If/Then

Do you stick to the rules or do you roll through stop signs? Whether you’re “tight” or “loose” — how closely you adhere to social norms — has major implications for your life at home and at work. “To be effective, we want to be ambidextrous,” says Michele Gelfand, the John H. Scully Professor in Cross-Cultural Management and Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “Even if we might lean tight or loose, we want to be able to create a context where we can have both tight and loose elements.”Sophisticated strategies will fail if they don’t account for deeply embedded norms, and Gelfand breaks down why the adage that “culture eats strategy for breakfast” is more than just a management cliché. “From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep, [culture is] affecting everything from our politics to our parenting,” Gelfand says. “But we take it for granted — we don’t even think about it. So it’s kind of invisible. And that’s a pretty profound puzzle.”   What’s the biggest cultural adjustment you’ve made? Share your story at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.This episode was recorded on January 28, 2025.Related Content:Faculty profilePsst — Wanna Know Why Gossip Has Evolved in Every Human Society?Class Takeaways — The Art of NegotiationWhy the Pandemic Slammed “Loose” Countries Like the U.S.If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI has the potential to reshape medicine. But translating its promise into solutions for providers and patients is a high-stakes challenge.“There’s a lot more problems than solutions available,” says Mohsen Bayati, the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Professor of Operations, Information & Technology at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “So it’s ripe for innovation.”From trust and privacy to hallucination and data quality, the complications are significant. Bayati says that safely and effectively integrating AI into an enormous industry that treats people in their most vulnerable moments requires safety guardrails, human oversight, and maybe even a leap of faith. “[We] need to have patience with the benefits of these systems,” he says.Are you ready to interact with artificial intelligence at the doctor’s office? Sound off at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.This episode was recorded on March 4, 2025.Related Content:Mohsen Bayati faculty profileA Peek Inside Doctors’ Notes Reveals Symptoms of BurnoutMany Health Care Workers Are Emotionally Exhausted, and Technology May Be to BlameWhy Hospitals Underreport the Number of Patients They InfectIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“The way I think about trying to anticipate and shape the AI future requires us to take a step back and ask ourselves first, ‘What does this technology do? What does it enable?’” reflects Amir Goldberg, a professor of organizational behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “That’s very different from asking ourselves, ‘How is the technology implemented?’” From locating the origins of innovation to identifying hidden barriers blocking new ideas, Goldberg presents a framework for harnessing novel technological capabilities like AI — capabilities that are essential for staying ahead of the competition.  “The data/AI train is leaving the station,” he says. “The problem is, there are many trains — and some are going off a cliff.”   Is your organization exploring how to transform its experience into data? Tell us your story at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.This episode was recorded on February 5, 2025.Related Content:Amir Goldberg faculty profileTo Discover Breakthrough Ideas, Look to the OutsidersIs Your Business Ready to Jump Into A.I.? Read This First.Why Investors Throw Money at Eccentric CEOIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Neil Malhotra, the Edith M. Cornell professor of political economy at Stanford Graduate School of Business, aims to identify the nature of our tumultuous political moment in his work. In this episode, Malhotra explores rising distrust, shifting political identities, and what these changes mean for individuals — and businesses. Plus, the billion-dollar question: “Is Trump creating a movement that is separate from himself or is it identified with himself?” Malhotra asks. “It remains to be seen.”Is there a political question you’d like us to explore? Email us at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.This episode was recorded on December 18, 2024.Related Content:Neil Malhotra faculty profile: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/neil-malhotraA Surprising Discovery About Facebook’s Role in Driving PolarizationPulling Back From Polarization: How Business Leaders Can Step Up10 Tips for Tackling Political Polarization in the Workplace and BeyondHow the Supreme Court’s Abortion Ruling Played in the Court of Public OpinionIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sridhar Narayanan, a professor of marketing at Stanford Graduate School of Business, studies how small businesses operate and why they’re so important, especially in the developing world. “Modernizing small businesses will have a profound impact on economies worldwide in many ways,” he says. In this episode of If/Then, Narayanan explains why so many retailers still rely on cash, how modernization