Looking Outside

Holding opposing thoughts for more ambitious ideas - Omnicom CEO Andreas Krasser

Cultural intelligence is the game of the moment. When culture feels like it’s in flux, the natural inclination is to gather more signals. But what if this interrogation of culture is shallow, where we see only what’s bubbling to the top of the volcano, and miss the transition before the eruption? Andreas Krasser, CEO of Omnicom Asia, calls this the cultural flux zone, where deep currents meet surface signals. Andreas says getting to this messy bit in the middle, full of tension and randomness, requires a different process of synthesis, one that is hugely benefited by multicultural thinking. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Learn more about Andreas at krasserandreas.com Connect with Andreas on LinkedIn Read about Andreas' Cultural Volcano model and the CulturalFLux --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every month. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

When leaders feel the pressure | Business Brief

What does it take to lead in volatile markets? In this Business Brief we look at how leaders respond under pressure and with competing directives - to transform the business for new external conditions while keeping the status quo. Business Brief is a (very brief, just 5 mins) new solo series by Jo Lepore, exploring immediate business implications of emerging topics. Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.

Pragmatic leadership in volatile times - workplace politics expert Niven Postma

Leaders in volatile and unpredictable markets are often asked to steady the course and stabilize the ship. But what if chaos is the new business normal? Organizational change expert Niven Postma says any leader navigating uncertainty today needs to harness a new type of workplace intelligence. She points to the Stockdale Paradox, where the brutality of the moment is recognized as the reality. Pragmatism, therefore, is the most required skill of the future leader. Without that, Niven argues, the most idealistic leaders quickly become cynics, and cynics become complicit to the complacency of corporate life. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Learn more about Niven at nivenpostma.com Connect with Niven on LinkedIn Grab a copy of Niven's book If you don't do politics, politics will do you Check out Niven's LinkedIn courses on organizational leadership --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every month. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

The past and future of brand influence | Business Brief

The modern influencer economy is worth billions so it's clearly influencing marketers, but does it pay off in the long term? In this Business Brief, we look at how brands have been winning, losing and controlling authority for decades, and why everyday influencers are here today, but will be gone tomorrow. Business Brief is a (very brief, just 5 mins) new solo series by Jo Lepore, exploring immediate business implications of emerging topics. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.

Who are 'influencers' influencing? (Marketers.) - Marketing Professor Ramanathan Vythilingam

Influencer marketing is not a paradigm shift. At best it’s an over-inflated investment (in the billions), at worst it’s serving up false credibility to audiences, masked as ‘trust’. And yet, it’s all that seemed to be on the agenda at Cannes this year, and is being heavily weighted in the marketing media mix by marketers that should know better. Is marketing through influencers, or content creators, a waste of money then? Ramanathan Vythilingam says no - if it’s intentionally used. Ram has been researching the effectiveness of influencer campaigns, following two decades behind the scenes at Unilever. He says the name of the game now is to get savvy and more protective of brand assets and marketing dollars, especially in this marketing era of abundance and clutter. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Connect with Ram on LinkedIn Read Ram's WARC article on influencer marketing --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every month. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

Disengaged youth | Business Brief

Who will run your business in the future? We like to study, interview and market to young people, but are we really ready to handle the feedback they're serving? In this Business Brief, we look at the 'performative' nature of youth engagement and why this is causing a further disconnect for the next generation of leaders. Business Brief is a (very brief, just 5 mins) new solo series by Jo Lepore, exploring immediate business implications of emerging topics. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.

We hear from young people but are we listening? - UNICEF's Shai Naides

In a boardroom setting, young people are often spoken of and sometimes represented. But their ideas, opinions and provocations are mostly inconsequential, left untranslated to influence. After all, young people are full of naivety and inexperience that doesn’t fit with our practical ‘real world’ ... right? But Shai Naides says that their presence should be less like a token of good will, and more like a gesture of intent. Through his work in policy for intergenerational governance and participation, within UNICEF's office of strategy and evidence, Shai has uncovered what it takes to bring young people into multilateral forums where their (perhaps altruistic) challenges and perspectives to established thinking are turned into a mechanism for their agency. And perhaps gives them back a little bit of hope for the future. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Connect with Shai on LinkedIn Follow his writing on Substack Check out the UNICEF reports mentioned on the show at unicef.org/innocenti --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every month. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

THIS is competition | Business Brief

Your future competition may be coming not only from outside your category, but another part of the world. In this Business Brief, Jo examines the rapid rise of new international challengers redefining what “competitive” means. And why lessons on balancing speed, agility and experimentation with long term stability and a future vision can be best learnt right now from Asian brands. Business Brief is a (very brief, just 5 mins) new solo series hosted by Looking Outside podcast host, foresight strategist Jo Lepore. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.

