Poets & Thinkers

Make Doing Good Look Good: On designing for belonging, moral ambition and the pitfalls of privilege with Harald Dunnink

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Can designing a movement get the smartest people to work on the biggest problems instead of disappearing into what one author calls “the Bermuda Triangle of talent”: consulting, tech, and banking?

In this episode, Ben sits down with Harald Dunnink, designer, serial co-founder, and advocate for moral ambition. Harald founded Momkai, a Dutch design agency “for people who give a damn,” co-founded De Correspondent (a member-funded journalism platform on a mission for “unbreaking news”), and most recently launched the School for Moral Ambition with bestselling author Rutger Bregman.

Harald’s design philosophy centers, as he describes, on “making doing good look as good as possible” – using the same branding and marketing tools that sell sneakers and energy drinks to instead sell noble causes. He challenges the extractive mindset of traditional business with what he calls “memberful design” – designing not for users to be hooked, but for members to belong. Through his work he tries to combine the idealism of an activist with the ambition of an entrepreneur.

This is a conversation about the difference between being radically hopeful and being called naive. About the role privilege plays in being able to choose morally ambitious work, and how to redefine success when everyone around you follows the same maximalist capitalistic playbook.

Resources & References

Momkai: https://momkai.com/

School for Moral Ambition: https://schoolformoralambition.org/

Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Humankind by Rutger Bregman

Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman

The Good-Enough Life by Avram Alpert

Connect with Harald Dunnink

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haralddunnink/

Bio:

Harald is a designer and serial co-founder who describes his philosophy as “cultivating calm and designing for belonging”. He founded Momkai, a Dutch design agency, working with international clients from Nike to Red Bull before pivoting to use those branding tools for social good. Harald also co-founded The Correspondent, a member-funded journalism platform for as he says “unbreaking news,” which also became a publishing house with nearly 30 bestselling books. Most recently, he co-founded the School for Moral Ambition with bestselling author Rutger Bregman, focusing on the biggest, most neglected, yet fixable problems.

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For The Culture: On beauty, AI slop, and what lasts when software companies die with Andy Allen

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

What if the best business advice ever came from a five-year-old: “I think you should add some googly eyes and rainbow colors!”

In this episode, Ben sits down with Andy Allen, co-founder of Not Boring Software, 2 times Apple Design Award winner, and former co-founder of the groundbreaking startup FiftyThree – makers of the Paper app and Pencil stylus.

Andy challenges the dominant narrative of software design: While the industry has matured and systematized around efficiency and automation over the last 30+ years, he argues we've lost the cultural impact, the playfulness, the human expression that makes software worth making. As he draws parallels to fashion and industrial design, Andy reveals why software designers have no heroes to look up to – only billionaires – and why that's a problem. His students at the University of Washington taught him to remember why he became a designer in the first place: not to optimize conversion funnels, but to make things that matter.

This is a conversation about slowing down and embracing play.

Resources & References

For The Culture (Andy’s manifesto): https://notbor.ing/words/for-the-culture

Not Boring: https://notbor.ing/

FiftyThree launches Pencil: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/19/fiftythree-paper-pencil-ipad-stylus

Connect with Andy Allen

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsallen/

Bio:

Andy Allen is the Alaskan-born, founder of !Boring Software Ltd creating fun software for life's boring routines (2x Apple Design Awards). Co-Founder of FiftyThree and the popular drawing app, Paper (acquired). Adjunct Professor of Software Design at the University of Washington's School of Art.

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Holder of Stories of the Heart: On radical self-inquiry and being a good leader in unsettling times with Jerry Colonna

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

What if the most radical question you can ask yourself as a leader isn’t about strategy or growth – but simply “How am I actually feeling?”

In this very personal episode, Ben sits down with Jerry Colonna, legendary executive coach, former venture capitalist, and author of Reboot and Reunion. Speaking just days after becoming a grandfather, Jerry brings the full weight of his wisdom as “Holder of Stories of the Heart”—a name that came to him during a water-only fast in the desert—to explore what it means to lead with humanity in increasingly inhuman times.

Resources & References

Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry Colonna

Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong by Jerry Colonna

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Bell Hooks’ poems “When Angels Speak of Love”

REM’s “It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”

Jerry’s essay on coaching from an elder's perspective

Connect with Jerry Colonna

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-colonna-reboot/

Bio:

Leadership through radical self-inquiry. This is the driving idea behind the work of Jerry Colonna. For over two decades, he has been dedicated to the proposition that work should be non-violent to the self, non-violent to the community, and non-violent to the planet.

Jerry is a coach, writer, and speaker who focuses on leadership, business, and the practice of radical self-inquiry. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Reboot.io, a company born from the rallying cry that work does not have to destroy us. Work can be the way in which we achieve our fullest self.

A graduate of Queens College, Jerry helps people lead with humanity and equanimity. His unique blend of Buddhism, Jungian therapy, and entrepreneurial know-how has made him a sought-after coach and leader, working with some of the largest firms in the country.

In his work as a coach, he draws on his experience in Venture Capital (VC) as Co-founder of Flatiron Partners, one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs. Later, he was a partner with J.P. Morgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of J.P. Morgan Chase.

As a partner with J.P. Morgan Chase, Jerry launched the Financial Recovery Fund with The Partnership for the City of New York, a $10 million-plus program aimed at creating grants for small businesses impacted by the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Along with a strong commitment to the nonprofit sector, Jerry is the author of two books: REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up (2019) and REUNION: Leadership an

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Design Against Racism: On the myth of design’s neutrality, lack of critical thinking and the future of design leadership with Omari Souza

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Ben sits down with Omari Souza, design researcher and professor, founder of the State of Black Design Conference, and author of his newly released book Design Against Racism. A first-generation American of Jamaican descent and first in his family to attend university, Omari brings a perspective shaped by being the sole Black male graduate in his design program—an experience that launched his career-defining investigation into where the Black designers are and why design has failed to serve marginalized communities. We discuss the failures of traditional business and design leadership and explore what a more equitable future vision looks like; and what can be done to make it a reality.

