Category: Interview

Understanding people is the key to changing anything

How can we spark real change when traditional methods fall short? Jonah Berger, author of The Catalyst, tackles one of the most universal challenges: influencing behavior. Drawing from his experience with leading companies, he offers a new path to overcome inertia and drive meaningful transformation.   Hello Jonah Berger, why did you write this book, and why now? Jonah Berger: After my first book Contagious came out, I had the chance to work with a wide range of companies—big players like Google, Nike, and Apple, but also small startups and everything in between. And what struck me was that everyone had the same issue: they wanted to change something. - Marketers and salespeople wanted to change customers’ minds. - Employees wanted to change their boss’s view. - Leaders wanted to change their organizations. - Startups wanted to shift industries. - Nonprofits wanted to change the world. But change...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: April 14, 2025

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When CEOs and Presidents Clash: The Hidden Power Struggles Shaping America

In The Power and the Money, Tevi Troy reveals the intricate power dynamics between America’s presidents and top CEOs. As government regulations increasingly shape the business landscape, CEOs have become essential players in influencing policy while also serving as allies—or adversaries—to the presidency. Drawing on untold stories and his White House experience, Troy explores how figures like John D. Rockefeller, Elon Musk, and Katherine Graham navigated these high-stakes relationships, reshaping both the economy and the nation. Hi Tevi Troy, so why did you write this book… now? Tevi Troy: I am the author of five books on the presidency, and each of my books looks at the question of presidents and . For this book, the  was CEOs because no one has covered the topic before and CEO involvement in our politics speaks to our current moment, especially with the rise of the tech sector and people like Mark...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: January 14, 2025

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Why the global South remains optimistic about tech, while pessimism grips the rest of the world

In her latest book, Payal Arora tackles a pressing paradox: why the Global South remains optimistic about digital technology amidst rising global pessimism. Her insights highlight how hope can reshape tech futures and offer lessons for fostering global inclusivity. Interview.   Hello Payal Arora, why did you write this book now? Payal Arora: This book is a response to the growing pessimism-optimism divide we are witnessing over these last year’s, where the West is increasingly in despair about all things digital, and their future at large. On the other hand, the rest of the world is far more optimistic as captured in poll after poll in the last decade. This book makes sense of what appears like a pessimism paradox. How can the Global South, with all their issues with poverty, war, and population growth be hopeful? This book turns the question on its head, and argues that because the Global South are...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: November 15, 2024

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How small teams can outmaneuver giants

In Atomic Scaling, Ludovic Bodin reveals strategies for companies to unlock growth in today's digital landscape. With a focus on speed, agility, and the power of small teams, Bodin offers critical insights on how businesses can stay competitive. Interview. Hi Ludovic Bodin, why did you write this book… now? Ludovic Bodin: I wrote Atomic Scaling because there’s a massive challenge companies face today, whether big or small: they can’t seem to unlock growth online, even with loads of resources at their disposal. The secret sauce isn’t in throwing more money or people at the problem. It’s about having small, nimble, high-impact teams that can scale their efforts exponentially. This book is my answer to what’s really needed today—speed, agility, and innovation, especially in this fast-evolving landscape. An extract from your book that best represents you? Ludovic Bodin: A line that really resonates...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: November 1, 2024

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How to thrive in a context of constant disruption : Interview with Roger Spitz

In a world defined by rapid technological change, environmental crises, and systemic disruptions, Roger Spitz shares strategies for turning uncertainty into opportunity. His insights from Disrupt With Impact reveal how leaders can navigate unpredictability and shape the future with purpose. Interview. Hello Roger Spitz, why did you write this book now? Roger Spitz: The more I investigate the essence of our world, the more I realize that our systems are not just fragile but outright ineffective. Everything in our world is constantly evolving—except our organizations, strategies, and governance structures. Too often we act on flawed assumptions, believing in a world that is predictable, linear, stable, and controllable. But the cost and missed opportunities from these misconceptions are on the rise. My book Disrupt With Impact: Achieve Business Success in an Unpredictable World explores opportunities, risks,...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: October 18, 2024

