Who is the most difficult person we’ll ever have to negotiate with? Why is it so hard to change people’s minds, and what’s the most graceful way to do it? Is there a root cause to all conflict? Could a simple path hold the key to turning any conflict into peace—at home, at work, and even between nations? And what, ultimately, is the secret to world peace?

Find out from William Ury, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

William Ury is a social anthropologist, award-winning author, and one of the world’s leading thinkers on negotiation, with nearly fifty years of experience in helping address some of the world’s toughest conflicts, “from the halls of Harvard to the depths of Kentucky coal mines, from the White House Crisis Center to the deserts of Botswana, from corporate boardrooms to war zones in the Middle East, Korea, and Ukraine.” With former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, William co-founded the International Negotiation Network, a nongovernmental body seeking to end civil wars around the world. At Harvard Law School, he helped found the Program on Negotiation and the Harvard Negotiation Project research center. He is also the founder of the Abraham Path Initiative, a non-profit that brings Middle Eastern communities together through a long-distance trail tracing the ancient journey of Abraham and his family. His books include the fifteen-million-copy bestseller Getting to Yes, Getting Past No, The Third Side, and his most recent work, Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict.

What is the most powerful way a business can show up for society? What legacy can today’s institutions build if every action and interaction was grounded in spiritual attunement and sacred duty? How can today’s leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers build enduring positive movements and become a lighthouse for others? And what four-letter word can orient us, our businesses, and our economy toward a future that makes our people and our planet thrive?

Find out from Jay Coen Gilbert, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Jay Coen Gilbert is the Co-founder of B Lab, the acclaimed nonprofit that created the global B Corp certification. Today, this movement includes over 9,500 certified organizations in more than 100 countries, all committed to balancing profit with purpose. He is also the Executive Chair of Imperative 21, a business-led network shifting the narrative toward a just, regenerative economy; and is now actively engaged in racial justice, co-founding White Men for Racial Justice and leading peer learning groups on anti-racism. Along with his B Lab co-founders, Jay has received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the McNulty Prize at the Aspen Institute, where he is a Henry Crown Fellow. Prior to co-founding B Lab, Jay co-founded and sold AND1, a $250M basketball footwear, apparel, and entertainment company. He has also worked for McKinsey & Co, as well as organizations in the public and nonprofit sectors.

In this episode, Jay reveals:

- The most powerful way a business can show up for society

- What can happen if our every action and interaction was grounded in spiritual attunement

- A four-letter word today’s businesses must build their future on

What changes when people are able to bring their deepest values to work? What are the critical responsibilities businesses must uphold for society in today’s times? How can organizations gain the cultural confidence to do what’s right, even when the odds are against them? And what does it take for ordinary individuals to build a business that puts purpose before profit and become a role model for the entire business community?

Find out from Vincent Stanley, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Vincent Stanley has been with Patagonia on and off since its beginning in 1973, and has served in key executive roles as head of sales or marketing. At present, he serves as Director of Patagonia Philosophy, teaching company history and values to employees. More informally, he is Patagonia’s long-time chief storyteller. Vincent helped develop The Footprint Chronicles, the company’s interactive website that outlines the social and environmental impact of its products, The Common Threads Partnership, an initiative launched by Patagonia in collaboration with eBay, aiming to reduce environmental impact by promoting sustainable consumption habits; and Patagonia Books, the publishing branch of Patagonia, that produces high‑quality books aligned with the brand’s mission of environmental stewardship, adventure, and activism. He has co-authored two books with Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia: The Responsible Company (2012) and The Future of the Responsible Company (2023). Vincent is also a visiting fellow at the Yale School of Management, and also a poet whose work has appeared in Best American Poetry, a prominent annual anthology that showcases a curated selection of contemporary American poems.

In this episode, Vincent reveals:

- What changes when people are able to bring their deepest values to work

- The minimum responsibility businesses must uphold in today’s times

- What shifts when we see responsibility as a right, not a burden