Thirty years ago, people knew IBM as the “computer maker.” Today, IBM has evolved its business away from computer hardware, shifting focus on consulting and developing and deploying next-generation technologies like hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. Arvind Krishna has been there through the transformation. He joined the company in 1990, at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center. In 2020, he took over as the company’s Chairman and CEO. Having the perspective of both a technologist and a business leader gives Arvind unique insight into where to take the company next. “We lean a little forward in where the world is going as opposed to where it has been,” he says. Arvind joins the podcast to discuss IBM’s role as a catalyst in deploying advanced technology to solve the world’s most complex challenges and make business -- and the planet -- better. 
 
Listen to this episode to learn:
• How working through Covid was a “large social experiment” that ultimately strengthened IBM and ushered in a remote and hybrid work future 

• Garage methodology, client engineering, and client success management -- or, the three ways that IBM works together and co-creates with organizations 

• The business opportunity of sustainability and how technology reduces friction, removes waste, lowers costs, and creates a healthier environment 

• The case for a more resilient and diversified supply chain 
Why IBM does not believe in donating money to politicians or PACs -- but would rather gain access to politicians through doing good in the world 

• The three traits every aspiring CEO should have

Arvind Krishna, CEO, IBM: A new era for technology and innovation

In 2009, Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs left their jobs as food editors and writers at The New York Times to start a website and company called Food52. They saw how Americans’ relationship with food was changing: food was no longer a niche interest, but a core part of people’s identities that connected them to every aspect of life. The founders saw an opportunity to use technology and the internet to bring people together around food, a site where everyday home cooks could find everything in one place, from recipes to cooking advice to where to find the perfect set of nesting mixing bowls. A decade later, Food52 has been recognized as one of the world’s most innovative companies, with three brands (so far) in its portfolio, a media content arm that reaches millions of loyal users per month, and a multi-million dollar e-commerce business that sells kitchen wares, home goods and decor, furniture, bedding, and more. Amanda Hesser, Co-CEO of Food52, joins the podcast to talk about the company’s natural progression -- not perceived expansion! -- from food into all aspects of the home, and how she and her team have built a brand that’s genuine, soulful, and “for people who see food at the center of a well-lived life.” 

Listen to this episode to learn:
• The value of content to build an emotional connection to and loyalty with users; and how building that trust allows Food52’s e-commerce business to move in different directions

• How Food52 has found success in cultivating long-term relationships with its community and continually evolving as its audience (and the world) changes  

• The cultural impact of celebrity chefs in the United States and their role in making food more accessible, interesting, and fun to a broader audience

• How Amanda’s background in media and journalism was great training for being a successful founder and entrepreneur 

• How Food52 has expanded its product offerings with three brands: its own Five Two kitchen goods brand; Schoolhouse, a lighting and lifestyle goods company; and Dansk, the Scandinavian-inspired heritage cookware brand 

• Why Food52’s new office headquarters in the Brooklyn Navy Yard will be an expression of the brand and a place for its community, employees, and partners to gather, create, and connect

Amanda Hesser, Co-CEO, Food52: Food connects us to everything

There’s a growing tension between how people want to work and how companies believe people should be working. Employees have experienced firsthand how they can be more productive by fitting work and life together in flexible ways -- without the daily slog of an office commute. On the other side are business leaders. They see business as a team sport and that when people come together and have strong relationships, they get better work done. Navigating these two truths will be key to building a successful company. Just ask Dan Shapero, Chief Operating Officer at LinkedIn. He oversees LinkedIn’s global sales, operations, and member and customer success, and he helps companies around the world grow their business and strengthen their teams through the LinkedIn platform. Dan joins the podcast to discuss the forces that are reshaping the global workforce and the workplace -- and how both employees and employers are responding as we move into the future of work.

Listen to this episode to learn:

• How creating economic opportunity for everyone is the driving force at LinkedIn (and the secret to its success as a 2022 Best Global Brand)

• Some of the job skills that will be in high demand in the years ahead (hint: think digital!)

• Why the next wave of job seekers will choose to work for companies based on their sustainability goals and how they’re helping to fight the climate crisis 

• Ways in which LinkedIn is helping women in the workforce find jobs and advance their careers 

• What is “product-society fit,” and is it as important as “product-market fit”?

• Why the one thing every successful leader needs is self-awareness…and how Dan discovered it himself 

• How one conversation with former LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner changed Dan’s perspective on his career 

• What's supposed to be on LinkedIn? What should I be sharing? -- Dan’s advice for how you should show up on LinkedIn

Dan Shapero, COO, LinkedIn: Making Sense of the Future of Work

You don’t have to be a die-hard fan of The White Lotus or a jet-setting Instagram influencer to know how profoundly travel shapes who we are. It deepens our understanding of different cultures, people, and ways of life. It exposes us to new experiences and broadens our perspective. Most of all, it helps us discover more about ourselves. But during the pandemic, that was all lost…at least in the short term. Fueled by pent-up wanderlust and the desire to (finally!) explore and connect in person, the travel and hospitality industry has rebounded quickly and is poised for continued growth. Nobody is more optimistic about the future of travel than Anthony Capuano, CEO at Marriott International, the world’s largest and most iconic hospitality company. With nearly 8,200 hotels across 31 brands in 138 countries and territories, Marriott consistently makes “world’s most innovative companies” lists and has played -- and continues to play -- an integral part in travel around the world. Anthony joins the podcast to discuss why he's so optimistic about the long-term future of travel and hospitality. He delves into the recovery trends, as well as the macro trends accelerated by the pandemic, that he's seeing across the Marriott portfolio of brands. Finally, he shares how innovations in customer loyalty, technology, and sustainability initiatives will reshape both the guest and employee experience in the coming years.