can boost revenue, and what these patterns reveal about credit access, trust in institutions, and global economic development.Have you modernized a small business or did you choose to stick with what was already working? Tell us your story at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.This episode was recorded on November 5, 2024.Related Content:Sridhar Narayanan faculty profileUpgrades Can Help Mom-and-Pop Stores Compete with Big RetailFrom Instinct to Insight: Crafting an Intentional Sales StrategyWith “Retargeted” Advertising, Sooner Is Better Than LaterIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Only a third of the global population is financially literate. Why? Because most of us don’t learn the basics of personal finance in school — or elsewhere. Treating financial literacy as an afterthought can have serious consequences, from personal calamities to economic crises, according to Annamaria Lusardi, a professor of finance and the director of the Initiative for Financial Decision-Making at Stanford Graduate School of Business. On this episode of If/Then, Lusardi makes the case for treating financial education like preventative care: essential, cost-effective, and an enormous opportunity to improve people’s lives, boost workplace performance, and strengthen economic resilience.  “We should learn about money as soon as possible,” Lusardi says. “As soon as the tooth fairy comes.”Where do you go for financial advice? Tell us more at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.This episode was recorded on November 5, 2024.Related Content:Annamaria Lusardi faculty profileOn a Mission to Teach the World the Basics of Personal FinanceIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Susan Athey, the Economics of Technology Professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business and founding director of the Golub Capital Social Impact Lab, studies the impact of technological innovations on workers, businesses, and society. Will the world’s economies successfully adapt to a future defined by artificial intelligence? On this episode, Athey shares what the stories of 22,000 laid-off workers in Sweden can tell us about who recovers from economic turmoil, how small design changes and product features can have outsize societal impact, and how AI could transform the way we work, from hiring to healthcare. What’s the best way to build a future that effectively integrates AI and supports workers? Tell us more at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.This episode was recorded on December 16, 2024. Related Content:Susan Athey faculty profileA Low-Cost, Scalable Way to Get More Women Into TechA.I. Can Help “Personalize” Policies to Reach the Right PeopleA/B Testing Gets an Upgrade for the Digital AgeEast Brother Light StationChapters(00:00:00) - Modernizing a 150 Year Old Lighthouse(00:03:05) - Adapting to Advancing Technology(00:04:20) - Impact of Mass Layoffs(00:06:16) - Low-Cost Scalable Solutions(00:13:37) - AI’s Role in the Future of Work(00:19:45) - Managing Transitions in the Job MarketIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian Lowery, the Walter Kenneth Kilpatrick Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the author of Selfless: The Social Creation of You, argues that identity is about much more than external characteristics, family history, or the collection of experiences that compose the chronology of our lives. In fact, Lowery argues, our identities are constantly being formed, shifted, and even co-created — by the people around us. In this episode, Lowery breaks down how leaders, colleagues, and even casual acquaintances influence the people we are continually becoming — and why recognizing this can change our lives and how we experience the people we know. Understanding this social conception of the self helps us effectively navigate challenges at home and in the workplace, strengthen key relationships, and even bridge political divides.“All these constraints that you feel, maybe those are imaginary,” Lowery says. “The world opens to you, I think, if you believe this, but that is also what's terrifying about it. What's exciting is what's terrifying.”Has someone in your life changed how you see yourself? Tell us more at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.This conversation was recorded on November 13, 2024.Related Content:Brian Lowery faculty profileA Provocative Theory of Identity Finds There is No “You” in SelfLet’s Make a Deal: Negotiation Tips from the ExpertsQuick Thinks: How Others Define UsJanet VarneyChapters:(00:00:00) - Improv is a Team Sport(00:04:20) - Rethinking the Self(00:05:16) - Leadership and Influence(00:07:30) - The Leadership Experiment(00:11:55) - Trust in the Workplace(00:14:24) - Polarization and Social Identity(00:18:33) - The Influence of Proximity(00:20:55) - Changing Identities(00:24:38) - ConclusionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What’s one of the most powerful forces behind technological breakthroughs, business strategy, and job creation? The tax code.Rebecca Lester, an associate professor of accounting and one of three inaugural Botha-Chan Faculty Scholars at Stanford Graduate School of Business, studies how subtle tax incentives can trigger monumental business decisions, determining how companies invest, grow, and innovate.These incentives don’t just shape corporate strategy — they ripple across industries, economies, and markets. From advancing clean energy to catalyzing global competition, you might think of tax policy as a blueprint for the future. The big question: how to do it right.  