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Unlocking Human Potential Through RDHY: A New Era of Business Transformation

In this interview, Umberto Lago shares insights into his latest book Global Business Model Shift, exploring how companies can break free from bureaucratic structures and harness the power of human potential. He provides a practical guide to adopting RenDanHeYi, a transformative model that redefines management by prioritizing human-centered approaches. Read on to discover his vision for the future of business and why he believes now is the time to make this shift. Hi Umberto Lago, why did you write this book… now? Umberto Lago: I have been researching the evolution of the Haier business model, known as RenDanHeYi (RDHY), for nearly 15 years. Recently, other companies have expressed interest in this innovative model but often feel overwhelmed by its complexity and the stark contrast with their existing organizational structures. This inspired me to write this book, where I aim to bridge the principles of...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: September 6, 2024

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Finding your work-life balance in a world that doesn’t pause

In latest book : Work–Life Bloom, Dan Pontefract shares insights on redefining traditional work-life balance. He introduces the concept of blooming—thriving across all life's seasons by meeting broader personal and professional needs. This interview is a must-read for those looking to find harmony in the modern work-life continuum. Hello Dan Pontefract, why did you write this book… now? Dan Pontefract: I wrote *Work–Life Bloom* to challenge and redefine the outdated concepts of work-life balance and employee engagement both of which have long been regarded as the gold standards for organizational success but have proven insufficient in addressing the realities of modern work and life. The book argues that these traditional notions are too simplistic and fail to capture the complexities and fluidity of how individuals truly experience their professional and personal lives today. Instead of...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: August 29, 2024

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Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World, Nick Bostrom

Nick Bostrom's latest book, "Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World," delves into the profound questions of our civilization's trajectory. In an exclusive interview, Bostrom discusses the urgency behind his work, the concept of living in a fool’s paradise, and the transformative impact of artificial general intelligence (AGI). As Bostrom explains, the superficial nature of our understanding of technological progress compelled him to publish his insights now, ideally before the singularity alters our reality irrevocably. His reflections offer a blend of philosophical musings and pragmatic foresight, making this a must-read for anyone intrigued by the future of humanity and technology. Hi Nick, so why did you write this book… now? Nick Bostrom : It seemed embarrassing that our thinking about where our technological civilization is trying to get to was so superficial.   As for why now, well,...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: May 21, 2024

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How many more suicides will it take to make an iPhone?

Suicides, excessive overtime, and hostility and violence on the factory floor in China. Drawing on vivid testimonies from rural migrant workers, student interns, managers and trade union staff, Dying for an iPhone is a devastating expose allowing us to assess the impact of global capitalism’s deepening crisis on workers. Interview with co-author Mark Selden. Hi Mark, so why did you write this book… now? Mark Selden: One important stimulus for my collaboration with Jenny Chan and colleagues was the suicides of eighteen Chinese rural migrant workers at the Foxconn factories in China in 2010, calling into question the pristine image of both Foxconn and Apple in making our iPhones, and, indeed, Chinese and American capital in the new global economy. Foxconn, a Taiwanese multinational corporation founded in 1974, had risen to become the largest electronics employer with more than 1,000,000 workers in...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, China, Interview    Date: March 7, 2024

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Make strategy the rule, not the exception

Dive into this enlightening conversation with Jeroen Kraaijenbrink, author of "The One-Hour Strategy," as he challenges traditional strategy-making and offers a novel approach that engages everyone in an organization. Learn about his unique insights and what drives him to redefine strategy as we know it. Hello Jeroen , so why did you write this book… now? Jeroen Kraaijenbrink: My reason to write this book is the urgent need to change the way we think about and do strategy. Traditionally, strategy is a top-down board room activity, based on predictive analysis and separated from execution. Decades of research has consistently shown that this way of working is highly ineffective. Yet, many organizations stick to it, causing a lot of wasted potential, frustration and failure. It does not have to be like this. In “The One-Hour Strategy,” I outline a novel approach to strategy that engages literally...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: December 7, 2023

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How Founderz is disrupting business education