Listen to this episode to learn:
•How the blending of business and leisure, along with the desire for experiences, is opening new areas of growth and innovation in hospitality

•What “innovation” means at Marriott (think: a new state-of-the-art Innovation Lab, prototype rooms where real guests stay and provide feedback, tech platforms for employee and guest experiences, and more)

•How Marriott Bonvoy -- one of the largest loyalty programs in the world, with 173M+ members -- maintains and nurtures an emotional relationship with members, rather than a transactional one

•Is it really valuable to have so many brands under one company umbrella? (Yes, as long as you have a distinct, well-articulated brand positioning for each one.)

•The growing importance of sustainability to guests, employees, owners/franchisees, and shareholders -- and the goals Marriott has committed to in order to achieve net zero by 2050 

•Why institutional knowledge and a strong culture are invaluable assets for any CEO and can get any company through the most difficult times

•What Italy can teach us about “the nobility of jobs in service”

Anthony Capuano, CEO, Marriott International: The Resilience of Travel and Tourism

The backbone of a thriving economy lies in the seamless flow of goods. Few industries play a more important role in this process than trucking. With over a million trucking companies in operation and a staggering worth of $800 billion in the US alone, the trucking industry is a vital cog in the economic machine. However, the industry has long been plagued by fragmentation and has been slow to adopt new technologies. Enter Dan Lewis, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Convoy, a digital freight network that is revolutionizing the industry by connecting shippers with trucking companies, optimizing routes, and improving the experience for truckers and shippers. Before Convoy, Dan held product leadership positions at Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. Dan knew there were problems that technology could solve in the trucking industry, but he didn’t know much about truckers. So, he hit the road. He spent countless hours at truck stops and fueling stations to immerse himself in the world of truckers, learn their problems, and get insights into how to make their jobs, and the industry, run better. Dan joins us on the podcast to share how he’s disrupting the status quo in trucking. He delves into the challenges facing the industry and how Convoy’s digital freight network addresses them, from reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the quality of life for truck drivers, to boosting the efficiency and productivity of the economy.

Listen to this episode to learn:
• How Convoy overcame early challenges in the trucking industry by leveraging the widespread availability and affordability of smartphones to connect and streamline communication
• How, with persistent effort and research, Dan was able to find the key value proposition for the early adoption of Convoy’s mobile app among truck drivers 
• How to maintain a culture of understanding by being deliberate in bringing customers into the company and constantly evolving around changing their needs and behaviors
• What Jeff Bezos told Dan about creating a company value system, how Convoy embeds values across all aspects of the business, and evolves its values to reflect changes in society, the economy, the environment, and the company itself
• Why cutting “empty miles” is the most effective route to sustainability in the freight industry
• The potential of trucking’s semi-autonomous future, where humans and robots will join forces in “team driving” 
• Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on surrounding yourself with supportive, long-term-minded people

Dan Lewis, Co-Founder & CEO, Convoy: A Digital Transformation is Happening in Trucking

The global mental health crisis is one of the greatest societal challenges of our time. Yet, despite the magnitude of the issue, many people lack the resources and support needed to cope with the stress and anxiety of daily life. “Mental health is probably the only condition where you're asked to use the organ that's having trouble to solve the problem,” says Russell Glass, CEO of Headspace Health, who credits his daily meditation practice with transforming his relationship with stress and anxiety. Now, as the CEO of Headspace Health, he’s on a mission to share this life-changing experience with others. Through the immensely popular Headspace mobile app, the company has brought mindfulness meditation to the masses. And, with its virtual mental health platform, Ginger, the company connects individuals with licensed therapists, behavioral coaches, and psychiatrists, providing personalized support, medication management, and evidence-based interventions. Russell joins the podcast to talk about how Headspace Health is breaking down barriers to mental health and wellness care and empowering people to live more balanced, mindful, and fulfilling lives.

Listen to this podcast to learn: 
• How the awareness of our own mortality impacts our mental health, exacerbated by the fast pace of modern life and an unending barrage of global crises

• How focusing on prevention, or "brushing our brains,” can strengthen our resilience in the face of stress and anxiety and help us manage life's inevitable challenges

• The cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies behind Headspace Health's personalized mental health and wellness support, and how this tech is used to personalize individual interventions and programs 

• The lessons gained from the merger of Headspace and Ginger, and the importance of a strong industrial logic and cultural fit for a successful merger

• Why generative AI and large language models like Chat GPT are not yet accurate or skilled enough to be used independently in mental health care but can still provide valuable support to providers 

• Why some user churn can actually be a good thing, and how the success of Headspace is measured not by subscription revenue but by the success of its users

• How meditation and mindfulness practices have helped Russell personally manage his own stress triggers and be a better dad, husband, and CEO

Russell Glass, CEO, Headspace Health: Meditation and Mental Health Support for the Masses

Outside In explores how the world is changing and how business is changing with it. Host Charles Trevail interviews executives, journalists, authors, and thinkers, exploring the customer-centric strategies and philosophies that are working successfully inside companies, and the consumer trends, industry disruptions, and cultural forces that are influencing business from the outside.

Outside In with Charles Trevail

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