Deep connections, globally and locally, with with Rita McGrath and Jean Oelwang

In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Jean Oelwang, founding CEO of Virgin Unite, author of Partnering: Forge the Deep Connections That Make Great Things Happen, and fierce advocate for the planet. Their conversation features case studies from Ben & Jerry’s, The Elders, and the global coordination around the hole in the ozone layer. 0:43: Breaking Glass Ceilings in the Telecommunications Sector2:42: Scaling Global Solutions and the Creation of Virgin Unite with Richard Branson4:09: The Story of Azeem and Plez: Building Bridges after Tragedy6:04: Ben and Jerry’s and The Elders: How Deep Connections Make Business Thrive8:13: Co-Creating The Elders with President Jimmy Carter9:39: The Throughline of Human Hope11:38: How We Addressed The Hole in the Ozone Layer18:10: The Need for Simple Communication Around Social Problems21:02: The Power of Mergers and what the Non-Profit Sector Can Learn from the Business Sector23:50: Why Purpose Matters25:50: Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard: “Magnetic Moments” Around Failure27:39: Ari De Geus’ The Living Company29:27: Lessons in Trust from Pandemic Layoffs at Airbnb35:29: Shared Ownership Models as an Answer to the Current AI Moment38:29: Carlota Perez’s Conception of a New Golden Age40:02: The $8 Trillion Cost of Disengagement at Work41:14: Planetary Guardians’ Crucial Work43:24: Celebrating Small Successes in the Fight Against Climate Change45:38: The Pitfalls of Hyper-Individualism and IsolationThought Sparks are the brainchild of Rita McGrath. They are insightful actions, strategic ideas, actionable suggestions and innovative approaches that help organizations and leaders master the future with less fear and more confidence. New episodes of the Thought Sparks Podcast are released every other Tuesday at 11am Eastern. Want to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators? Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com