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HBR IdeaCast

HBR IdeaCast

By: Harvard Business Review
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A weekly podcast featuring the leading thinkers in business and management.Copyright 2026 Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • How Leaders Can Use AI to Solve Real Business Problems

    How Leaders Can Use AI to Solve Real Business Problems
    Jul 7 2026
    Many organizations are investing heavily in AI, but too few are asking the most important question: What problem are we actually trying to solve? Journalist and author Josh Tyrangiel argues that successful AI adoption has far less to do with choosing the right model and far more to do with identifying the right business challenge—and following through. He shares why executives should resist the pressure to become "AI-native" overnight and instead focus on targeted, high-impact problems where AI can create measurable value. He also offers practical advice on improving operations, communicating change across an organization, and avoiding the costly mistake of treating AI as a strategy rather than a tool, with examples from the healthcare sector and beyond. Tyrangiel is author of the book AI for Good: How Real People Are Using Artificial Intelligence to Fix Things That Matter.
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    27 mins
  • Leadership Summit 2026: Honest Company CEO Carla Vernón on Leading with Focus in Turbulent Times

    Leadership Summit 2026: Honest Company CEO Carla Vernón on Leading with Focus in Turbulent Times
    Jul 9 2026
    How do you take a young, purpose-led company to the next level? In this special episode, as part of the recent HBR Leadership Summit 2026, The Honest Company CEO Carla Vernón shares how she leveraged the powerful reputation and loyal customers of the mission-driven consumer brand to turn the company around. Facing shrinking margins, limited cash, and growing pressure from Wall Street to consistently profit, Vernón worked to build trust, create a shared language for change, and help employees embrace new ways of working.
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    29 mins
  • The New Rules for Becoming an Enterprise Leader

    The New Rules for Becoming an Enterprise Leader
    Jul 14 2026
    What does it take to succeed in an enterprise-level leadership role today? Michael Watkins, professor at IMD and author of the book The First 90 Days, says that the leap from functional or business line manager to a more senior position is tricker than ever owing to three factors: AI, geopolitical complexity, and compressed leadership pipelines. He explains what that means for executives aspiring to make the transition and outlines all the new skills and capabilities they need to rise to the top now. Watkins is author of the HBR article, "3 Forces Are Redefining the Transition from Manager to Leader."
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    31 mins
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