Key Ideas:

Design is not neutral—it amplifies the intentions of those who wield it
The myth of "design does no harm" vs. the reality that we don't teach measurement of harm
How Bauhaus borrowed heavily from West African art without acknowledgment or investment
In-group/out-group dynamics: why men can't design equitable bathroom experiences for women (and why women can't design equitably for trans or disabled women without understanding their positionality)
The danger of AI trained on information "limited in scope and perspective"
Positionality mapping: understanding the intersections of identity that create blind spots
Design at the extremes: solve for the greatest difficulties and greatest ease to shift the entire window
Why business focus on shareholder profit prevents humane outcomes
The shift from profit to prosperity as a broader definition of success

Resources & References

Design Against Racism by Omari Souza

State of Black Design Conference

Africa to Bauhaus exhibit at the Smithsonian

FastCompany article on Joe Gebbia as the United States’ Chief Design Officer

Connect with Omari Souza

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omari-souza-b483187/

Bio:

Omari Souza is an assistant professor at the University of North Texas. He is the organizer of the State of Black Design Conference (online, April 2021). He previously organized and hosted an multi-panel event titled "The State of Black Design" (online, Sept. 2020), which drew a live audience of 2,071 — the second-largest livestream audience for an academic event in Texas State's history.

Omari is a first-generation American of Jamaican descent, raised in the Bronx, New York. Before arriving at Texas State, he gained work experience with companies and institutions such as VIBE magazine, the Buffalo News, CBS Radio, and Case Western Reserve University. He earned a BFA in Digital Media from Cleveland Institute of Art and an MFA in Design from Kent State University. Omari's research explores the idea of perceptions and how visual narratives influence culture — how we view ourselves and others around us.

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Brain Hacking & Trauma-Informed Leadership: Creating space for human ingenuity to flourish with Christina Goldschmidt

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

What if the only way to unlock ingenuity in our organizations is by showing up as authentic leaders who first and foremost know how to “hack their brain” and lead themselves?

In this episode, Ben sits down with Christina Goldschmidt, VP of Product Design at Warner Music Group and adjunct professor at NYU Stern. With her deep understanding of neuroscience and trauma-informed leadership, Christina brings a radically different perspective on how to unlock human potential in the age of AI, and why the future of business leadership requires us to embrace our most human qualities. Christina’s vision for management is about understanding our unique cognitive patterns and building organizations where everyone can access their ingenuity.

Key Ideas:

Procrastination as brain chemistry: learning to induce creative pressure without the downsides
Three modes of problem-solving: dialogue, liminal spaces (showers!), and unconscious processing
Why trauma-informed leadership creates better outcomes for everyone
Authenticity as permission: when leaders show up as themselves, teams can too
The apprenticeship crisis: how automation is eliminating the grunt work that teaches skills
Vision as the essential AI-age skill: knowing what you want before you can prompt for it
Curiosity as the antidote to fear in times of rapid change

Resources & References

Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lemke

Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway

Connect with Christina Goldschmidt

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinagoldschmidt/

Website: https://www.cgoldschmidt.com/

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Against the Tyranny of Winners: On beautiful business in the AI age, the rise of “Supercuration”, and the end of efficiency with Tim Leberecht

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

What if the future of business isn’t human at all—and maybe that’s exactly what will liberate us to become more humane?

In this first episode of season 2, Ben sits down with Tim Leberecht, co-founder and CEO of the House of Beautiful Business, and author of The Business Romantic. Speaking from Istanbul, Tim doesn’t mince words: business is fundamentally broken, caught in an unholy alliance of technocracy, late-stage capitalism, and rising authoritarianism. Yet in this darkness, he sees the seeds of something radically different.

Key Ideas:

Business is hitting rock bottom—the perfect moment to imagine something radically different
The false gods of modern management: optimization, efficiency, and winning
Why the future of business may not be human, but must remain humanist
From economy of efficiency to economy of care and wonder
Supercuration: the art of benevolent exclusion and caring for ideas
The death of agency and the birth of new forms of dignity
Why the only dignified work is the work we do for ourselves as artists
Love, care, and world-building as essential leadership qualities

Resources & References

House of Beautiful Business – Global community humanizing business

The Business Romantic – Tim’s manifesto against optimization

Against the Tyranny of the Winners (published in German)

Supercuration – Forthcoming book on the art of curation

The Poly Opportunity – Series examining intersecting positive trends

Douglas Rushkoff on attention and human connection

Hartmut Rosa’s Resonance – Sociology of vibration and attunement

Gianpiero Petriglieri on love and leadership

Shoukei Matsumoto’s Work Like a Monk

Connect with Tim Leberecht:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tleberecht/

Website: https://timleberecht.com/

Company: https://houseofbeautifulbusiness.com/

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The Bullshit Economy: How our obsession with control is making us sick with João Sevilhano

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0400

What if our desperate need for certainty, predictability, and control is not making us safer but actually making us psychologically ill? In this episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the hidden pathology of modern life with João Sevilhano, a psychologist, business consultant, and philosopher whose work challenges the fundamental assumptions of how we organize society, education, and business. From his home in Lisbon during his summer break, João brings two decades of experience working at the intersection of psychology and corporate culture to reveal the deep contradictions in our pursuit of certainty.

João takes us on a journey from ancient Greek concepts of human development to the modern “bullshit economy” that rewards empty performance over substance. Drawing from his background as both a clinical psychologist who worked in psychiatric hospitals and a business consultant who helps organizations navigate change, he reveals how our educational systems, corporate structures, and even personal relationships have become organized around the illusion of control rather than the cultivation of wisdom. Through the lens of psychoanalysis and contemporary philosophy, João demonstrates how our inability to tolerate uncertainty is creating a society-wide pathology that distances us from our humanity.

