Rapid Response
307 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 50 ratingsThe pace of change in our culture is unprecedented and shows no signs of slowing. So what is most important to pay attention to when striving to innovate, create, and lead? From the team behind Masters of Scale, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today's top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Hosted by the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company, Bob Safian.
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Episodes
On the ground in Ukraine, w/Mercy Corps’ Tjada D'Oyen McKenna
March 10, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBTjada D'Oyen McKenna, the CEO of Mercy Corps, an NGO on the front lines of the Ukrainian crisis, provides an inside look on how they’re helping address the needs of refugees. Mercy Corps began scenario planning well in advance of Russia’s aggression, and they’re now deploying food, cash, and social services to those in need. She also cautions about potential negative impacts elsewhere, as troubles in Ukraine pull resources from other struggling populations. See Privacy Policy at ht...
On the ground in Ukraine, w/Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D'Oyen McKenna
March 10, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBTjada D'Oyen McKenna, the CEO of Mercy Corps, an NGO on the front lines of the Ukrainian crisis, provides an inside look on how they’re helping address the needs of refugees. Mercy Corps began scenario planning well in advance of Russia’s aggression, and they’re now deploying food, cash, and social services to those in need. She also cautions about potential negative impacts elsewhere, as troubles in Ukraine pull resources from other struggling populations. See Privacy Policy at ht...
Make mistakes to make progress, w/GM's Gerald Johnson
March 03, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBGeneral Motors’ Gerald Johnson shares the process and progress of trying to accomplish two daunting goals: an all-electric vehicle future, and to become the world’s most inclusive company. One thing that Johnson, the Executive Vice President of manufacturing and sustainability, has learned: “If you're not making mistakes, you're not making progress.” He adds that progress requires us to embrace being uncomfortable — and to learn from it. Johnson, who is a pastor as well, also discus...
Ukraine reverberations, Theranos, and more, w/Reid Hoffman and Bob Safian
March 01, 2022 10:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MB“We should expect more volatility,” Reid Hoffman tells Rapid Response host Bob Safian in the first Need to Know session of the year, covering news and business topics impacting entrepreneurs right now. Reid and Bob discuss the implications of the Ukraine invasion, then dive into the pandemic-fueled troubles at Peloton, PayPal, and Meta, new climate-change urgencies — including Reid’s recent trip to Antarctica, and how Activision will be different after merging with Microsoft. Plus: ...
Invest in first principles, w/Sarah Levy, Betterment CEO
February 24, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBIt may appear off-brand for Betterment, a digital investment adviser, to acquire a cryptocurrency investing platform. But CEO Sarah Levy explains that Betterment, positioned around its long-term diversification philosophy, has approached this volatile space with their tried-and-true principles top of mind. “Once we believe that an asset class is here to stay,” she says, “the question is: how do we responsibly incorporate that alongside a traditional investment strategy?” Levy, who b...
Invest in first principles, w/Betterment CEO Sarah Levy
February 24, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBIt may appear off-brand for Betterment, a digital investment adviser, to acquire a cryptocurrency investing platform. But CEO Sarah Levy explains that Betterment, positioned around its long-term diversification philosophy, has approached this volatile space with their tried-and-true principles top of mind. “Once we believe that an asset class is here to stay,” she says, “the question is: how do we responsibly incorporate that alongside a traditional investment strategy?” Levy, who b...
Announcing the Masters of Scale Summit
February 23, 2022 14:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBGo to summit.mastersofscale.com to learn how to join a pantheon of scale leaders gathering in San Francisco Oct. 18-20, 2022 at the Masters of Scale Summit. The early confirmed stage program includes the likes of Bill Gates, Tyra Banks, Satya Nadella, Arianna Huffington, Ted Sarandos, Mellody Hobson, and more. The event is uniquely designed for both executives in the room and their teams back home — offering a beautifully filmed, hosted livestream that will empower your team to brin...
"Be confident enough to show your vulnerability," w/Ken Frazier (Merck/General Catalyst)
February 17, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MBKen Frazier, the longtime CEO of pharmaceutical giant Merck, was one of the few Black CEOs at the top of Corporate America. Now as an adviser at General Catalyst and co-founder of the social impact organization OneTen, he’s re-shaping how business addresses racial and health equity. He joins host Bob Safian to discuss crisis adjustment, the positive side of fear, and the importance of vulnerability. Plus, he addresses the rising divisiveness in American culture, and the important ro...
