What if the secret to thriving in the age of AI and relentless disruption isn't perfecting what you do today, but knowing what you'll need to do tomorrow? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers , Nick Hague speaks with Howard Yu, LEGO Professor at IMD Business School, on future readiness, corporate transformation, and business innovation. Drawing on examples from NVIDIA, Intel, Yamaha, Steinway & Sons, Novartis, Walmart, and Grab, Yu explains how adopting leap strategies and s...
Apr 22, 2026•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 48
What if the biggest drain on your team's productivity isn't lack of effort, but the friction you've built into your systems? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague speaks with Robert Sutton, Organizational Psychologist, and Professor Emeritus at Stanford, about the hidden cost of organizational friction. Robert explains how leaders can act as "friction fixers," removing bureaucratic barriers, unnecessary meetings, and email overload while preserving productive con...
Apr 08, 2026•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 47
What if culture and not demographics or marketing strategies is the ultimate driver of human behavior and business success? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague speaks with cultural scholar, best-selling author, advertising strategist, and Professor of Marketing at Michigan University, Dr. Marcus Collins. Marcus explains why culture, not demographics or tactics, is the true driver of human behavior and business success. He explores how brands grow by aligning be...
Mar 25, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 46
What if the organizational structures designed to scale your business are actually holding it back? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague speaks with renowned management theorist, Visiting Professor at London School of Business, and best-selling author, Gary Hamel, about how bureaucracy in organizations undermines innovation, engagement, and performance. Hamel argues that rigid organizational structures and excessive business hierarchy drain trillions from the gl...
Mar 11, 2026•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 45
What if the secret to breakthrough performance wasn't a dramatic overhaul, but a series of small, consistently applied changes? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague speaks with Damian Hughes, author of Micro Habits, co-host of the High Performance podcast, and England rugby coach, about the power of small, consistent actions in building extraordinary results. Drawing on insights from over 500 elite performers, from Formula 1 champion Lando Norris to Michelin-sta...
Feb 25, 2026•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 44
What if the secret to building world-class brands isn't about outsmarting your customers, but understanding the hidden biases that drive their decisions? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague is joined by behavioural scientist and author of three bestsellers, Richard Shotton, to unpack why the world's most successful brands win by working with human nature, not against it. Drawing on examples from Five Guys, Snickers, Guinness, Amazon Prime, and more, Richard exp...
Feb 11, 2026•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 43
What if success isn't about how you get in, but what you do once you're there? And what if saying "yes" matters more than having the perfect résumé? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague sits down with Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist at Canva and former Apple evangelist, for a masterclass in career serendipity and mission-driven leadership. Drawing on five decades in Silicon Valley, Guy explains why execution beats credentials, how authentic evangelism cuts throug...
Jan 29, 2026•51 min•Season 1Ep. 42
What if the career you carefully planned at 20 looks nothing like the life you're living at 50, and yet, that's actually a good thing? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague sits down with bestselling author Daniel Pink to unpack why curiosity beats certainty, and why rigid career plans often fail us in a fast-changing world. Pink shares how autonomy, mastery, and purpose still define meaningful work in the AI age, and why paying attention to weak signals can reve...
Jan 07, 2026•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 41
What if everything you thought about branding was missing the real asset underneath? What if the most powerful driver of growth in your business isn't your product, your pricing, or your marketing spend? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, Nick Hague speaks with David Aaker, widely regarded as the father of modern branding, to unpack why brand equity and not awareness is the real strategic asset behind sustainable growth. David explains how the Five B's framework elevates bran...
Dec 22, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 40
What if a billion-dollar brand could be built not through hype, but through relentless craftsmanship and purpose-driven focus? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, Nick Hague speaks with Will Butler-Adams, CEO of Brompton Bicycles, to unpack how a quirky folding bike became a global icon. Will reveals why engineering excellence beats marketing spend, how disciplined focus fuels sustainable growth, and why manufacturing in London is a strategic advantage, not a sentimental choic...
Dec 11, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Is modern marketing broken, and are you missing the fundamental frameworks that are relevant today? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague welcomes back Mark Ritson, founder of the Mini MBA, to unpack why marketing has regressed despite unprecedented access to data, tools, and talent. Mark breaks down the misconceptions and differences behind "strategies with long and short impact," why the 95/5 rule should guide budget allocation, and how most CMOs are dangerousl...