In our conversation, João challenges us to reconsider everything from how we raise children to how we structure organizations, arguing that our obsession with metrics, productivity, and predictable outcomes is creating “emotional bureaucrats” who have internalized corporate logic into their most intimate experiences. His vision for healing this syndrome involves embracing what he calls “useful uselessness” and rediscovering the ancient balance between suffering and growth that makes us fully human.

In this thought-provoking discussion, we explore:

Why psychopathology is proportional to our need for certainty and control
How modern education systems prepare us for performance rather than wisdom
The shift from ancient Greek paideia to modern workforce preparation
Why we’ve created a “bullshit economy” where empty words have market value
How technology externalizes internal conflicts and stunts psychological development
The concept of "emotional bureaucrats" and the bureaucratization of intimacy
Why AI could either liberate us or deepen our disconnection from ourselves

This episode is an invitation to examine the hidden costs of our certainty-obsessed culture and to consider what it might mean to build organizations and societies that honor the full complexity of human experience.

Resources Mentioned

The Certainty Syndrome essay by João Sevilhano

The Bullshit Economy essay by João Sevilhano

Post Depth essay by João Sevilhano

Byung-Chul Han’s philosophical works on modern burnout culture

The Permanent Crisis book on the decline of humanities education

House of Beau

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AI as Normal Technology: On superintelligence delusion, bogus claims and a humanistic AI future with Prof. Arvind Narayanan

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:00:00 -0400

What if the race toward “superintelligence” is misguided and what does a more humanistic vision for AI adoption actually look like? In this episode of Poets & Thinkers, we dive deep into the intersection of artificial intelligence, culture, and human agency with Prof. Arvind Narayanan, a computer science professor at Princeton University whose work has fundamentally challenged how we think about AI’s role in society. Named on TIME’s inaugural list of 100 most influential people in AI, Arvind brings decades of research experience studying the gap between tech industry promises and real-world impacts.

Arvind takes us beyond the hype and fear that dominates AI discourse, as we dive into his book “AI Snake Oil” (co-authored with Sayash Kapoor) and their latest essay titled “AI as Normal Technology” that draws powerful parallels to past general-purpose technologies like electricity and automobiles.

He reveals why the term “artificial intelligence” itself creates dangerous confusion, masking critical differences between predictive AI systems that are already affecting the lives of millions of people – determining who gets bail, healthcare coverage, and job opportunities – and generative AI tools like ChatGPT that capture public attention.

Through rigorous analysis of adoption patterns, organizational barriers, and historical societal precedent, Arvind demonstrates why superintelligence predictions fundamentally misunderstand both the nature of human intelligence and the complex realities of technological diffusion.

In our conversation, Arvind challenges leaders to move beyond automation fantasies toward human-AI augmentation, explains why current AI benchmarks fail catastrophically at predicting real-world performance, and makes the case for why flexible, bottom-up innovation will determine which organizations thrive in the AI era. His perspective bridges computer science rigor with deep humanistic values, showing how thoughtful design and governance frameworks can help us navigate this transformation while keeping human agency at the center.

This episode is a provocation to think more precisely about AI’s actual impacts, move beyond techno-optimism and techno-pessimism toward nuanced understanding, and focus on the practical frameworks needed to ensure this technology serves human flourishing.

Resources Mentioned

“AI Snake Oil” book by by Prof. Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor

“AI is Normal Technology” essay by Prof. Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor

Air Canada chatbot legal case as reported by The Guardian

Everett Rogers’ work on technology adoption

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AI Sovereignty & the Literacy Gap: Policy lessons from the frontlines with Jaxson Khan

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0400

What if the biggest regret we’ll have in 10 years isn’t over-regulating AI, but failing to educate people about it? In this episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the intersection of AI policy, national sovereignty, and digital literacy with Jaxson Khan, a unique cross-sector leader who transitioned from startup founder to senior policy advisor for Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. From his home in Toronto, Jaxson shares hard-won insights from the frontlines of AI policy development, where he helped craft Canada’s approach to artificial intelligence across multiple critical areas.

Jaxson takes us behind the scenes of government AI strategy, revealing why less than 25% of Canadians have any formal AI education despite the country being home to some of the technology’s foundational researchers. He explains Canada’s Sovereign AI Compute Strategy – a response to the brain drain that sees Canadian talent and capital flow south to Silicon Valley – and makes the case for treating AI infrastructure like a public utility. Through his current work helping nonprofits and corporations adopt AI, Jaxson demonstrates how the same technology reshaping global geopolitics can be leveraged for social good.

Throughout our conversation, Jaxson challenges the notion that we need to choose between innovation and regulation, instead advocating for what he calls “meaningful consent” in privacy frameworks and emphasizing the critical importance of cultural sovereignty in AI development. His perspective bridges the technical, political, and deeply human aspects of our AI-powered future, showing how policy decisions made today will determine whether societies remain intact through this transformation.

In this discussion, we explore:

Why AI literacy should be treated as urgently as national defense in the modern era
How Canada is building sovereign AI infrastructure without trying to replace Big Tech
The three pillars of AI sovereignty: technology IP, data and compute, and cultural preservation
Why privacy laws that predate iPhones are a “travesty” in the AI age
How the imagination gap is holding back traditional companies from AI adoption
Why NGOs and government agencies must accelerate AI adoption to stay relevant

This episode is an invitation to think beyond the hype and fear surrounding AI, focusing instead on the practical policy frameworks and educational foundations needed to ensure this powerful technology serves humanity’s highest aspirations.

Resources Mentioned

Canada’s Sovereign AI Compute Strategy

“Bridging the Imagination Gap” Royal Bank of Canada white paper

OECD data on international AI adoption patterns

“AI is Normal Technology” by Prof. Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor

“Genesis” by Kissinger, Schmidt, and Mundy

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The Model Can’t Relate: A poet’s rebellion inside the AI machine with Danielle McClune

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 21:00:00 -0400

What if the people building AI are so caught up in the rush to market that they’ve forgotten to ask the most important question: what does this mean for humanity? In this refreshingly honest episode, we explore the human side of artificial intelligence with Danielle McClune, a writer and poet who has spent the last years at the epicenter of AI development at Microsoft, training conversational models and crafting the prompts that shape how AI communicates with millions of users worldwide.

