What does it take to turn a hot dog cart into a billion-dollar brand? In this episode of Columbia Bizcast , former Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti joins Columbia Business School’s Distinguished Speaker Series for a candid conversation with Professor Jorge Guzman. From earning $6/hour at Chili’s to leading one of the world’s most iconic fast-casual restaurant chains, Garutti shares the key leadership lessons that fueled his journey.
May 27, 2025•54 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast, Donna Morris, Chief People Officer at Walmart, joins CBS Professor Stephan Meier to discuss how Walmart is building a resilient, tech-powered, and people-led workplace. From AI tools like “My Assistant” to real-time language translation and strategic upskilling, Morris shares how the retail giant is using innovation to reshape roles, empower employees, and navigate the evolving world of work.
May 09, 2025•59 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast , Columbia Business School Professor and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz explores the true meaning of “freedom” in the age of AI. He explains how government, capitalism, and tech must evolve to protect democracy—not undermine it—and why progressive economic policies are key to ensuring innovation works for all.
Apr 24, 2025•25 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast , Professor Shang-Jin Wei explains why President Trump’s sweeping tariffs—intended to protect U.S. industries—may instead harm American households and businesses. From driving up consumer prices to weakening global trade, Wei breaks down the potential economic ripple effects of protectionism and consequences for the U.S. economy.
Apr 17, 2025•7 min
Listen to a conversation between Professors Stephan Meier and Todd Jick as they share their latest insights on how AI is reshaping the workplace and transforming the future of work. They offer practical tips for business leaders on implementing AI within organizations while addressing the fear and resistance that often accompany major transformations.
Feb 26, 2025•12 min
Listen to a conversation between Nobel Prize-winning economist and CBS Professor Joseph Stiglitz and Glenn Hubbard, Dean Emeritus and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics. Together, they explore the intersections of economics, policy, and society, offering listeners valuable insights into Stiglitz’s vision for a stronger economic future.
Feb 05, 2025•58 min
Discover powerful leadership insights and explore how AI is revolutionizing finance and wealth management in this engaging conversation with Ida Liu, Global Head of Citi Private Bank, and Lulu C. Wang ’83, founder and CEO of Tupelo Capital Management. Recorded during the recent Sir Gordon Wu Distinguished Speaker Forum, this episode, hosted by Columbia Business School’s Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business, delivers invaluable perspectives on the future of global finance.
Jan 17, 2025•49 min
The European Union’s Commissioner for Climate Action visited CBS during Climate Week to discuss the solutions and challenges on his agenda as he embarks on a new five-year term. He highlighted the need for stronger Europe-U.S. alignment, addressing global competition, and utilizing carbon pricing to reduce emissions.
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 6 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast , join Columbia Business School Dean Costis Maglaras and faculty as they explore how the School is harnessing AI to transform classroom learning and equip students for the future of work.
Nov 20, 2024•19 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast, listen to Professor Gernot Wagner’s talk from Reunion 2024, where he discusses the challenges posed by the climate crisis and the immense business opportunities presented by the clean-energy race.
Oct 09, 2024•56 min
Listen to the CMO of the major U.S. beauty retailer share insights at Columbia Business School’s BRITE ’24 conference. Crossan-Matos discusses how to blend brand purpose with strategy while driving continuous innovation amid rapid societal and industry changes.
Aug 27, 2024•24 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast, listen to GM CEO Mary Barra’s keynote address at the Tamer Institute’s 2024 Climate Business and Investment Conference, where she shares the automaker’s bold strategy to lead the electric vehicle revolution. Discover how GM is leveraging its scale, innovation, and consumer-focused approach to create affordable, high-performance EVs that are shaping the future of mobility.
Aug 14, 2024•46 min
The legendary investor recently took part in a wide-ranging discussion hosted by Columbia Business School’s Finance Division that covered the five main forces that contribute to the rise and decline of empires, his views on the Chinese economy, insights into his investment philosophy, and the role of AI in the investment industry.
Jun 21, 2024•1 hr 26 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast, the leader of the country’s oldest airline sat down with CBS Professor Modupe Akinola to explain how building an ethical company culture starts from the top. Since Delta CEO Ed Bastian assumed his role in 2016, he’s kept his email address public and unchanged — an uncommon practice for the leader of a Fortune 100 company. By doing so, Bastian invites both employees and customers alike to reach out with concerns, providing accessibility and visibility from the...
May 06, 2024•1 hr 7 min
The accomplished entrepreneur, executive and investor joined Columbia Business School Dean Costis Maglaras to share lessons from building many of today’s leading consumer businesses and to discuss the future of AI. The event was part of the school’s new Distinguished Speaker Series, co-sponsored by the Digital Future Initiative.
