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If/Then

If/Then

By: Stanford GSB
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How do we lead with purpose, make better decisions, and navigate an uncertain future? On If/Then, Stanford GSB faculty break down cutting-edge research on leadership, strategy, and more, exploring enduring questions and the forces reshaping business and society today, from AI to geopolitics. Hosted by senior editor Kevin Cool.

© StanfordBusiness
Economics Management Management & Leadership Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Think Fast, Talk Smart: "Ambiguity to Action: Tensions and Trade-Offs of Leadership and Communication"
    Jul 9 2025
    This week on If/Then, we’re sharing an episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, a podcast hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer and friend of the show, Matt Abrahams.How do you communicate with others when you’re confused yourself? For fellow GSB lecturer Rob Siegel, leadership isn’t about avoiding uncertainty: it’s about embracing the clarity that ambiguity can bring.In his latest book, “The Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross Pressures That Make or Break Today's Companies,” Siegel explores how leaders today are “living in dualities,” caught between managing existing processes and adapting to emerging disruptions. “The sooner we get comfortable with [change] in the sense of ‘I don't have to like it, but I can deal with it,’ then [we can] lead our teams and give them the calm to know they can get through this.”On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Siegel and Abrahams explore how to communicate effectively amid constant change. From preparation strategies for spontaneous speaking to building trust through candid conversations, you'll hear practical tips for communicating with clarity when nothing is certain but change.More Resources:Rob Siegel, faculty profileMatt Abrahams, faculty profileThink Fast Talk Smart If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. For a full transcript of this episode, visit our podcast’s website.Chapters: (00:00:00) IntroductionKevin Cool previews season three and introduces a featured episode from Think Fast Talk Smart.(00:00:40) Introduction to Rob SiegelMatt Abrahams welcomes Rob Siegel and introduces his new book The Systems Leader.(00:01:34) Teaching in a Time of ChaosRob explains how his course on systems leadership evolved amid global uncertainty and AI disruption.(00:02:39) Frameworks for Modern LeadershipRob outlines key leadership frameworks, including five cross pressures from his book.(00:04:01) Communication’s Role in LeadershipThey discuss how facts, context, and communication help leaders navigate uncertainty.(00:06:18) Balancing Innovation and ExecutionThe conversation turns to managing the tension between creative innovation and operational goals.(00:08:00) Leading Through AmbiguityThey explore how leaders can embrace ambiguity as a normal, strategic part of leadership.(00:09:41) Navigating Short- vs Long-Term ThinkingRob breaks down how leaders balance quarterly goals with long-term planning and vision.(00:12:32) Strength and Empathy in LeadershipMatt and Rob examine how leaders can balance warmth and strength in team relationships.(00:16:03) How to Keep Students EngagedRob shares his best practices for engaging students through preparation, spontaneity, and challenge.(00:18:55) Building Trust Through Genuine CareThey reflect on the role of genuine interest in others as a foundation for trust and communication.(00:21:35) Communication Role Models and RecipesRob names Irv Beck as a communicator he admires and shares his top three ingredients for great communication.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    24 mins
  • Culture Still Eats Strategy For Breakfast
    Jun 25 2025

    Do you stick to the rules or do you roll through stop signs? Whether you’re “tight” or “loose” — how closely you adhere to social norms — has major implications for your life at home and at work.

    “To be effective, we want to be ambidextrous,” says Michele Gelfand, the John H. Scully Professor in Cross-Cultural Management and Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “Even if we might lean tight or loose, we want to be able to create a context where we can have both tight and loose elements.”

    Sophisticated strategies will fail if they don’t account for deeply embedded norms, and Gelfand breaks down why the adage that “culture eats strategy for breakfast” is more than just a management cliché.

    “From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep, [culture is] affecting everything from our politics to our parenting,” Gelfand says. “But we take it for granted — we don’t even think about it. So it’s kind of invisible. And that’s a pretty profound puzzle.”


    What’s the biggest cultural adjustment you’ve made? Share your story at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.


    This episode was recorded on January 28, 2025.


    Related Content:

    • Faculty profile
    • Psst — Wanna Know Why Gossip Has Evolved in Every Human Society?
    • Class Takeaways — The Art of Negotiation
    • Why the Pandemic Slammed “Loose” Countries Like the U.S.


    If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.



    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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    30 mins
  • The AI Prescription for Healthcare
    Jun 11 2025

    AI has the potential to reshape medicine. But translating its promise into solutions for providers and patients is a high-stakes challenge.

    “There’s a lot more problems than solutions available,” says Mohsen Bayati, the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Professor of Operations, Information & Technology at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “So it’s ripe for innovation.”

    From trust and privacy to hallucination and data quality, the complications are significant. Bayati says that safely and effectively integrating AI into an enormous industry that treats people in their most vulnerable moments requires safety guardrails, human oversight, and maybe even a leap of faith.

    “[We] need to have patience with the benefits of these systems,” he says.


    Are you ready to interact with artificial intelligence at the doctor’s office? Sound off at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.

    This episode was recorded on March 4, 2025.


    Related Content:

    • Mohsen Bayati faculty profile
    • A Peek Inside Doctors’ Notes Reveals Symptoms of Burnout
    • Many Health Care Workers Are Emotionally Exhausted, and Technology May Be to Blame
    • Why Hospitals Underreport the Number of Patients They Infect


    If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.



    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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    28 mins

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