Leadership Next

Nov 19 2024 209 ep. 29 mins 165

Leadership Next Podcast artwork

Something big is happening in the world of business. CEOs increasingly say their jobs have become less about giving orders, more about inspiring, motivating, setting a north star. They are taking the lead on big issues like climate change, worker retraining, and diversity and inclusion. They are under pressure from employees, customers and investors not just to turn a profit, but to prove they are doing good in the world. And in the process, they are fundamentally redefining the relationship between business and society. Join Fortune Executive Editorial Director Diane Brady as she engages global leaders on the insights, experiences and issues you need to know.

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What SAP CEO Christian Klein Learned Going From Intern to CEO

Nov 19 2024 36 mins

AI promises to upend almost every industry in the coming years. SAP, the German software behemoth, is no exception, although the company has already been investing heavily in AI for more than a decade. On this week’s episode of Leadership Next, Diane talks to Christian Klein, the 44-year-old CEO of SAP. Klein grew up at SAP, starting as an intern, and spent years climbing the ran

Eli Lilly CEO On Why Making New Drugs Is Hard, Takes So Long, And Costs So Much

Nov 12 2024 34 mins

Pharmaceutical companies are often the poster children for what's wrong with the health care system. New drugs can take decades of development and cost billions of dollars in R&D, and once they clear the FDA, consumers are too often met with sticker shock and high prices for their meds. Dave Ricks, CEO of drugmaker Eli Lilly, this week's guest on Leadership Next, says drug developm

Why Malcolm Gladwell Just Took 'Revenge' On His Own Book

Oct 29 2024 30 mins

In 2000, Malcolm Gladwell published The Tipping Point, identifying the key players and small, seemingly inconsequential decisions that together can make ideas, products, and behaviors spread like a virus. Gladwell was hailed as a guru whose concepts were embraced as a how-to guide for marketers and policymakers. In his latest book, Revenge of the Tipping Point, Gladwell revisits th

Inside Nextdoor's Next Chapter

Oct 22 2024 29 mins

How do you create an online community that can foster in-person connections? That's what Nextdoor, the social network for neighbors, has been trying to do since its 2008 founding. This week's guest on Leadership Next is current—and former—CEO Nirav Tolia. Tolia, a longtime entrepreneur, talks to Diane about returning to the company he cofounded, what people gain by getting to k

How PG&E Is Charting A New Course Post-Bankruptcy

Oct 15 2024 29 mins

When Patti Poppe took over as CEO of the massive California utility Pacific Gas & Electric in 2021, the company had gone through a very rough period. It was found liable for multiple California wildfires, dealt with a bankruptcy, and paid billions of dollars in settlements to fire victims. Poppe says the size and importance of the opportunity at PG&E is what drew her to the turnaro

How T-Mobile Conquered The Mobile Market

Oct 08 2024 30 mins

When T-Mobile burst on the scene in 2002, the wireless market was already saturated with big players like Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T. To make inroads, the company became “The Uncarrier,” famous for customer-centric contracts with better pricing and more user-friendly terms and features. Twenty-two years later, T-Mobile today is one of the biggest telecom companies in the world.

Here's how AI is shaking up the job market in 2024

Oct 01 2024 44 mins

Hiring is always high stakes for CEOs. The right hire can help drive an organization to new heights, and the wrong one can take years to recover from. So, most business leaders are keenly aware of how important it is to hire well. Yet, there's no silver bullet. On this week's episode of Leadership Next we speak to Indeed CEO Chris Hyams. According to Hyams, demand for in-person job

Why The Car Industry Is A Reflection Of The Economy

Sep 24 2024 28 mins

Climate change will force almost every industry to move away from dependence on fossil fuels. Automotive is no exception, where EVs are gaining in popularity in certain sections of the United States and across the globe. This week on Leadership Next, Diane speaks to Bill Nash, CEO of CarMax, one of the nation’s largest car resellers. Nash started his career at electronics retaile

The Hedge Fund Founder Now Taking On Climate Change

Sep 17 2024 26 mins

The climate crisis will require a whole host of solutions—spanning technology, investment, and policy. It’s this intersection that is now the focus for Tom Steyer, who’s had a hugely successful career as an investor, and more recently a Democratic political candidate. Through his company Galvanize Climate Solutions, Steyer is now investing in firms on the forefront of the cli

Inside JCPenney’s Recipe For Retail Success

Sep 10 2024 32 mins

Technology has fundamentally altered retail shopping habits, as savvy customers know they can buy almost anything they want with a single tap of their smartphones. But JCPenney, the iconic American department store brand, says customers still value in-store shopping. For Marc Rosen, who had a long career at Levi Strauss & Co. and Walmart before taking over as JCPenney CEO in 2021,