Have tax incentives led you to make a personal or professional decision? Tell us more at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.This conversation was recorded on November 5, 2024.Related Content:Rebecca Lester faculty profileAmerican Innovation Got Slammed by the “Temporary” End of a Key Tax IncentiveWhy Some Countries Want Companies to Think Inside the “Innovation Box”Tax Cuts in the UK Gave an Unexpected Boost to African EconomiesIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The pen may be mightier than the sword — but the dollar beats them both. Economic leverage has long shaped the world order, and today global powers use financial networks, trade policies, and sanctions as tools of persuasion — or coercion. In this episode, Matteo Maggiori, the Moghadam Family Professor of Finance at Stanford Graduate School of Business, outlines why he believes the U.S. dollar remains the world’s financial backbone, why China wants to create an alternative, and how global financial networks serve as both tools of economic statecraft and sources of financial instability in an increasingly multipolar world.This episode features Paula Findlen, the Ubaldo Pierotti Professor of History at Stanford University. How do you feel about a future where the buck no longer stops with the U.S.?? Email us at ifthenpod@stanford.edu. This conversation was recorded on September 5, 2024.Related Content:Matteo Maggiori faculty profile“Geoeconomics” Explains How Countries Flex Their Financial MusclesQuick Study: China’s Plan to Challenge the DollarInside China’s Long March Toward Challenging the DollarIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“The ultimate price of a bad system falls on the public,” says Anat Admati, the George G.C. Parker Professor of Finance and Economics at Stanford Graduate School of Business and author of The Bankers’ New Clothes. “The Constitution did a lot to constrain the government, but the government has failed to constrain institutions in the private sector.” Simply put, Admati says the real problem isn’t just profit-hungry corporations, it’s the systems that let bad actors get away with it. From the opioid crisis and Boeing’s deadly 737 MAX disasters to the 2008 financial crash, Admati identifies how U.S. institutions failed — and shares the “incredibly sobering” realization that shattered her faith in the rules and those who make them.  This episode features Dominic Cruz and Maya Kesselman Cruz, who perform in the live circus show "Dear San Francisco” at Club Fugazi.How do you think we can restore trust in business, government, and society? Email us at ifthenpod@stanford.edu. This conversation was recorded on August 20, 2024.Related LinksAnat Admati faculty profileThe Bankers’ New Clothes: What’s Wrong with Banking and What to Do about ItNo Rules, No Trust: How Accountability Shapes CommunicationAre Businesses Undermining Democracy?"Dear San Francisco" at Club FugaziIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is burnout simply the cost of doing business? What responsibility do employers have for the health and well-being of their workers? Jeffrey Pfeffer, the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business and author of Dying for a Paycheck and 7 Rules of Power, says that the connection between workplace stress and negative health outcomes is as strong as the link between smoking and cancer — and may contribute to as many as 120,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone.So what do we do about it? Pfeffer’s answer isn’t just surprising — it’s a radical critique of the way we work today.This episode features Sundance Scardino, a retired para-rescue specialist, firefighter, and paramedic.Is it time to rethink the way we work? Email us at ifthenpod@stanford.edu. This conversation was recorded on September 10, 2024.Related Links:Jeffrey Pfeffer faculty profile“The Workplace Is Killing People and Nobody Cares”“We Have 30 Extra Years”: A New Way of Thinking About AgingWhy “Copycat” Layoffs Won’t Help Tech Companies — Or Their EmployeesIf/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can the workplace be as harmful as smoking? Is it possible for governments and corporations to rebuild trust once they’ve lost it? How are nations wielding financial power to shape global politics? On Season Two of If/Then, Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty tackle big questions about business, leadership, and society, providing innovative, research-based insights to help you navigate rapidly changing times.Join your host, senior editor Kevin Cool, for conversations that will challenge the way you lead, think, and act. New episodes on Wednesdays, starting February 5th. Thoughts? Email us at ifthenpod@stanford.edu. More information is available on our website.