding in Your Business?36:34 Beyond Fear: Why the Regret of Inaction Outweighs the Regret of Bold Action41:16 Auto-Sapient Trust: The Fourth Wave of Trust & Your Future Personal AI Confidant46:14 From Hierarchies to Marketplaces: The Three D's Reshaping Value Creation49:56 The Dematerialization Revolution: Why Psychological Value Is Replacing Physical Products51:56 The Potato Washing Machine: How Permissionless Organizations Turned a Problem into $1 Billion53:55 The Four Waves of AI: From Perception to Physical – What's Coming Next Will Transform Everything55:19 The Unexpected Discovery: What Surprised Terence Most Since Writing His Book56:05 The 80/20 Bee Principle: Nature's Perfect Model for Balancing Execution and Exploration57:31 Final Thoughts & Where to Find More from Terence MauriThought 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 YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

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 Stephan Meier, a Columbia Business School Professor and expert on behavioral strategist. His recent book, “The Employee Advantage”, explains how companies that put their employees first are more profitable, innovative, and appealing to top talent, and how customer-centric tools can be repurposed to support employees. 00:00 Welcome to Thought Sparks: The Employee Advantage Unveiled01:38 What Really Sparked 'The Employee Advantage'? Stephan's Pandemic Revelation04:08 The ROI of Putting People First: Why Employee-Centric Companies Outperform08:05 United's Turnaround Secret: How Oscar Munoz Revolutionized a Struggling Airline09:26 Beyond Cost Centers: Zeynep Ton's Groundbreaking Research on Employee Value10:28 The Science of Motivation: What Truly Engages People Beyond Compensation13:00 The Reading Rebellion: How Stephan's Son Revealed a Universal Truth About Motivation17:06 Netflix for Work Tasks? How AI Matchmaking Creates Perfect Employee Challenges21:08 Permissionless Organizations: Why Hierarchy Is Becoming Obsolete23:04 The Great Economic Transformation: From Mass Production to Information Ecosystems25:04 Movie Crew Capitalism: Why Small Teams Are the New Organizational Building Blocks28:32 The Career Zigzag Advantage: Why Linear Paths Lead to Dead Ends33:27 The NASA Janitor Test: Does Everyone in Your Company Know Their True Purpose?39:47 AI as the Great Democratizer: Augmenting Human Potential Instead of Replacing It49:15 The Co-Leader Revolution: How AI Creates Superior Leadership Conversations52:37 What Sports Teams Know That Businesses Don't: AI's Coaching Superpowers57:05 Tom Friedman's Olympic Athlete Paradox: Training for Unknown Future Skills59:52 Beyond Theory: Implementing the Employee Advantage in Your OrganizationThought 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 YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

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 Anupam Jena, the host of the Freakonomics MD Podcast. Anupam is here to talk about his recent book “Random Acts of Medicine”, which shows how unexpected—but predictable—events profoundly affect our health. What are the hidden forces that sway doctors, impact patients and shape our health? He’s here to explain and help us understand what to do about it. 00:00 Welcome to Thought Sparks with Rita McGrath & Dr. Anupam "Bapu" Jena00:56 "Random Acts of Medicine" - The Surprising Reception to Bapu's Groundbreaking Book01:40 The Paradox: Why Do Patients Do Better When Cardiologists Leave Town?04:17 London Cabbies, Brain Development & Alzheimer's: The Stunning Connection08:50 The 5-Minute Fix: Why Sports Teams Warm Up But Surgeons Don't (And What Happens When They Do)13:37 Trust vs. Errors: The Counterintuitive Research That Changed Everything17:00 "The Machine Saw That": How AI Could Transform Professional Feedback in Medicine & Beyond21:12 America's Healthcare Paradox: Why Spending 20% of Our Income Doesn't Make Us Healthier32:45 "Flooding the System with Humans": How AI Could Democratize Healthcare Access36:28 The 16-Minute Visit: Does Anyone Have Time for Healing?37:53 Your Zip Code Shouldn't Determine Your Health: The Geography of Medical Inequality43:02 From Research to Reality: The Rocky Path from Healthcare Insights to Actual Policy46:31 When Science Meets Values: The Hidden Battle Behind Health Policy Debates53:10 New Zealand's Hard Choice: A Global Lesson in Healthcare Trade-offs54:41 The Orphaned Cures: Why Some Life-Saving Treatments Never Make it to Market57:46 Unintended Consequences: How the Inflation Reduction Act Is Reshaping Medicine's Future59:34 The Unsung Heroes: Why We Thank Doctors But Not the Innovations That Save Us------------------------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 YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