Be confident enough to show your vulnerability, w/former Merck CEO Ken Frazier
February 17, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MBKen Frazier, the longtime CEO of pharmaceutical giant Merck, was one of the few Black CEOs at the top of Corporate America. Now as an adviser at General Catalyst and co-founder of the social impact organization OneTen, he’s re-shaping how business addresses racial and health equity. He joins host Bob Safian to discuss crisis adjustment, the positive side of fear, and the importance of vulnerability. Plus, he addresses the rising divisiveness in American culture, and the important ro...
Scaling when you’re already at scale, w/Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon
February 10, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBAs the global chip shortage unfolded last year, Qualcomm’s engineers quickly redesigned their products – an effort that tapped into “every possible capacity we could find,” says CEO Cristiano Amon. Their story is a great lesson in how an established company can and must move with the speed of a startup. One key to moving at speed, says Amon: aligning the entire organization around a single strategy. But along with an all-hands effort, he insists, must also come time to rest. “Everyt...
Scaling when you’re already at scale, w/Qualcomm's Cristiano Amon
February 10, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBAs the global chip shortage unfolded last year, Qualcomm’s engineers quickly redesigned their products – an effort that tapped into “every possible capacity we could find,” says CEO Cristiano Amon. Their story is a great lesson in how an established company can and must move with the speed of a startup. One key to moving at speed, says Amon: aligning the entire organization around a single strategy. But along with an all-hands effort, he insists, must also come time to rest. “Everyt...
Tapping a new generation of consumers, w/The Drone Racing League president Rachel Jacobson
February 03, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBWith their eyes fixed on what’s next, the Drone Racing League has established a fresh fanbase, previously left untapped by professional sports. President Rachel Jacobson, formerly an NBA executive, refers to this audience as “techsetters” – young, enthusiastic, tech-driven fans who are “invested in what the future looks like.” It’s a new demographic that could have only emerged from the league’s unique positioning that intersects sports, entertainment, and technology. As Rachel says...
Tapping a new generation of consumers, w/The Drone Racing League's Rachel Jacobson
February 03, 2022 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBWith their eyes fixed on what’s next, the Drone Racing League has established a fresh fanbase, previously left untapped by professional sports. President Rachel Jacobson, formerly an NBA executive, refers to this audience as “techsetters” – young, enthusiastic, tech-driven fans who are “invested in what the future looks like.” It’s a new demographic that could have only emerged from the league’s unique positioning that intersects sports, entertainment, and technology. As Rachel says...
Be relentless – so your team can be fearless, w/Planned Parenthood’s Alexis McGill Johnson
January 27, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBFaced with long odds, how do you keep your team motivated and moving forward? As a leader, Alexis McGill Johnson is focused on building hope. As the president of Planned Parenthood, Johnson is preparing for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. But in the meantime, she’s modeling a sense of relentlessness for her team – so they can be fearless and unapologetic. Since she took over at Planned Parenthood, she’s faced both internal and external challenges. Something she learn...
Be relentless, so your team can be fearless, w/Planned Parenthood CEO Alexis McGill Johnson
January 27, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBFaced with long odds, how do you keep your team motivated and moving forward? As a leader, Alexis McGill Johnson is focused on building hope. As the president of Planned Parenthood, Johnson is preparing for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. But in the meantime, she’s modeling a sense of relentlessness for her team – so they can be fearless and unapologetic. Since she took over at Planned Parenthood, she’s faced both internal and external challenges. Something she learn...
Lessons of Omicron, w/Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of Wellcome Trust
January 20, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBSir Jeremy Farrar is UK’s pre-eminent scientific authority on Covid-19 and the chief executive at the research foundation Wellcome Trust. He joins Rapid Response to discuss the latest learnings of the Omicron variant – and offers a framework for reacting to the uncertainty. Farrar, whose research specializes in infectious diseases, also shares the two most important leadership lessons he’s learned during the pandemic: find time for yourself, and take warnings seriously. “Humanity of...