When global brand playbooks fail - brand builder Eugene Lee

Scaling a big American brand globally is not a guaranteed recipe for success any more. Market localization is key to building relevance and trust, especially in Asia. Here, locally founded brands move faster, without the shackles of ‘big brand’ bureaucracy. For leaders in the headquarters of multinational corporations, this type of freedom and pace may feel unusual, but as our guest today explains, it’s the norm in Asia. Joining us is Singapore-based Eugene Lee, CMO of fast-growing premium tea brand CHAGEE. Eugene’s transition from growing US brand McDonald's throughout Asia, to now growing a Chinese brand globally, has afforded him the chance to spot the rule differences in how brands activate across markets. And while the ideas come fast and pace of implementation even faster, Eugene stresses it’s never at the expense of a long term ambition. And that, he says, is giving big global brands a run for their money. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Connect with Eugene on LinkedIn Check out CHAGEE https://global.chagee.com/id/en --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

Chaos is necessary | Business Brief

Chaos in business is undesirable, to say the least. But chaos is normal, even necessary, in solving complex problems and capturing new growth. In this Business Brief, Jo reflects on the rejection of chaos in business, in favor of order, structure and process. And why, amidst our quest for predictability and preparation, we may need to embrace a little bit of chaos. Business Brief is a (very brief) new solo series hosted by Looking Outside podcast host, foresight strategist Jo Lepore. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.

• Chapters

The fracturing of our uneven world - polymath Richard Hames

Things used to be simpler. Competition fueled innovation. When wars were fought, you could easily tell who the good guys were. Institutions could be trusted. A lens like this might feel right, but is it true? Richard Hames doesn’t think so. Operating at the intersection of complex systems thinking, philosophy, foresight and organizational readiness for decades, Richard has observed the fracturing – and near collapse – of our societal and governing anchors. But this gradual transition, this disconnection from the ‘old world’, while unsettling, is neither good nor bad. For this future, Richard says openness and curiosity will serve us better than the best preparation. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Connect with Richard on LinkedIn Talk to AI Richard www.upgradethesystem.com More at richardhames.com --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

Innovation at any cost | Business Brief

When a market is stalling in innovation, an enchanting charismatic leaders selling a bold, crazy idea can be tempting. Is it, then, more important that the idea is visionary, or that it's attainable? In this Business Brief, Jo reflects on the fine line between bold innovation and unethical ambition, and why business leaders must stay vigilant about the dark patterns that distort progress. Business Brief is a (very brief) new solo series hosted by Looking Outside podcast host, former-marketer and corporate futurist Jo Lepore. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.

Companies are unethical all the time - business ethics professor Guido Palazzo

Every organization, at some point, has their ethical boundaries tested. But there is a difference between an organization with ambition and drive, and one that pushes its people into unrealistic, unhealthy and disastrous behaviors in order to succeed. Today we’re talking about the slippery slope into destructive and dangerous corporate behavior, with professor of business ethics at HEC Lausanne, Guido Palazzo. Guido says the patterns into darkness are obvious, completely avoidable ... and quite counter to what we’re told makes for a successful corporate culture in business schools. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Connect with Guido on LinkedIn Take Guido's online course on unethical decision making Guido's book The Dark Pattern on Amazon --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

The business curiosity gap | Business Brief

The path to the c-suite is predictable and almost entirely dependent on extensive commercial and operations literacy. But while marketers are relegated to the realm of creativity, not financial savviness, senior leaders lack the very skills they bring – curiosity. In this Business Brief, Jo reflects on the benefits of transdisciplinary skills and how curiosity can enable truly future-forward thinking to organizations caught up in short term thinking. Business Brief is a (very brief) new solo series hosted by Looking Outside podcast host, former-marketer and corporate futurist Jo Lepore. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube Curious about foresight training? Take a look at organizational training and foresight courses we have at CIFS --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.