Danielle takes us behind the scenes of AI development with a perspective that’s rare in the tech industry – one grounded in creative writing, poetry, and a deep concern for preserving our humanity in an increasingly automated world. From her Substack “Soft Coded” writing that challenges the industry’s relentless optimism to her daily work training models to sound human while remembering they’re not, Danielle offers a critical yet nuanced view of where AI is headed and what we might be losing along the way.

Throughout our conversation, Danielle reveals the absurdity of charging users for saying “please” and “thank you” to AI while encouraging human-like interaction, questions why we’re bolting chat interfaces onto existing software instead of reimagining human-computer interaction, and argues for maintaining the “uncanny valley” as a crucial reminder that we’re not talking to someone with a childhood. Her vision for AI as a public utility and her insights into what the technology might look like if women had led its development offer provocative alternatives to the current Silicon Valley narrative.

In this conversation, we explore:

Why saying “please” and “thank you” to AI reveals deeper contradictions in how we’re building the technology
The rush to add chat interfaces to everything instead of reimagining user experiences from scratch
Why the uncanny valley might be a feature, not a bug, in human-AI interaction
How “vibe checks” and human intuition remain essential in evaluating AI output
The case for treating AI as a public utility rather than private corporate property
Why training AI models feels like “raising a toddler” and often becomes “women’s work”

This episode is an invitation to slow down, ask harder questions, and remember that behind every AI interaction is a human being whose life might be changed – for better or worse – by the choices we make today.

Resources Mentioned

Soft Coded is Danielle’s excellent Substack

Ruined by Design – Mike Monteiro’s book

Design for the Real World – Victor Papanek

Connect with Danielle

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-mcclune-2b35b95b/

Substack: https://softcoded.substack.com/

Bio

Danielle McClune is a writer and poet embedded in the frontier of AI development at Microsoft, where she has spent the last two years training conversational models and crafting the prompts th

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Multisensory Beings: How neuroaesthetics shapes the future human-machine interaction and art – with Matthew Bennett

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Humans are multisensory beings. What if the tiny sounds you hear from your devices every day are literally vibrating through your body, changing your nervous system, and collectively creating decades of audio pollution? And what do we do about it in an age where generative AI is likely going to add even more noise?

In this fascinating episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the profound intersection of sound, technology, and human experience with Matthew Bennett, a composer, sound artist, and sensory designer who led sound design at Microsoft for 12 years. From his home studio in Seattle, Matthew reveals how he shaped the sonic experience of billions of people worldwide while pioneering a new paradigm for technology sound design.

Matthew takes us on a journey through the science of sound as sensory experience – not just something we hear, but a form of touch that vibrates our entire body and changes our physiology. He shares mind-blowing insights about how Microsoft’s tiny notification sounds, when multiplied across hundreds of millions of users, created decades of sound pollution daily – and how his team cut 10 years off that global audio footprint by shortening sounds by just one second. Through the lens of neuroaesthetics and multisensory design, Matthew illustrates why our digital experiences are always multisensory whether we intend them to be or not.

Throughout our conversation, Matthew challenges the current AI music generation hype, revealing how these tools expose the formulaic nature of popular music while lacking the human intention and authenticity that gives art its soul. He advocates for a “do no harm” approach to sound design, emphasizing the importance of designing silence and understanding that unexpected sounds can hijack our brains and trigger fight-or-flight responses. His vision for Musical Sensory Environments and precision therapies offers a glimpse into how sound can heal rather than harm.

In this discussion, we explore:

Why sound is actually a special form of touch that vibrates through your entire body
How tiny notification sounds create decades of global audio pollution daily
The ethics of multisensory design and the responsibility that comes with scale
Why AI-generated music reveals the formulaic nature of popular genres
How neuroesthetics can become essential literacy for designers and leaders
The difference between human intention and statistical pattern matching in creativity

This episode is an invitation to understand sound as a powerful force that shapes our digital ecosystems, our physical well-being, and our human connections – and to approach the creation of sensory experiences with the care and intention they deserve.

Resources Mentioned

Jaron Lanier’ work
World Health Organization (WHO) research on noise pollution as global health crisis
Neuroaesthetics research and fMRI studies on brain responses to sound
Musical Sensory Environments – Matthew’s pioneering approach to immersive audio

Connect with Matthew Bennett:

Website: https://soundandsensory.com/

Linkedin:

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“Liftoff” rounds, data moats, and trust barriers: How AI is rewriting the venture capital rules with Pascal Unger

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 22:00:00 -0400

What if venture capital is finally getting the reset it desperately needed? And what does that mean for the qualities and skills required for future founders, startup leaders, and even investors? In this episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the future of venture capital and startup building with Pascal Unger, managing partner at pre-seed VC firm focal. From his base in Miami, Pascal brings a unique perspective shaped by his Swiss roots and global experiences spanning coding, consulting at BCG, and finance before diving into the venture world.

Pascal takes us on a journey through the evolution of software – from systems of record in the 1980s to systems of engagement in the 2000s, and now to systems of intelligence that can automate entire workflows rather than just optimize them. He reveals why this shift is creating what many VCs believe to be the largest market opportunity in history, as software can now target not just software budgets but headcount budgets and enable companies to do exponentially more with existing resources.

Through compelling examples of how his portfolio companies are building data moats and reducing friction to adoption, Pascal illustrates what it takes to win in this new paradigm. However, this platform shift also challenges the VC model to its core because small teams can now go further and faster than ever, start generating revenue early, without requiring to raise a lot of venture capital.