Lessons of Omicron, w/Wellcome Trust director Sir Jeremy Farrar
January 20, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBSir Jeremy Farrar is UK’s pre-eminent scientific authority on Covid-19 and the chief executive at the research foundation Wellcome Trust. He joins Rapid Response to discuss the latest learnings of the Omicron variant – and offers a framework for reacting to the uncertainty. Farrar, whose research specializes in infectious diseases, also shares the two most important leadership lessons he’s learned during the pandemic: find time for yourself, and take warnings seriously. “Humanity of...
How to decarbonize your business, w/Kleiner Perkins partner John Doerr
January 13, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB“Go for the megatons.” That’s John Doerr’s recommendation for how we need to combat the existential threat of climate change. Doerr, a venture capitalist and author of the new book Speed and Scale, joins host Bob Safian to discuss our decarbonization efforts, what he calls “the greatest economic opportunity of the next century.” The book quantifies the specific societal needs, in six discrete areas, to achieve a carbon-neutral world. John isn’t arguing that we all need to be vegan a...
How to decarbonize your business, w/John Doerr, partner at Kleiner Perkins
January 13, 2022 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB“Go for the megatons.” That’s John Doerr’s recommendation for how we need to combat the existential threat of climate change. Doerr, a venture capitalist and author of the new book Speed and Scale, joins host Bob Safian to discuss our decarbonization efforts, what he calls “the greatest economic opportunity of the next century.” The book quantifies the specific societal needs, in six discrete areas, to achieve a carbon-neutral world. John isn’t arguing that we all need to be vegan a...
How flexibility creates momentum, w/Crate & Barrel CEO Janet Hayes
December 16, 2021 10:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBCrate & Barrel CEO Janet Hayes has been on a mission to modernize the home decor company since she took over as CEO in August, 2020. When she first joined the company, stores were closed and the future of retail was uncertain as Covid-19 put in-person experiences to a screeching halt. She’s responded by leaning into digital and sustainability for her brands, and flexibility for her employees. “As soon as I said, ‘It's a flexible workplace, and I'm going to value talent, collaboratio...
How GoFundMe has facilitated $15 billion in giving, w/CEO Tim Cadogan
December 09, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBFrom the start of the pandemic, GoFundMe has served as a consistent global outlet for help. Since its inception, the for-profit crowdsourcing platform has facilitated $15 billion in giving through more than 200 million donations. It’s also attracted big names to the platform, including Taylor Swift, the Dalai Lama, and will_i_am. The key to the company’s success? According to CEO Tim Cadogan: "You need great people who are really ambitious in service of the mission.” Cadogan argues ...
Re-founding Instacart, with first-time CEO Fidji Simo
December 02, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBThis past summer, Fidji Simo departed from Facebook – where she stood among the highest-ranking female executives, serving as the head of their app – for the opportunity to become a first-time CEO at Instacart. She replaced founder Apoorva Mehta, who appeared on this show last spring to talk about Instacart’s incredible COVID-fueled growth. Since then, Fidji has emphasized an evolved company mission, diversifying the company’s leadership and focusing on providing the necessary techn...
Re-founding Instacart, w/CEO Fidji Simo
December 02, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBThis past summer, Fidji Simo departed from Facebook – where she stood among the highest-ranking female executives, serving as the head of their app – for the opportunity to become a first-time CEO at Instacart. She replaced founder Apoorva Mehta, who appeared on this show last spring to talk about Instacart’s incredible COVID-fueled growth. Since then, Fidji has emphasized an evolved company mission, diversifying the company’s leadership and focusing on providing the necessary techn...
Metaverse mania, the great resignation, and more, w/Reid Hoffman and Bob Safian
November 22, 2021 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBReid Hoffman and Rapid Response host Bob Safian break down what you need to know right now about the most important issues and opportunities impacting entrepreneurs. The co-hosts dive into inflation reactions, Facebook quandaries, metaverse mania, AI & crypto trends, and lessons from the Great Resignation. Plus: why LinkedIn pulled back in China, and what pundits are missing in the big tech backlash. "We should be playing into the future with ambition, with heart, with soul, with sp...