With Founderz, Pau Garcia-Mila is literally disrupting the training industry by stepping into the gap left between elite training courses and the non-degree courses proliferating online. To better understand this winning strategy, which has already won him the backing of giants such as Microsoft, we interviewed him? Hi Pau, what problem do you propose to solve with your company? Pau Garcia-Mila: When we began this project, we recognized a dramatic shift in education – especially in business training. We saw two main options: either traditional business schools with rich educational heritage but steep price tags, accessible to only a select few; or online platforms offering videos, yet lacking guarantees on employability or genuine learning. We aimed to bridge this gap. Our mission is to provide high-quality education accessible to everyone, through innovative programs that are more affordable than typical...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: September 26, 2023

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Geoffrey Moore crosses the chasm between the non-existence of God and God’s creation of the world

In a departure from his tech-strategy roots, Geoffrey Moore tackles the grand questions of human existence in his new book, "The Infinite Staircase: What the Universe Tells Us About Life, Ethics, and Mortality." Using an interdisciplinary approach, Moore builds a metaphorical ladder from the Big Bang to daily ethical decisions. Today, we sit down with him to explore this intellectual odyssey and its implications for our secular age. Stay tuned. Hi Geoffrey, so why did you write this book… now? For all my adult life I have embraced a worldview based on secular metaphysics (the Big Bang, evolution, etc.) while at the same time sought to live in accordance with values based on Christian ethics. The nagging question for me was always, if there is no God, what authorizes those ethics? I did not want to abandon them, but I also did not want to abandon the secular narrative of how the universe came to be. So, this...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: August 28, 2023

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When it comes to technology, there is no shortage of exciting things in the horizon

With the context of an economic historian and the on-the-ground insights of an active technology investor, Perelmuter’s Present Future brings readers to the bleeding edge of the science and technologies poised to revolutionize the 21st century. Comprehensive and yet enthralling, the book is a must-read for anyone who has an intellectual or commercial interest in what the future may hold.”   Hi Guy Perelmuter, so why did you write this book… now? Guy Perelmuter : The very purpose of my book is twofold. First, to overthrow this myth that we are “living a period of change.” The entire history of civilization is all about change—and, more than that, about technological change. This is what defines us as a species, this is what propels us forward. Change is coming faster and faster, that’s for sure—and it will likely accelerate even more. And second, to highlight and explain not...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Interview    Date: March 31, 2023

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Let’s expand workers’ control over their lives, both at work and off-duty

Many employers minutely regulate workers' speech, clothing, and manners on the job, and employers often extend their authority to the off-duty lives of workers, who can be fired for their political speech, recreational activities, diet, and almost anything else employers care to govern. In this compelling book, Elizabeth Anderson examines why, despite all this, we continue to talk as if free markets make workers free, and she proposes a better way to think about the workplace, opening up space for discovering how workers can enjoy real freedom. Hi Elisabeth, so why did you write this book… now? Elizabeth Anderson : Since the 1980s, when I was in graduate school, labor issues have been neglected in the U.S.  The rise of neoliberal policies crushed organized labor in the U.S.  Now only about 6% of private sector workers in the U.S. are represented by a labor union.   As a result,...

 

Posted By: Bertrand Jouvenot    Category: Interview    Date: March 24, 2023

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Will you love an invitation to rethink tired notions of product marketing and practice a more dynamic, customer and market-centric version?

Drawing inspiration from the giants of Silicon Valley (Apple, Netflix, Microsoft and Salesforce), the author of LOVED shows us the way to an inspiring and innovative product policy thanks to four easy-to-remember fundamentals: ambassador - strategist - storyteller - evangelist. Martina Lauchengco shares with us the "recipes" of successful brands: tell a story before the launch of a product, which the consumer will appropriate to preach the good word and "recruit" brand ambassadors. Interview. Hi Martina Lauchengco, why did you write this book… now? Martina Lauchengco: I kept seeing product marketing getting confused with its outputs (launches, product collateral, sales enablement) rather than its core intent: to drive product adoption by shaping market perception through strategic marketing activities that meet business goals. I wanted people to understand what best-practice...

 

Posted By:    Category: Blog, Interview    Date: February 21, 2023

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