Pascal challenges conventional wisdom about startup building, arguing that distribution and go-to-market strategy are now more critical than ever before. He shares his framework for assessing founders across six key dimensions – from learning speed to moral compass. His insights on the “liftoff round” concept and the compression of funding cycles offer a glimpse into how venture capital itself is being reimagined for the AI era.

In our discussion, we explore:

Why software is evolving from optimizing workflows to automating entire outcomes
How the trust barrier affects AI adoption and why humans still need to stay in the loop
Why data moats and distribution strategies are more crucial than ever for startups
The six dimensions investors should use to assess founders in an AI-first world
How building has become more efficient while the bar for initial products has risen dramatically
Why Europe risks becoming a “museum” due to lack of adaptability
Where the VC industry is struggling and how it needs to reinvent itself to stay relevant

This episode is an invitation to understand how the fundamental rules of software, venture capital, and startup building are being rewritten in the AI era – and what it takes to thrive rather than just survive in this new paradigm.

Topics

02:45 - Pascal’s journey from Switzerland to BCG to founding Focal VC

05:10 - The evolution of software: from systems of record to engagement to intelligence

07:25 - Why systems of intelligence represent the biggest market opportunity in history

09:50 - The role of trust in AI adoption and keeping humans in the loop

13:35 - How startups can compete against foundation model providers with proprietary data

16:20 - Building data moats through integration strategies and reducing friction

20:25 - Trust-building measures for startups in high-stakes vs. low-risk use cases

24:10 - Why the minimum bar for software quality is rising rap

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The Dark Side of Empathy: On AI “Soul Gaps”, emotional commons, and the responsibility to develop humane technologies with Michael Ventura

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 18:00:00 -0400

What if the very technology that promises to make us more efficient is actually creating “soul gaps” – spaces where human understanding and meaning simply cannot be replicated? In this deeply insightful episode of Poets and Thinkers, we explore the future of humanistic leadership with Michael Ventura, founder of SubRosa, author of “Applied Empathy,” and a fascinating polymath who bridges brand strategy, alternative medicine, and human development. From his practice at Esalen Institute to co-founding a pet food company with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Michael brings a unique perspective on how empathy serves as the new language of leadership.

Michael takes us on a journey through what empathy really means – distinguishing it from sympathy and compassion – and why it's become critical for leaders navigating increasingly diverse, multi-generational workforces. He shares compelling insights about how AI can replicate the technical aspects of creativity but misses the essential human elements, like where to place the divine spark of light in a Renaissance painting. Through examples ranging from political manipulation to Meta’s disturbing targeting of insecure teenagers, Michael reveals both the light and dark sides of applied empathy.

Throughout our conversation, Michael challenges us to slow down in a world obsessed with speed, arguing that patience – not just efficiency – should be a core leadership skill. He envisions a future where leaders move from having all the answers to asking all the right questions, creating space for diverse perspectives and collective intelligence. And we’ll even get a little teaser for Michael’s upcoming book on “constellation thinking” which promises to revolutionize how we understand purpose in our complex, multi-faceted modern lives.

In this discussion, we explore:

Why empathy is not about being nice – it's about understanding without conversion
How AI creates “soul gaps” where human meaning and divine sparks cannot be replicated
The difference between cognitive empathy used for manipulation versus authentic connection
Why leaders must transition from answer-givers to question-askers
How patience becomes a revolutionary skill in our hyperconnected world
The loss of shared cultural moments and emotional commons in our fragmented media landscape

This episode is an invitation to reclaim the deeply human skills that technology cannot replicate, and to use empathy not as weakness but as a strategic advantage in building more connected, innovative organizations.

Resources Mentioned

Applied Empathy: The New Language of Leadership by Michael Ventura
“The Dark Side of Empathy” - Michael’s New York Times op-ed
“America's Uncontacted Tribes” article by Michael Ventura
Center for Humane Technology - led by Tristan Harris
Kismet – pet food company Michael co-founded with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

Connect with Michael Ventura:

Website: https://www.micha

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Rewriting All Layers Of The Stack – Leading with agency when everyone is uncomfortable with Meg Bear

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 20:00:00 -0400

What if the discomfort leaders feel right now, at the beginning of the AI age, isn’t a problem to solve, but the exact place where transformation happens? In this episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the future of organizational leadership and human potential with Meg Bear, a seasoned tech executive turned “future inventor” who brings a unique perspective as a fifth-generation Bay Area native and first-generation college graduate. From her advisory work with CEOs and boards to her mission of creating abundant futures that value our shared humanity, Meg offers a compelling vision for navigating unprecedented change.

Meg takes us on a journey through her unconventional life and career path – from engineering leadership at Oracle and president of SAP’s HCM (Human Capital Management) business to her current work helping organizations harness human ingenuity. She reveals why the traditional business leadership playbook – built on certainty and past experience – is not only obsolete but counterproductive in our current moment.

Drawing from her background as a cultural outsider who learned to navigate different worlds, Meg explains how the skills of adaptation and cross-cultural communication that immigrants develop are exactly what all leaders need now.

Throughout our conversation, Meg challenges the narrative that change is simply happening to us, instead advocating for agency in shaping the future we want to live in. She argues that we’re at a unique moment where discomfort is hitting “all layers of the stack” – from the board room and the c-suite to the ICs – and that this discomfort is not only natural but necessary for growth. Her vision for leadership emphasizes curiosity over certainty, collective intelligence over individual expertise, and the courage to embrace vulnerability as a pathway to learning.

In this transformative discussion, we explore:

Why the space between what you can’t control and what you can impact is bigger than you think
How traditional business leadership models based on certainty are failing in uncertain times
Why emotions are data that reveal deeper fears about changing definitions of competence
The need for psychologically safe spaces where experienced leaders can express confusion
How untapped human ingenuity could be unlocked through more inclusive value creation in organizations of the future
Why our “messy bits” are actually our greatest sources of strength and adaptability

This episode is an invitation for leaders to move beyond fear-based reactions to inevitable change, and instead embrace the agency we have to invent futures that serve our shared humanity.