How to turn intentions into action, w/Aurora James, founder of the 15 Percent Pledge
November 18, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBIn May 2020, as companies began making promises about how they’d help Black-owned businesses in the wake of George Floyd’s killing, Aurora James launched the 15 Percent Pledge initiative with an Instagram post. Tagging major retailers, she declared that 15% of retail shelf space should belong to Black-owned businesses. And she's helped these companies turn promise into action, unlocking $10 billion in revenue for Black-owned businesses. It's a relatable story for any small business ...
How to turn intentions into action, w/15 Percent Pledge founder Aurora James
November 18, 2021 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBIn May 2020, as companies began making promises about how they’d help Black-owned businesses in the wake of George Floyd’s killing, Aurora James launched the 15 Percent Pledge initiative with an Instagram post. Tagging major retailers, she declared that 15% of retail shelf space should belong to Black-owned businesses. And she's helped these companies turn promise into action, unlocking $10 billion in revenue for Black-owned businesses. It's a relatable story for any small business ...
"You should be running toward AI," w/Eric Schmidt (frmr Google CEO)
November 11, 2021 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBEric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, breaks down his deep insights around artificial intelligence on Rapid Response. Schmidt, co-author of the new book "The Age of AI: And Our Human Future," alongside Dr. Henry Kissinger and MIT’s Daniel Huttenlocher, says that we’re entering an unknown era with technology – one that requires extra vigilance to ensure that we amplify the positives and de-amplify the negatives. His advice to businesses: You need to be running as fast as you can toward...
Run toward AI, w/former Google CEO Eric Schmidt
November 11, 2021 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBEric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, breaks down his deep insights around artificial intelligence on Rapid Response. Schmidt, co-author of the new book "The Age of AI: And Our Human Future," alongside Dr. Henry Kissinger and MIT’s Daniel Huttenlocher, says that we’re entering an unknown era with technology – one that requires extra vigilance to ensure that we amplify the positives and de-amplify the negatives. His advice to businesses: You need to be running as fast as you can toward...
How Peloton keeps pushing through resistance, w/CEO John Foley
November 04, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MBSkepticism and doubt are no strangers to John Foley, the CEO of Peloton. As he says, it’s been part of the company’s DNA “since the first time I pitched the business to an investor back in 2012.” Last year, the company was supercharged by pandemic demand. However, in 2021, the company has faced a slew of new headwinds, from product-safety issues to investor skepticism. In the face of these challenges, Peloton has doubled down on innovation and ambition. Foley doesn’t see skepticism ...
The truth about what we watch, with Nielsen’s David Kenny
October 28, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBHow do you respond when your own users resist your data? That question is top-of-mind for Nielsen CEO David Kenny. For decades, Nielsen has measured ratings and demographics across TV and media – the ultimate designator of success and failure. But as industry norms shift to streaming, Kenny has had to revamp processes and expectations, absorbing heat from traditional customers. As he notes, nostalgia is the opposite of optimism – it assumes that a known past is better than an unknow...
The truth about what we watch, w/Nielsen CEO David Kenny
October 28, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBHow do you respond when your own users resist your data? That question is top-of-mind for Nielsen CEO David Kenny. For decades, Nielsen has measured ratings and demographics across TV and media – the ultimate designator of success and failure. But as industry norms shift to streaming, Kenny has had to revamp processes and expectations, absorbing heat from traditional customers. As he notes, nostalgia is the opposite of optimism – it assumes that a known past is better than an unknow...
Launching a $500 billion startup, w/ Jet.com founder and NBA owner Marc Lore
October 21, 2021 09:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBSince stepping down as Walmart’s president of e-commerce at the beginning of the year, billionaire entrepreneur Marc Lore has had a busy year of big ideas. In the Spring, it was announced that he reached a deal to purchase the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, alongside Alex Rodriguez. And then last month, he outlined his plans to build a new American city called Telosa, centered around sustainability and inclusion. Lore, who co-founded Jet.com, an e-commer...
Overcoming institutional hurdles, w/ U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland
October 14, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBIn the last year, Sarah Hirshland has had to face one daunting issue after another as the CEO of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee – each of which have required urgent, in-the-moment decisions. Most recently Sarah mandated that U.S. athletes be vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in the upcoming Beijing winter games. But that’s just the latest of a slew of cultural issues she’s been tasked to act on. She’s faced pandemic disruptions, social action protests, sexual misco...