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA, believes leadership is about more than making decisions—it’s about empowering others to reason through ambiguity and drive transformative change. In this bonus episode of If/Then, Huang sits down with Stanford GSB student Shantam Jain, MBA ’24, on Stanford GSB’s View From The Top podcast, to discuss his journey from an ambitious engineer to the leader of one of the most innovative companies in the world. Huang reflects on the lessons learned during pivotal moments in NVIDIA’s history, from betting on 3D graphics before the market existed to embracing the potential of AI and accelerated computing. “You can’t create change by doing what everyone else is doing,” Huang explains. “You have to go back to first principles and ask: how would you build this today?” Despite navigating industry disruptions and financial crises, Huang remains focused on the future. He shares how NVIDIA has consistently stayed ahead by building technology that not only solves today’s problems but anticipates the needs of tomorrow. As this episode reveals, it’s not just about technological breakthroughs—it’s about cultivating a culture of resilience and purpose to redefine the future.For a full transcript of this episode, visit our podcast’s website. More Resources:View From The Top: The Podcast | Stanford GSBJensen Huang on How to Use First-Principles Thinking to Drive Decisions | Stanford GSB Chapters: (00:00:00) IntroductionKevin Cool introduces a bonus episode from the View From The Top podcast featuring CEO and founder of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang.(00:01:39) Early Career and Founding NVIDIAHuang reflects on his journey from LSI Logic to co-founding NVIDIA.(00:04:56) Securing Early InvestmentsConvincing Silicon Valley investors to back NVIDIA in a non-existent market.(00:08:31) Pivoting in the Face of FailureThe critical decisions and resets that saved NVIDIA during challenges.(00:16:24) Call That Changed EverythingThe pivotal phone call that led to a shift in NVIDIA's innovation focus.(00:19:21) Finding Conviction The balance of core beliefs and early indicators of future success.(00:26:45) Weathering Market DownturnsStaying focused on unchanging principles to weather external challenges.(00:31:36) Creating a Flat OrganizationEmpowering employees by sharing context and reasoning transparently.(00:38:13) The Future of Generative AIGenerative AI’s potential to redefine computing and communication(00:45:38) Building Organizations for TomorrowDesigning adaptable, future-focused organizations from first principles.(00:48:22) Challenges and Opportunities AheadChallenges NVIDIA faces, and the innovations Huang is most excited about.(00:51:33) Pace and Regulation of AI DevelopmentThe need for regulatory measures alongside rapid technological advancements.(00:55:35) Rapid-Fire Insights and Final AdvicePersonal reflections, leadership advice, and hopes for NVIDIA’s legacy.(00:57:21) ConclusionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Behind every lesson lies a journey of discovery. In this special episode of If/Then, we step into the classrooms of Stanford Graduate School of Business to uncover the human stories driving extraordinary insights. Christian Wheeler, professor of marketing at Stanford GSB, challenges our fear of failure, reframing it as the sharp edge where growth truly happens. “Be comfortable being uncomfortable,” he says, urging leaders to embrace the anxiety of pushing limits to unlock their peak potential.Michele Gelfand, a professor of organizational behavior, takes us into the intricate world of cultural intelligence. “Negotiating across cultures isn’t just about competence—it’s about curiosity,” she explains, showing how understanding diverse perspectives can transform deadlock into breakthrough.And Jesper Sørensen, professor of organizational behavior, redefines what it means to lead. “Strategy isn’t a blueprint; it’s a living process,” he reflects, advocating for leaders to connect the dots, not just assign tasks, and to see uncertainty as a gateway to discovery.These faculty members remind us that leadership is as much about understanding ourselves as it is about guiding others. Whether it's failure, negotiation, or strategy, this episode showcases how curiosity and humanity are integral to leadership.Key Takeaways:Strategy is dynamic, not static: Leaders must explain the "why" to align their teams.Fear of failure can hinder growth: Growth requires embracing discomfort and using storytelling to connect and lead.Metaphors as tool for negotiation: Use metaphors to guide your goals and assess your success in the negotiation process. More Resources:Christian Wheeler, faculty profileJesper Sørensen, faculty profileMichele Gelfand, faculty profileClass TakeawaysThis episode of If/Then uses previously recorded audio and is repackaged in a new way. It features faculty talking about their research and the goal is to share more about faculty, while also keeping the If/Then podcast feed producing thought-provoking, research-backed content for our audiences. Chapters: (00:00:00) IntroductionKevin Cool introduces the episode featuring clips from the Class Takeaways series.(00:00:55) Embracing FailureProfessor Christian Wheeler discusses how embracing failure can lead to growth.(00:03:55) Strategy as a Dynamic ProcessProfessor Jesper Sørensen redefines strategy as an evolving course of action, not a static plan.(00:08:00) Cultural Intelligence in NegotiationProfessor Michele Gelfand explains how cultural intelligence is key to negotiation.(00:12:31) ConclusionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.