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

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

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

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

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?

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 Jaye Fenderson, an award-winning filmmaker and cofounder of Three Frame Media, about the power of storytelling to forge human connection.

1:08 Jaye’s Journey to Becoming a Documentary Filmmaker

3:18 Storytelling, Human Connection, and the Liberal Arts

5:42 What Job Prospects for STEM and Humanities Graduates Tell Us About Soft Skills

7:14 Laying the Foundation of Trust: Stewarding Someone Else’s Story

9:42 The Technical Constraints of Shooting Documentary Film

14:01 “The Admissions Arms Race”: What We Get Wrong About Higher Ed Admissions

19:49 The Class: Producing a TV Show and College Advising During a Pandemic

25:31 COVID Guidelines as Creative Confines

30:50 Storytelling for Impact

34:40 The Power of Resources, from Doctors to College Counselors

38:31 Resilience and Perseverance From the Class of 2020

40:12 Growth Mindset and Having a Plan A, B, and C

42:47 Renovating Hope, and Jaye’s Upcoming Projects

46:37 Building an Audience and “Chasing the World” in Book Writing and Film Making

51:39 The Benefits of Pandemic Delays

56:21 Building Students’ Futures When College Counselors are the First to be Cut

58:25 “Flooding the System with Humans”, and Lessons on Scaling from Paul LeBlanc

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

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 Ben Nelson, Chairman and CEO of the Minerva Project, and Founder of Minerva University. They discuss the mission behind the Minerva Project: a university that prioritizes active learning, global perspectives, and impactful application of knowledge, and what it means to rethink what higher education could look like.

0:27: Introduction - Building the Intentional University

2:34: The 23-Year-Old CEO - Managing Stakeholders and Loneliness

3:43: The 29-Year-Old CEO - When Command-and-Control Leadership Thrives

6:40: Succession and Setting Up Your Future Organization for Success

8:38: Why “Socializing” A Decision is Ineffective

9:59: Ben Nelson’s Critiques of Education

11:22: The Retention Issue: How Would Present-Day You do on an Exam from your Undergraduate Days?

12:34: Minerva University’s Mission: Enabling Authentic Learning and Systems Thinking

16:24: The Qualities of Educational Systems Designed for a Different Era

19:27: Breaking Structures and Flipping Classrooms

20:46: Building Deep Processing Skills to Retain Knowledge

21:40: Measuring How Broadly Students can Apply What They’ve Learned

23:18: Living in Six Countries in Three Years of Study

27:52: Using AI Effectively to Inform Human Decision-Making

33:11: The Role of the University in Disseminating (and Interrogating) Knowledge

35:17: The Gaps in Project-Based Learning: When Do You Really Know How to Build a Bike?

38:08: Blockbuster, and Why the Case Method Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

41:56: 1,000 Graduates, and Growing: Minerva Methodology in Universities and High Schools

49:59: The Chicken-and-Egg Conundrum of Founding a New University

52:40: When Do Some Universities Run the Risk of Becoming “Diploma Mills”?

56:44: “Read a Hundred Opinion Columns, and Disagree with Ninety-Five of Them”

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

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 Jean Oelwang, founding CEO of Virgin Unite, author of Partnering: Forge the Deep Connections That Make Great Things Happen, and fierce advocate for the planet. Their conversation features case studies from Ben & Jerry’s, The Elders, and the global coordination around the hole in the ozone layer. 0:43: Breaking Glass Ceilings in the Telecommunications Sector2:42: Scaling Global Solutions and the Creation of Virgin Unite with Richard Branson4:09: The Story of Azeem and Plez: Building Bridges after Tragedy6:04: Ben and Jerry’s and The Elders: How Deep Connections Make Business Thrive8:13: Co-Creating The Elders with President Jimmy Carter9:39: The Throughline of Human Hope11:38: How We Addressed The Hole in the Ozone Layer18:10: The Need for Simple Communication Around Social Problems21:02: The Power of Mergers and what the Non-Profit Sector Can Learn from the Business Sector23:50: Why Purpose Matters25:50: Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard: “Magnetic Moments” Around Failure27:39: Ari De Geus’ The Living Company29:27: Lessons in Trust from Pandemic Layoffs at Airbnb35:29: Shared Ownership Models as an Answer to the Current AI Moment38:29: Carlota Perez’s Conception of a New Golden Age40:02: The $8 Trillion Cost of Disengagement at Work41:14: Planetary Guardians’ Crucial Work43:24: Celebrating Small Successes in the Fight Against Climate Change45:38: The Pitfalls of Hyper-Individualism and IsolationThought 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