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 Dean Carignan and JoAnn Garbin about their new book The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft. Together, the three innovation experts discuss the strategies and models that enabled Microsoft to continuously innovate for 50 years, and how other leaders and organizations can apply these strategic lessons. Key Takeaways:✅ The Power of Reinvention – How Microsoft has navigated four major technological shifts, including AI.✅ Culture of Risk & Learning – Why embracing failure fuels innovation rather than stifling it.✅ From Competition to Collaboration – How Satya Nadella’s leadership transformed Microsoft’s work culture.✅ The Hackathon Effect – How company-wide experimentation has driven groundbreaking ideas.✅ Human-Centered AI – How Microsoft approaches responsible AI development.🔗 Order now: https://www.innovationatmicrosoft.com/home#buynow00:00 Welcome Intro01:17 Dean Intro02:08 JoAnn Intro03:23 Brief Book Intro & Proceeds to STEAM05:35 Microsoft’s “Secret Sauce” for Innovation09:45 Boundary Crossers for Innovation @ Microsoft11:23 How to Grow a Business — Innovate with Everyone & Over the Years15:26 Failure and Not Working Out in Innovation19:29 “Failure to Launch” — Trying New Things20:54 Agility & Learning from Failure (Mobile Example)23:03 Hackathons & Rita’s “Brand Takeover” — Expanding Your Thinking27:32 Design Principles — What Good Looks Like31:10 Overshooting What Customers Want — No New Features!34:01 Satya Nadella Transition38:10 Responsible AI & Human-Centered AI45:55 Startups & Where the Money Flows51:23 Is Software Going Away? Agentic AI54:26 “Fifth Industrial Revolution”58:06 Hyper-Localization & Technology Reaching Out to U -------------------Thought Sparks, the brainchild of Rita McGrath, 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 YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

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 Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer at Radio Flyer. They take a deep dive into the history of the iconic wagon brand and the three generations of Pasin’s family that have helmed the brand. Covering everything from the e-commerce revolution that transformed how retail operated to shutdowns that threatened the brand as a whole, they share strategic insights applicable across sectors. 00:00 Meet Robert Pasin: Chief Wagon Officer & 4th Generation Leader of Radio Flyer01:16 The 5-Year-Old's First Day at Work: A Magical Factory That Changed Everything02:09 From Italy to Chicago: The Immigrant Carpenter Who Built an American Icon03:46 The Mystery Behind the Name "Radio Flyer" Finally Solved04:41 The 45-Foot Giant That Launched a Brand at the 1933 World's Fair06:03 When a 100-Year Company Almost Died: The Early 90s Crisis07:31 The Plastic Revolution That Blindsided Radio Flyer09:24 From "We Make Wagons" to "We Create Warm Memories"11:36 The Bank Meeting That Taught a Young CEO About Cash Flow13:03 The Tricycle That Never Existed (But Everyone Remembered Having)14:38 Becoming CEO at 28: "Nobody Else Wanted the Job"18:59 "Plant a Lot of Seeds": How to Innovate Without Betting the Farm20:07 Inside Radio Flyer's Prototype Shop: Where Ideas Become Reality22:40 Why Radio Flyer Thinks "Quarter Century, Not Quarter"29:12 The Day They Shut Down the Factory: A Leadership Test38:04 From Toys"R"Us to Amazon: Adapting to Retail's Revolution41:47 Why Focus Groups Lie: The Power of Observing Real Behavior49:06 The 360 Feedback That Changed Everything52:50 Electric Bikes and the Next Chapter: Hauling Kids for Another 100 Years56:47 The One Leadership Skill That Matters Most58:20 Why Teenage Kids Are the Ultimate CEO Reality CheckThought 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 YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com

Join me in this chat with Matt Beane as we dive into one of today’s biggest workforce challenges: upskilling at scale. 📈 In a rapidly evolving world, the skills our teams need are constantly changing, and leaders everywhere are asking: How do we equip people to adapt and thrive? Matt, author of “The Skill Code: How to Save Human Ability in an Age of Intelligent Machines, a groundbreaking book on skill-based work, will share insights into skill transfer and workplace transformation—vital topics for any executive navigating today’s fast-paced environment. Don’t miss this chance to explore the future of work and practical strategies for upskilling. 🔥 Follow my social channels to hear the full discussion on Friday, December 13 at 11 am EST!

Sitting down with Susannah Fox, former Chief Information Officer at Health and Human Services and author of “Rebel Health.” Susannah is a true innovator in healthcare, and her work on “Rebel Health” explores how patients, caregivers, and survivors are using digital platforms to unite, advocate, and change the system from within. 💡 From inspiring stories of grassroots health movements to practical insights on shaping healthcare from the ground up, this chat is one you won’t want to miss. Follow me on my social channels to get notified when we start our live discussion.

H.R. McMaster's new book "At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House" is an incisive account of his time as National Security Advisor during Trump's presidency. Be sure to tune in this Friday at 11:15 am EST to ask questions, and hear firsthand about the political experience of a lifetime.

