The Insightful Leader

Kellogg School of Management

Expert advice and cutting-edge discoveries from one of the world's leading business schools.

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20 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes20

Newest first

Life, Automated | To Thrive Alongside AI, Find the Bottlenecks
This week on The Insightful Leader, we're bringing you an episode of "Life, Automated"—a new podcast from Kellogg's Ryan Institute on Complexity. Join host Jess Love as she attempts to answer the question on everyone's lips: Will AI actually take over every job ever? Kellogg economist Ben Jones doesn't think so. Drawing from historical evidence around innovation, Jones argues that automation never conquers everything—it inevitably creates operational bottlenecks that only humans can solve. By leaning into these bottlenecks, we can protect meaningful, well-paid work. But his optimism comes with a stark caveat: there is one nightmare scenario where this historical pattern breaks down entirely. And it doesn't involve superintelligence. It involves mediocre AI. For more Life, Automated: Apple Spotify
Monday · 34 min
Insight Unpacked S3E5 | Electricity Was Supposed to Save Us. Will It Doom Us Instead?
In the fifth—and final—episode of "Insight Unpacked: Can We Still Build a Green Economy?" we consider how AI and the human spirit could get us to net zero.
July 6 · 29 min
Insight Unpacked S3E4 | Does Climate Policy Stand a Chance?
America passed its biggest-ever climate bill … only to reverse course three years later. In the fourth episode of "Insight Unpacked: Can We Still Build a Green Economy?" experts discuss why policy solutions struggle to stick.
June 8 · 31 min
Insight Unpacked S3E3 | Why Wall Street Slowed Its Roll on Sustainability
A few years ago, the stock market was wild about green tech and ESG funds. And then it wasn't. We look at why in the third episode of "Insight Unpacked: Can We Still Build a Green Economy?"
May 25 · 32 min
Insight Unpacked S3E2 | Why Companies Can't Keep Their Climate Commitments
They say they want to do better. In the second episode of "Insight Unpacked: Can We Still Build a Green Economy?" we look at an oil company, a tech giant, and an Italian energy provider to explore why net-zero pledges have barely moved the needle.
May 11 · 27 min
Insight Unpacked S3E1 | The Climate Crisis Is Here. Will We Ever Fix It?
Saving the planet is going to take more than net-zero pledges and shopping green. In the first episode of our series, "Insight Unpacked: Can We Still Build a Green Economy?" we take the current temperature of the climate fight.
April 27 · 32 min
Introducing Insight Unpacked, Season 3
Introducing Insight Unpacked, Season 3: Can We Still Build a Green Economy? In the last decade, we've seen powerful people and organizations take on the issue of climate change — making big pledges to reduce their carbon emissions by adapting their fleets, retrofitting their offices, or going paperless. And yet global emissions are still at or near record highs. So what gives? In this five-episode season, we're asking: If climate change is already reshaping our environment, is there anything that companies, investors, policymakers, technologists, and ordinary people can do to turn things around? And are we even capable of doing that? There's reason for hope. But our work is certainly cut out for us.
April 20 · 2 min
When It Comes to Biases, AI's Only Human
The AI models informing many of our decisions are riddled with preconceptions. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, two experts outline how bias creeps in.
April 13 · 16 min
Automation, Answers, and Advice—a Playbook for AI Adoption
So you've tinkered with AI, but now you want to level up. Here are tips from Kellogg faculty on using the tech more effectively.
March 9 · 16 min
The Global Trends Shaping the Way We Do Business
Uncertainty is everywhere. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we examine the effect of geopolitics on everything from Barbies to Sharpies.
February 23 · 16 min
How Do Those Valentine's Day Roses End Up in Your Bouquet? It's Complicated.
Millions of blooms. Two continents, One day. And a very busy airport. On this (rerun) episode, we hear how our favorite symbol of love gets from point A to point B.
February 9 · 9 min
The Authentic Appeal of Influencer Marketing
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, learn why companies should embrace the social-media testimonial, warts and all.
January 26 · 16 min
Focus on Your Story, Not Your Résumé
As your career progresses, it can be easy to get stuck in a narrow professional lane. Learn how to break free on this episode of The Insightful Leader.
Dec 8, 2025 · 14 min
I Respectfully Disagree
From ketchup on hot dogs to politics, it can be hard to talk constructively about polarizing issues. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we play a game to recognize the traps we often fall into and learn how to avoid them.
Nov 24, 2025 · 19 min
In Workplace Negotiations, Put the Relationship First
It's not just about salary. On this episode of The Insightful Leader's "Ask Insight," we hear how to approach some common work tensions by finding common ground.
Nov 10, 2025 · 17 min
Managing Layoffs without Compromising Your Morals
There's no "correct" approach to laying people off, but on this episode of The Insightful Leader, we discuss how you can maintain your integrity through the process.
Oct 27, 2025 · 18 min
When We Get Too Comfortable, It's Tough to Take Flight
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, an executive coach offers three tales of leaders who let complacency get in the way of success.
Oct 13, 2025 · 13 min
How to Stay Resilient in the Face of a Major Setback
When Kellogg's Craig Wortmann lost a portion of his leg to cancer, he felt like he lost part of his identity, too. On this episode of The Insightful Leader podcast, he offers a guide to "bouncing back better."
Jun 9, 2025 · 15 min
Insight Unpacked S2E6 | When a Healthcare Expert Becomes a Patient
In this bonus episode of our series, "Insight Unpacked: American Healthcare and Its Web of Misaligned Incentives," a healthcare economist must make critical decisions with partial information. Also: Do you have advice on how to be a good healthcare consumer? Any lessons you learned the hard way? Professor David Dranove wants to hear from you. Send him an email at d-dranove@kellogg.northwestern.edu, and write "shopping for healthcare" in the subject line.
May 27, 2025 · 18 min
Preventing a Potential Culture Clash at Work
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: when Fuyao Glass opened a U.S. factory, it underestimated the importance of translating company culture.
May 12, 2025 · 15 min

The Insightful Leader

Life, Automated | To Thrive Alongside AI, Find the Bottlenecks

Insight Unpacked S3E5 | Electricity Was Supposed to Save Us. Will It Doom Us Instead?

Insight Unpacked S3E4 | Does Climate Policy Stand a Chance?

Insight Unpacked S3E3 | Why Wall Street Slowed Its Roll on Sustainability

Insight Unpacked S3E2 | Why Companies Can't Keep Their Climate Commitments

Insight Unpacked S3E1 | The Climate Crisis Is Here. Will We Ever Fix It?

Introducing Insight Unpacked, Season 3

When It Comes to Biases, AI's Only Human

Automation, Answers, and Advice—a Playbook for AI Adoption

The Global Trends Shaping the Way We Do Business

How Do Those Valentine's Day Roses End Up in Your Bouquet? It's Complicated.

The Authentic Appeal of Influencer Marketing

Focus on Your Story, Not Your Résumé

I Respectfully Disagree

In Workplace Negotiations, Put the Relationship First

Managing Layoffs without Compromising Your Morals

When We Get Too Comfortable, It's Tough to Take Flight

How to Stay Resilient in the Face of a Major Setback

Insight Unpacked S2E6 | When a Healthcare Expert Becomes a Patient

Preventing a Potential Culture Clash at Work