Overcoming institutional hurdles, w/U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland
October 14, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBIn the last year, Sarah Hirshland has had to face one daunting issue after another as the CEO of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee – each of which have required urgent, in-the-moment decisions. Most recently Sarah mandated that U.S. athletes be vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in the upcoming Beijing winter games. But that’s just the latest of a slew of cultural issues she’s been tasked to act on. She’s faced pandemic disruptions, social action protests, sexual misco...
Urgent lessons from a cyberattack, w/SolarWinds CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna
October 07, 2021 09:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBLast year, SolarWinds became the subject of a massive and sophisticated cyberattack, potentially affecting thousands of organizations. CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna, who joined the company soon after the breach was discovered, speaks with host Bob Safian about how he and the company responded, and how other companies should approach the ever-looming threat of cyber-risk. "There is no such thing as 'I won't be breached because I'm too secure or too smart,’ says Ramakrishna. “You could be ...
SolarWinds: Urgent lessons from a cyberattack, w/ CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna
October 07, 2021 09:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBLast year, SolarWinds became the subject of a massive and sophisticated cyberattack, potentially affecting thousands of organizations. CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna, who joined the company soon after the breach was discovered, speaks with host Bob Safian about how he and the company responded, and how other companies should approach the ever-looming threat of cyber-risk. "There is no such thing as 'I won't be breached because I'm too secure or too smart,’ says Ramakrishna. “You could be ...
How to scale tech responsibly, with former Google ad chief and Neeva founder Sridhar Ramaswamy
September 30, 2021 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBTo compete against bigger players, you need a special edge. Sridhar Ramaswamy, who led Google’s huge ad business, is now going head-to head against his former employer with an ad-free subscription-based search engine called Neeva. Ramaswamy became disillusioned by Google’s priorities and practices and argues that big platforms – including Facebook and Amazon – have failed to scale responsibly. Sharing inside stories of how big tech makes decisions, and his own experiences with a sta...
How to scale tech responsibly, w/former Google ad chief Sridhar Ramaswamy
September 30, 2021 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBTo compete against bigger players, you need a special edge. Sridhar Ramaswamy, who led Google’s huge ad business, is now going head-to head against his former employer with an ad-free subscription-based search engine called Neeva. Ramaswamy became disillusioned by Google’s priorities and practices and argues that big platforms – including Facebook and Amazon – have failed to scale responsibly. Sharing inside stories of how big tech makes decisions, and his own experiences with a sta...
How to lead for enduring impact w/ Spelman’s Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell
September 23, 2021 09:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBYour ability to make quick decisions in the face of a crisis can define your career. That’s been the case for Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman College, the all-women's HBCU in Atlanta. In her second appearance on Rapid Response, Dr. Campbell, who recently announced her plan to retire at the end of the academic year, discusses how listening to her community has led to resolving complex conflicts. As was the case at the beginning of the school year when the Spelman facu...
How to lead for enduring impact w/Spelman College president Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell
September 23, 2021 09:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBYour ability to make quick decisions in the face of a crisis can define your career. That’s been the case for Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman College, the all-women's HBCU in Atlanta. In her second appearance on Rapid Response, Dr. Campbell, who recently announced her plan to retire at the end of the academic year, discusses how listening to her community has led to resolving complex conflicts. As was the case at the beginning of the school year when the Spelman facu...
Applauding the drama of the digital age, with BroadwayHD’s Bonnie Comley
September 16, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBWhen hard times hit, the show must still go on for all of us. But as Drama League board president and Broadway HD CEO Bonnie Comley explains, even when the lights are dark, critical progress can be made. As Broadway's 41 theaters begin coming back to life in New York City, the three-time Tony Award-winning producer takes us through how the 18-month pandemic closure created an opportunity for the $16 billion industry to reimagine itself. At core are new efforts to expand and broaden ...