Resources Mentioned

Reid Hoffman on GenAI as the cognitive industrial revolution: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/gen-ai-a-cognitive-industrial-revolution
The myth of exponential hypergrowth: https://longform.asmartbear.com/exponential-growth/
Inventing the future: https://www.megbear.com/post/inventing-the-future
Meg’s 2025 word of the year: https://www.megbear.com/post/word-for-2025-abundan

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Slot Machine Creativity: On the value of friction to create meaningful works of art with Nando Costa

Tue, 27 May 2025 08:00:00 -0400

What if the struggle and friction in the creative process is actually what makes art meaningful – and what we’re at risk of losing in our rush toward AI efficiency? In this deeply reflective episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the intersection of human creativity and artificial intelligence with Nando Costa, a renowned designer and artist who has been at the very forefront of Generative AI (GenAI) and whose work has shaped the visual identity of major tech companies including Microsoft, Google, and ServiceNow. From his home studio on Bainbridge Island, Nando shares his journey from early GenAI experimentation to a deeper understanding of what makes creativity authentically human.

Nando takes us through his extensive exploration of generative AI, having created over 25,000 pieces using these tools, only to discover their addictive, slot-machine-like qualities and ultimate lack of artistic depth. He reveals how this experience led him to champion “slow photography,” deliberate creative processes, and the irreplaceable value of human intention in artistic work. Through compelling examples – from photographers camping for days to capture the perfect shot to his daughter’s (who’s also an artist) immediate rejection of AI-generated art – Nando illustrates why the time, energy, and personal investment we put into creating something directly correlates to its impact on others.

Throughout our conversation, Nando challenges the dominant narrative that speed and optimization should drive creative work, instead advocating for depth over speed and originality over optimization. His insights on brand work, creative leadership, and the future of design offer a compelling counter-narrative to the “AI will replace everything” mentality, showing how human creativity becomes more precious – not less – in an automated world.

In this thought-provoking discussion, we explore:

Why generative AI feels addictive but ultimately lacks the depth of human-created art
How the time and energy invested in creation directly impacts the meaning of the work
Why Gen Z is gravitating toward analog processes like film photography and vinyl records
The importance of “slow” and deliberate creative processes in maintaining authenticity
How friction in the creative act isn’t a bug to be fixed, but a feature to be embraced
What the future of brand work looks like when anyone can generate content instantly

This episode is an invitation to reconsider our relationship with creative tools and the creative act itself, to value the human struggle that gives art its meaning, and to champion depth and originality in an age of optimization.

Resources Mentioned

Book: Slow Productivity
Theo Jansen’s wind-powered beach sculptures
SomeForm Studio example of curated AI automation in design

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The Optimization Lie: Will AI finally give us the freedom “new work” promised us? – with journalist and author Markus Albers

Tue, 13 May 2025 19:00:00 -0400

Digitalization promised us a brave “new work” world. But instead we ended up with more meetings and “fake work”. What’s next and how do we transform our obsession with productivity tools and endless meetings into meaningful work and real innovation?

In this episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the future of work with Markus Albers, a Berlin-based journalist, author, and entrepreneur whose insights have consistently anticipated major shifts in how we work. From his prescient 2008 book predicting remote work to his latest exploration of “the optimization lie,” Markus reveals how our relationship with work has evolved – and why the promised freedom of digital tools has instead chained us to our screens.

Markus takes us on a journey through the changing landscape of work, explaining how the initial promise of technology to free us from our desks has instead created an “always on” culture where work seeps into every aspect of our lives. He shares alarming research showing knowledge workers now spend 60% of their time in meetings and collaboration rather than doing creative work – and how this leads to widespread dissatisfaction and disengagement. And the effects on innovation in businesses around the world are fatal. Yet through his research with companies like Bayer, he also uncovers promising models for a more fluid, fulfilling future of work powered by AI and skill-based platforms.

Throughout our conversation, Markus challenges conventional management approaches that prioritize control over creation, arguing that leaders need to rediscover their own creative capacities and build organizations where people can actually finish their days feeling they’ve accomplished something meaningful. His vision for the future of work emphasizes fluidity, cross-organizational collaboration, and technology that serves human needs rather than extracting maximum productivity.

In this inspiring discussion, we explore:

Why the initial promise of technology to make us more productive and happier hasn’t materialized
How managers’ fear of losing control has led to calendar overload and measurement obsession
The identity crisis facing managers as AI threatens to replace routine work
What organizations like Bayer are doing to create more fluid, skill-based work models
How leaders can fight for freedom from constant work in an AI-powered future

This episode is an invitation to reimagine our relationship with work—to move beyond optimization for its own sake and create environments where people can truly create, ship, and find fulfillment.

Topics

02:30 - Markus’s journey from journalist to author and entrepreneur

04:00 - The Meconomy book and its early vision of the digital revolution

07:30 - The evolution of the "future of work" from liberation to digital exhaustion

09:10 - How we freed ourselves from desk chains but chained ourselves to screens instead

11:30 - Leaders’ fear of losing control in hybrid work environments

12:30 - The need to rediscover our capacity to create and ship meaningful work

14:30 - Microsoft research showing knowledge workers spend 60% of time on collaboration

16:00 - The leadership challenge of reconfiguring how work is done

17:00 - The importance of asynchronous communication skills for leaders

18:40 - The growing debate about “bullshit jobs” and management bureaucracy

20:20 - Why des

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Beyond “Popcorn Innovation”: Human-First leadership from IBM to the United Nations with Frances West

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

What if the key to navigating our AI-driven future isn’t about becoming more technological, but rather more authentically human? In this inspiring episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the intersection of technology, leadership, and human dignity with Frances West, a pioneering executive whose wisdom spans decades of technological transformation. As IBM’s first-ever Chief Accessibility Officer and a global advocate for digital inclusion, Frances brings a unique perspective on how to harness AI’s potential while keeping humanity at the center.