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 9 min
At a recent live event hosted by the Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business at Columbia Business School, Professors Abby Joseph Cohen and Pierre Yared discussed signs that the global economy and financial markets are moving toward a more “normal” state.
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 9 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast, listen to a recording of a recent CBS event featuring Chris Wiggins, professor of applied mathematics and systems biology at Columbia University. He speaks about his new book, How Data Happened, co-authored with Matthew Jones. Professor Wiggins explains that the technologies that now shape our daily realities didn’t just appear overnight. They have rich and detailed histories that go back centuries and span the globe. This event was facilitated by Professor B...
Feb 09, 2024•51 min
In this episode of Bizcast we speak with Columbia Business School Professor Bruce Kogut, who shares insights and reflections on the impact of social and traditional media, government regulation, misinformation, and new and emerging technologies on democracy.
Jan 26, 2024•33 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast, listen to a recording of a recent CBS event featuring Brian Deese, MIT innovation fellow and former director of the National Economic Action Council at the White House. Deese discusses climate action and economic opportunities in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Jan 12, 2024•57 min
In this episode of Columbia Bizcast, Jensen Huang, President and CEO of NVIDIA, joins Dean Costis Maglaras to discuss the future of the AI industry and share insights and lessons from building his tech company into a $1 trillion giant.
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 3 min
In this episode of Bizcast, Ciamac Moallemi, the William von Mueffling Professor of Business at Columbia Business School, takes us through the basics of the new technology, shares the opportunities and disadvantages it offers, and discusses how CBS is preparing students to be at the forefront of this emerging field.
Aug 10, 2023•21 min
Director of the Eugene M. Lang Entrepreneurship Center at Columbia Business School Lara Hejtmanek ’99 discusses how the School supports students and alumni in their entrepreneurial journeys: from startup idea to launch and beyond.
Jan 27, 2023•30 min
Listen to a fascinating discussion between Columbia Business School Professors Oded Netzer, Christopher Frank and Paul Magnone as they delve into the ideas and practical applications detailed in their new book Decisions Over Decimals.
Dec 14, 2022•36 min
Columbia Business School’s Bruce Usher discusses his new book, which outlines the risks and opportunities for investors from climate change, and how current students and alumni are addressing major environmental challenges.
Nov 18, 2022•31 min
Welcome to the first episode of a special season of Columbia Bizcast dedicated to Columbia Business School’s new home in Manhattanville! In this episode, we’ll take a private tour of the Manhattanville campus with Dean Costis Maglaras. Dean Maglaras shares with us why a new campus is essential for preparing the next generation of business leaders, how spaces within Henry R. Kravis Hall and David Geffen Hall are built to foster connectivity and collaboration among students, faculty, alumni, and t...
Apr 08, 2022•30 min
Vasiliki Petrou founded and now leads the Unilever Prestige division; this last year has offered that division invaluable knowledge and expertise. In this week’s episode, she reviews some of what she’s learned about her already-strong commitment to running a mission-driven brand portfolio. She discusses the nature of prestige retail marketing; the future of brick and mortar; and her team’s unwavering commitment to purpose, for customers and employees alike. And intriguingly, she talks about the ...
Apr 30, 2021•19 min
Like every other industry, the field of impact investing underwent significant change over the last year. This episode investigates some of the new possibilities that this change has opened. Maggie Loo, CBS class of ’05 and Bridges Fund Management partner, discusses how the definition of “returns” may need to be reevaluated, how environmental regulations will transform corporate decision making, and how larger businesses can leverage small changes to produce significant effect. Find us on Instag...
Apr 02, 2021•16 min
What happened? What went wrong? Those are simple questions to ask when a company experiences difficulty. In Professor Kathryn Harrigan’s Turnaround Management class, students examine case studies to uncover the often complex reasons why a firm got in trouble and to help plot a way back. On this episode of Bizcast, Harrigan, the Henry R. Kravis Professor of Business Leadership, tells us the story of the decisions made by two very different firms – J. Crew, the famous purveyors of preppy clothes, ...
Feb 26, 2021•31 min
We start our new season of Bizcast with a conversation about the challenges of entrepreneurship. Class of 2021 members Pritika Gupta, Gareth Pembroke, and Samuel Hong are co-presidents of the Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO), a community of students who offer each other support on their entrepreneurial journeys and a network that will continue after graduation. CEO also plans a number of professional development opportunities and in the coming weeks the group will host a panel discussio...
Feb 11, 2021•26 min
What is it like for a journalist to cover the final days of a political campaign, right before an election? Bizcast visits with two MBA students who have had this experience first-hand. Alexis Levinson ’21, a former reporter for Buzzfeed, and Knight-Bagehot Fellow Hannah Levintova ’21, who writes for Mother Jones, give us their perspective on the differences between covering local and national politics; trustworthy ways to stay informed; and whether voters should believe the latest polls. Levins...
Oct 29, 2020•35 min
