The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving 602: Harvard's Scott Levy on His Path from Investment Banking to Public Education and Leading in Uncertain Times
Nov 17, 2025
Scott Levy, an adjunct lecturer at Harvard and former investment banker, dives into his fascinating career transition from Wall Street to public education. He shares insights on risk management in finance and how those lessons apply to education. Scott discusses common misconceptions executives have about AI and urges leaders to consider practical use cases. He explains the importance of resilience, drawing from his experiences during crises, and emphasizes the role of school boards in democracy, highlighted in his book, Why School Boards Matter.
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Episode notes
Plan For AI's Range, Not A Single Forecast
- Major tech shifts like AI create wide uncertain ranges of outcomes you must plan around.
- Focus on scenarios and adaptability rather than precise predictions.
Use AI To Amplify Workflows
- Audit day-to-day workflows to find where AI can make employees dramatically more efficient.
- Decide whether to build internal tools or leverage external platforms based on data needs.
Use AI, But Verify Everything
- Use AI as a daily research and drafting tool, but always spot-check outputs against primary sources.
- Do not accept AI-generated content verbatim; verify facts before relying on them.