Frances takes us on a journey through her remarkable career, from arriving in America at age 19 to becoming a trailblazing technology executive who helped shape IBM’s approach to human-centered innovation. Drawing on insights from her book “Authentic Inclusion™ Drives Disruptive Innovation,” she reveals why the skills we’ve traditionally considered “soft” – creativity, empathy, persistence, and ethical judgment – will become our most valuable assets in an AI-driven world.

Throughout our conversation, Frances challenges the dominant narratives around AI, arguing that as artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, humans must embrace and cultivate the qualities that make us uniquely human. She offers a compelling vision for business leadership that balances profit with principle and purpose, emphasizing that true innovation must be rooted in meeting authentic human needs rather than merely advancing technology for its own sake.

In this thought-provoking discussion, we explore:

Why “human first” thinking is crucial for ethical technology development
How digital inclusion benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities
The leadership traits essential for navigating our AI-integrated future
Why “popcorn innovation” fails where disciplined vision succeeds
The balance between maintaining our authentic selves while embracing AI tools

This episode is an invitation to reimagine our relationship with technology through a lens of authentic inclusion, challenging us to develop the leadership qualities that will help humanity thrive alongside artificial intelligence.

Topics

00:30 - Introduction to Frances West and her career at IBM

03:30 - The concept of “human first” in technology development

06:00 - Balancing AI advancement with human dignity and agency

13:30 - The importance of building inclusive technology from the start

17:40 - How technology has evolved from mainframes to personalized devices

21:10 - The human qualities AI cannot easily replicate

27:10 - "As AI gets more human, humans need to get more human"

30:40 - Balancing foundational skills with creativity in education

34:00 - The evolution of leadership skills needed for an AI-integrated world

36:00 - The Four L’s of leadership: Listen, Learn, Lived experience, Lead

41:30 - Avoiding "popcorn innovation" with disciplined vision and execution

45:30 - How sales experience grounds technological innovation

50:40 - Frances’s vision for the future of business leadership

52:00 - The Five C’s for future leaders: Confidence, Conviction, Communication, Curiosity, and Courage

Resources Mentioned

Authentic Inclusion™ Drives Disruptive Innovation by Frances West

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The other “F” Word: Embracing failure to elevate human ingenuity in the AI era with professor and author John Danner

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:00:00 -0400

What if our fixation on avoiding failure is the very thing blocking us from building organizations that maximize human ingenuity? And why is this business critical in the AI age?

In this episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the intersection of leadership, innovation, and human potential with John Danner, renowned business advisor, professor, and bestselling author. Drawing on his extensive experience teaching at UC Berkeley and Princeton while advising leaders across sectors, John challenges conventional wisdom about what drives organizational success in our rapidly evolving AI-everything world.

John takes us on a journey through what he calls the three fundamental organizational pursuits – growth, innovation, and engagement – and reveals why they all depend on the one thing leaders often fear most: failure. He explains why the status quo serves as the greatest obstacle to progress and how our natural human bias toward familiarity creates resistance to change. Through compelling insights and personal anecdotes from decades of personal experience, John illuminates how fear silences organizational creativity while analyzing startling Gallup research showing only 20% of employees globally are truly engaged in their work.

As we navigate the profound transformation brought by AI and other technologies, John presents a critical fork in the road: organizations can pursue "AI to the max" with minimal human input, or they can embrace a more humanistic model built on human ingenuity, imagination, and collaboration. His vision for “invitational leadership” offers a compelling alternative to extractive models that have dominated business thinking for generations.

In this discussion, we explore:

Why failure is the unavoidable companion to genuine growth and innovation
How fear serves as the “border patrol” for the status quo in organizations
The alarming reality that only one in five employees globally is engaged at work
The third revolutionary period we’re entering: the inclusion challenge
Why leaders must shift from extraction to resourcefulness in building sustainable organizations
The power of “invitational leadership” in unleashing human creativity at all levels

This episode is an invitation to reimagine leadership for a more human-centered future, challenging us to develop organizational cultures where everyone – not just an elite few – can contribute their inherent creativity and imagination.

Topics

03:10 - The three fundamentals every organization strives for: growth, innovation, and engagement

04:20 - How growth, innovation, and engagement all depend on failure

06:30 - The status quo as the primary obstacle to change and improvement

08:50 - The interconnection between fear, feedback, and failure in organizational culture

12:00 - Leaders acknowledging their own fallibility to create psychological safety

13:10 - Gallup research on employee engagement: only 20% engaged, 15% actively disengaged

15:10 - The concept of “growth for both” – aligning organizational and individual growth

17:30 - The three revolutionary periods: industrial, information, and now the inclusion challenge

21:00 - Two possible futures: “AI to the max” versus human ingenuity and imagination

26:00 - Challenging extractive business models in favor of resourcefulness

28:10 - Shifting from “leadership” to “weedersh

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Do You Breathe When You Scroll? The Art of Digital Mindfulness with conceptual artist Hojin Kang

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 23:00:00 -0400

What if the very technology that distracts us could be transformed into a mirror reflecting our deepest human connections? In this fascinating episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the intersection of tradition, technology, and mindfulness with Berlin-based artist and designer Hojin Kang.

Born to Korean parents in Germany, Hojin creates art that brilliantly juxtaposes ancient spiritual practices with our modern digital behaviors, revealing striking parallels that challenge how we engage with the world around us.

Hojin takes us on a journey through his artistic evolution, from his early influences in both Korean Buddhist traditions and cutting-edge technology to his current work exploring human connection through thermal imaging. His provocative installations –from scrolling behaviors reimagined as prayer beads and notification bell sculptures that trigger visceral responses, to thermal imagining cameras in art and border surveillance – expose the tension between our mindless digital habits and the mindful traditions they inadvertently mimic.