Applauding the drama of the digital age, w/BroadwayHD CEO Bonnie Comley
September 16, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBWhen hard times hit, the show must still go on for all of us. But as Drama League board president and Broadway HD CEO Bonnie Comley explains, even when the lights are dark, critical progress can be made. As Broadway's 41 theaters begin coming back to life in New York City, the three-time Tony Award-winning producer takes us through how the 18-month pandemic closure created an opportunity for the $16 billion industry to reimagine itself. At core are new efforts to expand and broaden ...
When to build the company before the product, w/Aurora CEO Chris Urmson
September 09, 2021 09:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBChris Urmson has had to take a different approach in building his company Aurora, which develops self-driving technology. As opposed to creating and iterating a product with a handful of people, and then building a company around that product, Urmson says he’s had to do the opposite. “Given the scale of the problem we're trying to solve and the complexity and breadth of it, we really had to build the company almost ahead of the product,” he says in this interview with Rapid Response...
When to build the company before the product, with Aurora CEO Chris Urmson
September 09, 2021 09:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBChris Urmson has had to take a different approach in building his company Aurora, which develops self-driving technology. As opposed to creating and iterating a product with a handful of people, and then building a company around that product, Urmson says he’s had to do the opposite. “Given the scale of the problem we're trying to solve and the complexity and breadth of it, we really had to build the company almost ahead of the product,” he says in this interview with Rapid Response...
When you should require vaccinations w/restauranteur Danny Meyer
September 02, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MB“You have to preserve your energy because this year has been about pace,” says iconic restaurateur Danny Meyer in his fourth Rapid Response interview. Meyer catches us up on the past seven-plus months of operating in the midst of the pandemic. In the beginning of the summer, when Covid rates were plummeting in New York City, he says he was full of optimism. His restaurants were back to indoor dining, and despite dealing with a limited workforce, “progress is progress.” Then came the...
When you should require vaccinations w/ Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer
September 02, 2021 09:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MB“You have to preserve your energy because this year has been about pace,” says iconic restaurateur Danny Meyer in his fourth Rapid Response interview. Meyer catches us up on the past seven-plus months of operating in the midst of the pandemic. In the beginning of the summer, when Covid rates were plummeting in New York City, he says he was full of optimism. His restaurants were back to indoor dining, and despite dealing with a limited workforce, “progress is progress.” Then came the...
How Electronic Arts grows a metaverse, w/CEO Andrew Wilson
August 26, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBHollywood may build stars, but gaming is "the biggest, fastest-growing entertainment medium in the world," says CEO Andrew Wilson of Electronic Arts. That's why businesses from Netflix to Disney to Facebook are eyeing the space, along with creators and startups eager to tap into the entrepreneurial opportunities posed by the still-evolving "metaverse." Wilson, who oversees franchises from Apex Legends to FIFA to The Sims, explains how he's playing in this ever-changing field – and h...
How Electronic Arts grows a metaverse, with CEO Andrew Wilson
August 26, 2021 09:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBHollywood may build stars, but gaming is "the biggest, fastest-growing entertainment medium in the world," says CEO Andrew Wilson of Electronic Arts. That's why businesses from Netflix to Disney to Facebook are eyeing the space, along with creators and startups eager to tap into the entrepreneurial opportunities posed by the still-evolving "metaverse." Wilson, who oversees franchises from Apex Legends to FIFA to The Sims, explains how he's playing in this ever-changing field – and h...
How mission fuels risk-taking, with Illumina CEO Francis deSouza
August 19, 2021 09:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBFacing off with the FTC isn't for the timid. But when your mission and your business model are aligned, the hard decisions – about risk, about investment, about priorities – become clearer. Francis deSouza is CEO of Illumina, the world’s dominant maker of gene sequencing technology. After playing a key role in the creation of Covid vaccines, Illumina is trying to acquire a company with a breakthrough cancer screening test, over the FTC's objections. DeSouza offers a personal reflect...
How mission fuels risk-taking, w/Illumina CEO Francis deSouza
August 19, 2021 09:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBFacing off with the FTC isn't for the timid. But when your mission and your business model are aligned, the hard decisions – about risk, about investment, about priorities – become clearer. Francis deSouza is CEO of Illumina, the world’s dominant maker of gene sequencing technology. After playing a key role in the creation of Covid vaccines, Illumina is trying to acquire a company with a breakthrough cancer screening test, over the FTC's objections. DeSouza offers a personal reflect...