My guest for this episode is Oliver Gottschalg. Oliver is the Academic Dean of the TRIUM Global EMBA program and an Associate Professor of Strategy and Business Policy at HEC-Paris. Oliver is a world renowned expert in the strategic logic and the performance determinants of private equity investments. He straddles both the academic and practitioner worlds of these topics as both a scholar and the founder of firm which provides information on private equity funds’ manager performance to both limited and general partners.  Perhaps no other asset class invokes as many strong opinions as private equity and yet too many only have a rather vague idea of how the industry works. Oliver describes himself as either a friendly critic or a critical friend of the private equity industry and in this episode he guides us through the complex dynamics of the industry. Your opinion about this particular form of capitalism may not change after listening to this episode, but I hope that – at the least – you will be a little better informed about the issues and debates which swirl around this key part of the business world.Host: Matt Mulford | Guest: Oliver Gottschalg | Editor: Théophile Letort See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest for this episode is Baroness Minouche Shafik. Minouche is the Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science and one of the most important thought leaders in the world. She has a glittering career in academics and as a global civil servant. Before becoming the leader of the LSE, Minouche was a Vice-President at the World Bank, a Permanent Secretary for the UK’s Department for International Development, a Deputy Managing Director at the IMF, and a Deputy Governor of the Bank of England. In this episode Minouche and I discuss her new and hugely influential book, What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract. In this work, she sets out to do no less than to provide a framework for a new relationship between the state and individual based on the idea of what we owe to each other as fellow citizens. The book has been praised by a multitude of Nobel Prize winners, Heads of State, renowned economists and philosophers, and…well, just about everyone who has read the book! I hope you find our conversation as inspiring and interesting as I did. As I hope you can tell, this is a very special guest for a very special episode. In September of this year, we will mark the 20th anniversary of the launch of the TRIUM Global EMBA. This episode starts the celebration! I can think of no better guest or theme to reflect the belief on which TRIUM was formed: to succeed as a global business leader, you must be able to situate yourself and your organisation into the web of interdependencies which constitute life in a global age. Citations:Shafik, Minouche (2021) What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract. London: The Bodley Head.Host: Matt Mulford | Guest: Minouche Shafik | Editor: Théophile Letort See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest for this episode is Joost Van Dreunen. Joost is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Stern School of Business at New York University. In this podcast we discuss the dynamics of the video games industry and his new book, One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games. In 2020, across the segments of PC, console-based, and mobile games, the industry had revenues of somewhere between $160-170 billion and an annual overall growth rate of around 25%. In addition to its sheer size and speed of growth, the intersection between technological, process and creative innovation makes the industry a fascinating case study for anyone interested in the future of business in a digital world. I can think of no better guide to this world than Joost Van Dreunen. I hope you enjoy our conversation!Citations:Van Dreunen (2020) One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games. New York: Columbia University Press. Sedaris, D. (2019) Calypso. London, Little Brown. A Plague Tale: Innocence (2019) from Asobo Studio & Focus Home Entertainment.Host: Matt Mulford | Guest: Joost Van Dreunen | Editor: Théophile Letort See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest for this episode is Marcello Damiani (TRIUM Class of 2015). Marcello is the Chief Digital and Operational Excellence Officer at Moderna. In this episode we discuss what it was like to be part of the historic success of developing and delivering a vaccine, in the face of a global pandemic, in record time at an efficacy rate that we hardly dared dreamed possible. We discuss what Moderna’s story tells us about the modern bio-tech industry and how its success might be repeated. Next, we talk about how the success of the ‘mRNA platform’ approach to the COVID-19 vaccine may be just the beginning of what the technology promises. Finally, we chat about what we have all learned from this amazing journey. Marcello offers an insider’s view to one of the most exciting science stories of all time. Because there has been plenty to be depressed about in recent times, it is great to highlight a reason to be optimistic about the future. Enjoy the conversation! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest for this episode is Aswath Damodaran. Aswath is a Professor of Finance at the Stern School of Business at New York University (Kerschner Family Chair in Finance Education). Calling Aswath a Professor is a bit like calling the Sistine Chapel a church. He is a star in his field and one of the most influential business professors in the world. He has taught on the TRIUM program from its start and is consistently rated as one of its top professors. In this episode we discuss his most recent book, Narrative and Numbers: The Value of Stories in Business.  Aswath argues that, “Stories without numbers are just fairy tales and numbers without stories to back them up are exercises in financial modelling.” To value a business accurately, Aswath argues, you must understand and value a business’s narrative and tie that story to the relevant underlying value drivers. Do this, and you can start to judge whether firm’s value and equity price are realistic or just fairy tales. Citations:-- Book discussed: Damodaran, Aswath (2017), Narrative and Numbers: The Value of Stories in Business. Columbia Business Press.-- Article mentioned: Cornell, Bradford and Damodaran, Aswath (2020), Valuing ESG: Doing Good or Sounding Good? (March 20, 2020). NYU Stern School of Business, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3557432 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3557432Host: Matt Mulford | Guest: Aswath Damodaran | Editor: Théophile Letort See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest for this episode is Robert Falkner. Robert is a TRIUM Academic Director, an Associate Professor of International Relations and the Director of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics. Before his time at the LSE, Robert held academic positions at the Universities of Oxford, Kent and Essex, as well as a visiting scholar position at Harvard. In this episode we discuss how moral reasoning and more narrowly defined state self-interest have both impacted the design and implementation of international agreements on climate. We also speculate on what a re-engaged USA, and a newly engaged China may mean for the future of such agreements. Using the same normative/self-interest framework, we explore the likely future role of private enterprise in implementing and driving sustainability. We eventually agree that normative and self-interested rationales will likely have to be – and hopeful will be – aligned for consequential change to occur. Whether this occurs in time to avoid disaster, is the critical question.Related Material:-- Robert's latest book: Falkner, Robert (2019), ‘The Unavoidability of Justice - and Order - in International Climate Politics: From Kyoto to Paris and Beyond’, in: British Journal of Politics and International Relations, (21) 2: 270-78. https://www.robertfalkner.org/s/Falkner-2019-Unavoidability-of-Justice-and-Order-in-International-Climate-Politics.pdf -- Robert's forthcoming book: Falkner, Robert (2021) Environmentalism and Global International Society (Cambridge Studies in International Relations, vol. 156). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/environmentalism-and-global-international-society/8185AA689F106BAEEAD7E2EE0A4A233E-- Robert's recommended book: Oreskes, N. & Conway, E. M. (2012), Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming, Bloomsbury.-- Work mentioned: Shue, H. (1992). The unavoidability of justice. In: The international politics of the environment: Actors, Interests, and Institutions. Edited by A. Hurrell and B. Kingsbury. Oxford, Clarendon Press: 373-397. Host: Matt Mulford | Guest: Robert Falkner | Editor: Théophile Letort See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest for this episode is Andrew Walter. Andrew and I were the first TRIUM co-Academic Directors for the London School of Economics and he has taught political economy for TRIUM every year since its start. He is super smart, very wise and a great friend of TRIUM and myself. He is currently Professor of International Relations in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Melbourne. He was formally a Reader in International Relations at the LSE and a Fellow and University lecturer at Oxford University. Prior to joining academia, he worked for JP Morgan’s investment banking division. In this episode we discuss his award winning newest book (co-authored with Jefferey Chwieroth) entitled, The Wealth Effect. The book documents the massive rise in both the wealth of the middle classes, how that wealth has become highly leveraged and explores the political implications of this new cleavage in society – those with wealth and those without. Specifically we discuss what happens in democracies when the middle class has highly leveraged housing assets and pensions tied to stock market performance, while at the same time there is greater and greater demand to privately fund health care, education and elder care? A quick spoiler – the consequences are not pretty. Related Material:-- Andrew's new book:  Chwieroth, J.M. & Walter, A. (2019) The Wealth Effect: How the great expectations of the middles class have changed the politics of banking crises. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/wealth-effect/373A70D5D070528F2E38EE12CC42CCF5 -- Andrew's recommended book: Enos R.D. (2017) The Space Between Us: Social geography and politics. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/space-between-us/EA1109A01102D4EF2C71A3125AD07B41-- Work mentioned:   Rosas, R. (2010) Curbing Bailouts: Bank crises and democratic accountability in comparative perspective. University of Michigan Press. https://www.press.umich.edu/1050729/curbing_bailoutsHost: Matt Mulford | Guest: Andrew Walter | Editor: Théophile Letort See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest for this episode is Randy White. Randy is the co-Chair of the leadership stream for the EMBA at HEC (Qatar) and a long-time professor of leadership for TRIUM. He is an international thought leader in leadership training and executive coaching with more than 30 years’ experience from all over the world. His is also a member of the Board of the American Psychological Association. A new edition of his (co-written with Philip Hodgson) excellent book, Relax its Only Uncertainty will be released later this month. In this episode, Randy and I discuss the leadership challenges in a world where the nature of the uncertainty we face is changing. How does a leader effectively and confidently lead other people when s/he cannot be sure what is the best path forward? Randy’s wisdom and decency shine through in our talk – enjoy!Related Material:-- Randy's new book: Hodgson, P. & White, R. (2020) Relax, It’s Only Uncertainty: Lead the way when the way is changing. The Executive Development Group. https://www.amazon.com/Relax-Its-Only-Uncertainty-Changing-dp-0578713535/dp/0578713535/ref=dp_ob_title_bk#customerReviews-- Randy's recommended book: Ou, A. Y., Waldman, D. A. & Peterson, S. J. (2015), ‘Do Humble CEOs Matter? An Examination of CEO Humility and Firm Outcomes,’ Journal of Management (20:10, pp. 1-27). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283950957_Do_Humble_CEOs_Matter_An_Examination_of_CEO_Humility_and_Firm_Outcomes-- Works mentioned: Bahcall, S. (2020) Loonshots: How to nuture the craxy ideas that win wars, cure diseases, and transform industries. St. Martins Press. https://www.amazon.com/Loonshots-Nurture-Diseases-Transform-Industries/dp/1250185963 Cosmides, L & Tooby, J. (1992).’Cognitive Adaptions for Social Exchange,’ in Barkow, J.; Cosmides, L, & Tooby, J. (eds.). The Adapted Mind: Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture. Oxford University Press. pp. 163–228. https://www.cep.ucsb.edu/papers/Cogadapt.pdfWason, P. C. (1968), ‘Reasoning about a rule,’ Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (20:3, pp. 273–281). http://web.mit.edu/curhan/www/docs/Articles/biases/20_Quarterly_J_Experimental_Psychology_273_(Wason).pdfHost: Matt Mulford | Guest: Randy White | Editor: Théophile Letort See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest for this episode is Thomas Phillippon, the Max L. Heine Professor of Finance at New York University, Stern School of Business. In this podcast we discuss his influential and provocative new book, The Great Reversal: How America Gave Up on Free Markets. In the book, Thomas shows how over the last 20 years, US markets have become less competitive. This has led to poorer service quality, higher consumer prices, lower investment, and higher inequality. At the same time, the reverse has been happening within the EU. How and why this has happened are the subjects of our conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!Related material:-- Thomas' new book: The Great Reversal: How America Gave Up on Free Markets (2019). https://www.amazon.com/Great-Reversal-America-Gave-Markets/dp/0674237544-- Thomas' recommended book: Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the Surveillance State, by Barton Gellman (2020). https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Mirror-Snowden-American-Surveillance-ebook/dp/B017SCQKE2 -- Other works mentioned: Government's End: Why Washington Stopped Working (a revised and updated version of Demosclerosis), by Jonathan Rauch (1999) https://www.amazon.com/Governments-End-Washington-Stopped-Working/dp/1891620495; Why we're polarized, by Ezra Klein (2020) https://www.amazon.com/Why-Were-Polarized-Ezra-Klein/dp/147670032XHost: Matt Mulford | Guest: Thomas Philippon | Editor: Théophile Letort See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest for this episode is Tensie Whelan, Clinical Professor for Business and Society and the Director of NYU Stern’s Center for Sustainable Business. We start with an examination of the importance of monetizing the benefits of sustainability efforts to successfully embed the practices into the heart of the firms’ strategy and measure of economic performance. We then have a lively discussion on the promises and perils of relying on consumer demand to encourage firms to act in responsible ways. We wrap up with a discussion of the role of the state versus the firm in setting the rules of competitive markets. I hope you enjoy the conversation!Related material:-- Tensie's book: Nature Tourism, Managing for the Environment (1991). https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Tourism-Environment-Tensie-Whelan/dp/1559630361-- NYU Stern's Center For Sustainable Business: https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/centers-of-research/center-sustainable-business-- Tensie's recommended book: Thinking in Systems: A Primer, by Donella H. Meadows (2008). https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Systems-Donella-H-Meadows/dp/1603580557 -- Matt's recommended book: The Overstory, by Richard Power (2018). http://www.richardpowers.net/the-overstory/ Host: Matt Mulford | Guest: Tensie Whelan | Editor: Théophile Letort See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.