Throughout our conversation, Hojin reveals how his dual perspective as both artist and designer shapes his creative process, embracing curiosity and emotion while maintaining craftsmanship and quality. As we navigate an increasingly AI-driven world, his insights on maintaining human connection and embodied experiences offer a compelling vision for how we might engage with technology without losing our essential humanity.

In this thought-provoking discussion, we explore:

How scrolling behaviors mirror ancient meditation practices while serving opposite purposes
The physiological conditioning created by notification sounds and their artistic reimagining
Why maintaining the mind-body connection is crucial in an increasingly digital world
How thermal imaging can reveal the warmth that transcends physical and cultural differences
The balance between artistic curiosity and design discipline in creative work

This episode is an invitation to pause and reconsider our relationship with technology, to find spaces for mindfulness in our digital lives, and to recognize the human warmth that binds us despite our superficial differences.

Topics

00:30 - Introduction to Hojin Kang and his background

03:30 - Drawing inspiration from tradition and technology

06:50 - The parallel between prayer beads and social media scrolling

10:00 - The notification bell sculpture and our conditioned responses

15:00 - Technology's impact on our emotional and physiological states

18:40 - Art as observation rather than providing solutions

22:50 - Using technology as a tool while maintaining emancipation from it

28:00 - Cultivating curiosity about humanity above technology

33:00 - The importance of embodied experiences and physical creation

35:00 - "The Warmth That Binds Us" thermal imaging art project

41:20 - How thermal imagery removes visual markers of difference

44:00 - Balancing artistic expression with design discipline

49:20 - The importance of intrinsic motivation in creating meaningful work

Resources Mentioned

Please Wait (Digital Installation): https://www.hojinkang.com/please_wait/

Scrolling Prayer Beads (Sculpture):

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AI Policy-Making in Service of Humanity: From Davos and Washington DC to Riyadh with Manail Anis Ahmed

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 21:00:00 -0400

What if our approach to AI and technology development is overlooking the most fundamental human value – dignity? In this thought-provoking episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, global policy, and human-centered technology with Manail Anis Ahmed.

As a global citizen who has shaped educational institutions in the Middle East and led AI policy research, Manail brings a unique cross-cultural perspective that challenges Western-dominated tech narratives.

Manail is adjunct faculty in Biotech Entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins University, expert on education, technology & society, and contributes to the AI Governance Alliance at the World Economic Forum.

Manail takes us on a journey across continents, revealing how different societies are navigating the AI revolution through their unique cultural lenses. She unpacks how Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation of women’s workforce participation offers surprising lessons for the West, and how technology workers in Africa are demanding dignity in the digital economy. Throughout our conversation, Manail makes a compelling case for placing human dignity at the center of our technological future.

In this enlightening discussion, we explore:

Why technology development needs to prioritize dignity over innovation
How the Global South is being exploited in AI development while being excluded from its benefits
What Saudi Arabia's approach to women in the workforce teaches us about structural change
The natural connection between women and entrepreneurship that venture capital overlooks
Why "people, planet, and profit" must expand to include resilience and prosperity

Throughout our discussion, Manail articulates a powerful critique of hyper-capitalism and technological determinism. The United States, once the model for prosperity, now shows concerning signs of social fragmentation as its middle class splinters. “We are so insistent on protecting the right to innovation that we forget to protect the right to dignity,” she observes, providing a cautionary tale for developing nations tempted to adopt Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” mentality.

As we navigate the future of humanistic business leadership, Manail suggests moving beyond profit-first thinking toward resilience and context-specific prosperity. The fundamental question becomes: how can we build systems where people and societies don’t just function but truly thrive, while preserving our planet? The answer may determine whether our technological future enhances or diminishes our humanity.

Topics

00:30 - Introduction to Manail and her background as a global citizen

02:50 - Teaching responsible AI at Princeton and how it connects to entrepreneurship

10:40 - Manail's work with the Center for AI and Digital Policy

13:50 - The World Economic Forum AI Governance Alliance and "Inclusive AI"

16:00 - How workers in the Global South are exploited in AI development

18:40 - The emergence of an African technology workers alliance

21:00 - Balancing rapid AI deployment with thoughtful regulation

23:00 - How the U.S. model of unbridled entrepreneurialism led to social fragmentation

28:00 - Saudi Arabia's structural approach to enabling women in the workforce

33:20 - Manail's experience creating liberal arts and business education in Saudi Arabia

41:00

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The Myth of Greatness and Ethics in Business with author and writer Avram Alpert

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 22:00:00 -0500

What if our obsession with being the best is actually holding us back? In this inaugural episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the myth of greatness with Avram Alpert. He is a writer and teaches at Princeton University.

Avi challenges the idea that only the “best” deserve success. He proposes an alternative: “Embracing a ‘good-enough’ approach.” – with a focus on fostering sustainability, fulfillment, and a more equitable society.

Avram takes us on a journey through the themes of his book, “The Good-Enough Life”. He unpacks how values influence business, politics, and human connection. We discuss real-world examples of how collaboration, rather than competition, drives meaningful progress. Avram shares how and how leaders can reshape systems to prioritize collective well-being over individual accolades.

In this candid and eye-opening conversation, we explore:

Why the pursuit of “greatness” can be a trap
How ethical constraints clash with business ambitions
What history teaches us about cooperation vs. competition
The surprising power of “good enough” leadership for a better future

This episode is an invitation to shift your perspective on success, challenge the status quo, and imagine a world where everyone gets a seat at the table.

Topics

01:00 - Introduction to Avram Alpert and his work

04:30 - The intersection of values and business

07:00 - Role of systemic constraints in ethical decision-making

12:00 - The paradox of societal progress vs. individual well-being

18:00 - Defining greatness vs. “good-enough”

22:00 - The “good-enough parent” and its implications for society

27:00 - How history shows us the power of collaboration

36:00 - The paradox of human nature: individualism vs. collectivism

42:00 - What qualities do we need in future leaders?

46:00 - The case for a “good-enough” future

Resources Mentioned