Marketing's vanity problem - marketing professor Mark Ritson

When a profession brags about its ability to operate without formal training, you know you have a vanity problem. Founder of the MiniMBA, marketing professor and not-actually-that-angry columnist Mark Ritson joins the Looking Outside podcast to reiterate the central role of marketing in business – to understand the other. Marketers today have a branding problem, making it about themselves, the glitz and the awards, and Mark says this is all imposter syndrome stemming from lack of formal training. Empathy is foundational to marketing and is so needed in organizations distracted with short term priorities and obsessed with a narrative of constant change. And it can be a powerful unlocker of transformative ideas (like saving abandoned dogs). --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Learn more about Mark www.marketingritson.com & read his Adweek columns Learn more about the MiniMBA --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

The problem is company purpose | Business Brief

It’s all well and good for a brand to have purpose, but what your company? In this Business Brief, Jo unpacks our obsession with proclaiming brand intent and pre-occupation with purpose led marketing. But that's not really the problem; it’s the absence of a well-defined and consistently rewarded company purpose. Business Brief is a (very brief) new solo series hosted by Looking Outside podcast host, former-marketer and corporate futurist Jo Lepore. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.

Is brand purpose total bullshit? - brand strategist Ron Tite

If you’re tired of talking about brand purpose, you’re not alone. In most cases, when researched, purpose just does not work. But perhaps it’s been sitting with the wrong department this whole time … Author of The Purpose of Purpose, brand strategist and former stand-up comedian Ron Tite, argues that purpose is not for the marketers but for human resources, because ultimately what you "say” about your brand hinges entirely on what you collectively “think” within your company. There is there a tendency in organizations to bypass the bit in the middle - to voice your vision before you’ve backed it up tangible policies, incentives and activities. Without that, it’s just bullshit PR. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com RonTite.com & Church & State Follow Sohail on LinkedIn & YouTube & Ista --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

Great businesses think in generations, not quarters | Business Brief

What does it take to build a business that lasts generations? In this Business Brief, Jo reflects on long-term thinking, the resilience of family-run businesses, and why creating a compelling vision matters when aligning business heritage with future ambitions. Business Brief is a (very brief) new solo series hosted by Looking Outside host, strategist and corporate futurist Jo Lepore. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Watch this Business Brief on YouTube --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.

Change the story before you change your strategy - UNESCO futures chair Sohail Inayatullah

On this episode of Looking Outside we peek into the metaphors, imagery and stories that unknowingly shape the limitations of our business strategy, and limit our ambitions. UNESCO chair of futures, Sohail Inayatullah has seen this many times before - from brands rethinking positioning, CEOs shifting cultural capability, to government leaders reshaping coalitions. In each case, when we dig deeper to the metaphor we hold for ourselves, we gain visibility of what limits our worldview, and the bars that guard us from transformational change. Sohail stresses that a strategy can easily change based on the story you tell others, but it’s uncovering the story you tell yourself as a leader that, while uncomfortable, is the true unlocker of new possibilities for the future. --- Learn more: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com Metafuture.org & Meta Future School Follow Sohail on LinkedIn & YouTube --- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! --- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme songs by Azteca X.

2025 recap: the most popular perspectives on business transformation

What a year! It’s time to wrap it up for 2025 and highlight the eclectic mix of diverse perspectives, divergent topics and expert thinking that appeared on the show this year. From the best performing episodes and most popular themes, to the most prominent guest go-to's for fresh perspectives, today we’re going back to the episodes that resonated most. Top episodes of 2025: Venture capitalist and futurist Roger Spitz: new playbooks for volatile business environments Political demographer Jennifer Sciubba: the narrative around our population ‘crisis’ Fashion designer Justine Leconte: the manipulative systems that fuel fast fashion Forecaster Paul Saffo: pressure testing assumptions about what we know to ‘certain’ in uncertain times Experimental philosopher Jonathon Keats: asking better questions in existential times Honorable mentions & favorites: CPG strategist Peter McDonald – the lost muscle of innovation in consumer markets Political scientist Verlan Lewis: flawed political ideologies and the need for less divisive conversations Neuroaesthetics expert Susan Magsamen: the psychology behind our physical senses ---------- More: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com ---------- ⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference! ---------- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic. All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2025. Theme songs by Azteca X.

• Chapters