Steven Brill is a veteran journalist and author whose previous books include "The Teamsters," "America's Bitter Pill," and "Tailspin." His new book is exactly as terrifying as it sounds. It's called "The Death of Truth: How Social Media and the Internet Gave Snake Oil Salesmen and Demagogues the Weapons They Needed to Destroy Trust and Polarize the World - and What We Can Do About It." Brill outlines in precise detail exactly how our big technology platforms have profited from the weaponization of communication platforms, even as they undermine and starve legitimate news sources. None of this has happened by accident, and Brill leads us through a compelling narrative of the decisions made to maximize profits, hurt the vast majority of us and cloud reality. His efforts to uncover Russian activity even led to him being targeted by Russian operators. He is also the co-founder of NewsGuard, a company that tracks online misinformation. He'll be joining me by the virtual fireside on November 8, and I'm truly looking forward to the conversation and seeing a way forward out of the mess we have gotten ourselves into. Join us live on LinkedIn or catch the recording on my YouTube Channel.

This week's guest is Paul LeBlanc, who has just stepped down as President of Southern New Hampshire University. In his tenure, he took back online education from predatory for-profit institutions to give thousands of students access to higher education. He's also the author of a fascinating book called "Broken: How Our Social Systems are Failing Us and How We Can Fix Them". We'll be chatting live at 11 am -- register here to tune in!

Today we are hosting Barron Witherspoon on my Friday Fireside Chat. He's the author of "The Black Exec: And the Seven Myths", which draws from his 38-year career at Procter & Gamble, where he retired as Senior Vice President for Global Industry Affairs & The Corporate Race Initiative. He now enjoys a second career as an ordained minister, out of Cincinnati.

The phrase "innovate or die" has never been more relevant, yet the track record of most companies for organic innovation is dismal. But, there are leaders who demonstrate that making innovation an actual proficiency can be accomplished. Steve Wunker, together with his co-authors Jennifer Luo Law and Hari Nair, de-mystify the process. Examples include Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Panera's Ron Shaich and Levi's Chip Bergh. We'll chat about their practical and useful new book "The Innovative Leader" that takes readers on a step by step approach to building innovation capability.

Here's my conversation with Anupam B. Jena! He's the Joseph P. Newhouse Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School and a physician in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and if that weren't enough, he hosts the Freakonomics MD podcast, and has just written a fascinating book called "Random Acts of Medicine". We'll be talking about how unseen forces shape our health outcomes: everything from EZ Pass tollbooths to marathons is on the table! Rita McGrath is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and longtime professor at Columbia Business School. As one of the world’s top experts on innovation and growth, Rita’s work is regularly published in the Harvard Business Review. She is consistently ranked among the Top 10 management thinkers in the world and was ranked #1 for strategy by Thinkers50. Get in Touch, Keep in Touch! https://www.ritamcgrath.com/ You can follow me on Twitter (@rgmcgrath), on Instagram (@ritamcgrathofficial), on LinkedIn and here on YouTube. For access to the archives, ability to make comments and to be part of the community, subscribe. We’re also ramping up some interesting offers at Valize. For instance, we’ve revived the BareBones net present value calculator featured in my book, Discovery Driven Growth. You can download it for free from the Valize web site @ https://www.valize.com/

Chip Conley is on a mission to make mid-life a welcome and joyous part of life's journey! His new book "Learning to Love Mid-Life" is an invitation to explore the wisdom that comes with experience, to let go of baggage that doesn't serve you well and to transform toward a fulfilling future. He'll be joining me by the fireside on February 23 at noon EST to talk about lessons he's learned about making the most of this part of your life. Rita McGrath is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and longtime professor at Columbia Business School. As one of the world’s top experts on innovation and growth, Rita’s work is regularly published in the Harvard Business Review. She is consistently ranked among the Top 10 management thinkers in the world and was ranked #1 for strategy by Thinkers50. Get in Touch, Keep in Touch! https://www.ritamcgrath.com/ You can follow me on Twitter (@rgmcgrath), on Instagram (@ritamcgrathofficial), on LinkedIn and here on YouTube. For access to the archives, ability to make comments and to be part of the community, subscribe. We’re also ramping up some interesting offers at Valize. For instance, we’ve revived the BareBones net present value calculator featured in my book, Discovery Driven Growth. You can download it for free from the Valize web site @ https://www.valize.com/

Stanford's Bob Sutton is one of the smartest people on the planet with respect to what goes on in organizations and why (hint - he's the guy that helps you deal with organizational A**holes). He has a brand-new book coming out, "The Friction Project" with Huggy Rao on the subtle ways in which leaders can make the right things easier and the wrong things harder. Boy do we need those insights now! Rita McGrath is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and longtime professor at Columbia Business School. As one of the world’s top experts on innovation and growth, Rita’s work is regularly published in the Harvard Business Review. She is consistently ranked among the Top 10 management thinkers in the world and was ranked #1 for strategy by Thinkers50. Get in Touch, Keep in Touch! https://www.ritamcgrath.com/ You can follow me on Twitter (@rgmcgrath), on Instagram (@ritamcgrathofficial), on LinkedIn and here on YouTube. For access to the archives, ability to make comments and to be part of the community, subscribe. We’re also ramping up some interesting offers at Valize. For instance, we’ve revived the BareBones net present value calculator featured in my book, Discovery Driven Growth. You can download it for free from the Valize web site @ https://www.valize.com/