Nov 27, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Conflict isn't the enemy; it's the path to stronger relationships. In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague sits down with Amy Gallo, Global Speaker, Author, and Contributing Editor at Harvard Business Review, to explore how to handle even the most difficult colleagues. Amy reveals the eight archetypes of toxic coworkers, why emotional regulation outperforms empathy, and how psychological safety fuels high-performing teams. Discover practical tools to navigate tensi...
Nov 12, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 37
What if innovation wasn't about having more resources, but about unleashing the creativity you already possess? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague sits down with Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, to share actionable strategies for fostering innovation in any organization. From sending Buzz Lightyear to space to transforming slum lighting with water bottles, Duncan reveals practical tools, playful mindsets, and techniques like "...
Oct 30, 2025•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 36
Short Summary: What if your company could change the world and deliver exceptional profits? In this episode of World's Greatest Business Thinkers , host Nick Hague speaks with Douglas Lamont, CEO of Tony's Chocolonely, about how purpose-led leadership can drive both impact and growth. Drawing from his journey leading Innocent Drinks and now Tony's global mission to end exploitation in the chocolate industry, Douglas reveals how transparency, ethical sourcing, and long-term thinking create lastin...
Oct 15, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Today I'm joined by Scott Anthony, Senior Advisor at Innosight and Professor at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, for a thought provoking discussion on how epic disruptions shape industries and societies.
Oct 01, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Today I'm joined by Roger Martin, named the world's #1 management thinker by Thinkers50, for an invaluable discussion on how to achieve superior management effectiveness.
Sep 17, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Today I'm joined by Philip Kotler, distinguished marketing author, consultant and professor, for an invaluable discussion on how to solve today's wicked problems.
Aug 21, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Today I'm joined by Vikram Mansharamani, Global Generalist and Trend-Watcher, for a fascinating discussion on how to anticipate the future, manage risk, and spot opportunities.
Jul 30, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Today I'm joined by Tom Fishburne, Marketoonist Creator and Keynote Speaker, for a fascinating discussion on the power of humour in business and marketing.
Jul 10, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Today I'm joined by Dan Davies, Author and Former Economist, for a fascinating discussion on how systems, algorithms and AI are changing the world around us.
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Today I'm joined by Kirstin Ferguson, Author and Leadership Expert, for a fascinating discussion on how to see what others miss.
Jun 11, 2025•52 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Today I'm joined by Dan McCarthy, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Robert H Smith School of Business, for a fascinating discussion on how customer-based corporate valuations can be used to predict the future.
May 28, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Today I'm joined by Fred Reichheld, Bain Fellow and NY Times Best-Selling Author, for a fascinating discussion on all things loyalty and CX.
May 13, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Today I'm joined by Greg Fisher, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Kelley School of Business, to discuss strategies and tips on how to become a successful entrepreneur.
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Today I'm joined by Jenni Romaniuk, Research Professor at Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, for a hugely valuable discussion around evidence-based marketing and insights. Further links: https://www.jenniromaniuk.com/ https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/b2b-institute/how-b2b-brands-grow https://business.linkedin.com/content/dam/me/business/en-us/marketing-solutions/resources/pdfs/byron-sharp-v1.pdf https://business.linkedin.com/content/dam/me/business/en-us/marketing-solutions/resources/pdf...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Today I'm joined by Greg Hahn, Co-Founder & CCO of Mischief USA, for an exciting discussion on how to build a brand admired around the world and how to create award-winning adverts.
Mar 19, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Today I'm joined by Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman at Ogilvy UK and TED Global Speaker, for a masterclass on all things advertising and behavioural science.
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Today I'm joined by Les Binet, world-renowned expert in the field of marketing effectiveness, for a fascinating discussion on how marketing and advertising really works and how to create the most effective campaigns.
Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Today I'm joined by Peter Fader, author, keynote speaker, and co-founder at Theta and Encompass Labs, for a fascinating discussion on how to develop your company's customer-centricity and how to be more strategic in your conversations with your CFO.
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Today I'm joined by Chris Baker, author of 'Obsolete: How Change Brands are Changing the World' and Founder and CEO of Serious Tissues, for a fascinating discussion on how changing the way we spend our money has the potential to change the world. Use the code obsolete25 on the Bloomsbury website to buy a discounted copy of the book.
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 19
