Margaret Heffernan

Today, I’m joined by speaker, international executive and five-time author Margaret Heffernan. We discuss how to get the most out of our people, creating a thriving culture of trust and collaboration, and how to prevent potentially devastating “willful blindness.”   Go Premium: Members get early access, ad-free episodes, hand-edited transcripts, searchable transcripts, member-only episodes, and more. Sign up at: https://fs.blog/membership/   Every Sunday our newsletter shares timeless insights and ideas that you can use at work and home. Add it to your inbox: https://fs.blog/newsletter/   Follow Shane on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/ShaneAParrish   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret Heffernan is an entrepreneur, CEO, executive leadership coach, and author of six books. Her often counter-intuitive insights on collaboration, consensus-building, and decision-making have earned her a reputation as a smart thinker who challenges conventional business wisdom. In her latest book, Uncharted: How to Map the Future, Margaret explains why attempts to predict the future, even in today's world of AI and Big Data technologies, are often doomed to failure. She offers alternative strategies for organizations facing an uncertain future — strategies based on human creativity and resilience.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Margaret Heffernan, a former CEO and leadership expert, joins Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip, and Sophie Mermin, retail entrepreneur, to tackle tough business hypotheticals. They explore scenarios like unexpected tariffs and giant competitors, emphasizing the importance of customer focus and strategic flexibility. Margaret suggests unique survival tactics, while Sophie advises trusting instincts. They debate whether to absorb costs or lobby against tariffs and discuss the significance of brand coherence in marketing. Their candid insights make for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation.

Margaret Heffernan, author and former CEO known for books on decision-making, explores why chasing certainty at work costs agency and creativity. She contrasts prediction-driven systems with artistic practices that embrace risk. Short, provocative takes on leadership that lets teams lead, how education and tech encourage compliance, and why curiosity and preparation beat false certainty.

Join a thought-provoking discussion with Tim Minshall, a renowned Professor of Innovation at Cambridge, and Margaret Heffernan, a savvy entrepreneur and author. They delve into the essence of innovation, addressing the significance of incremental change and the myths of the lone innovator. Agnes Arnold-Forster reflects on nostalgia's impact during rapid societal shifts, while Christina Faraday explores Tudor reluctance toward novelty. The group ultimately emphasizes the need for a humane perspective on innovation, pondering vital questions for the future.

Margaret Heffernan, author of "Uncharted" and mentor to global CEOs, dives into the complexities of organizational change. She highlights why euphemistic language can derail transformation and encourages leaders to treat their teams as capable individuals. With insights from her time in tech and a captivating case study from Pixar, she illustrates how to foster a culture of creativity and agency. Heffernan’s no-nonsense approach reveals that constant change is vital for growth, challenging leaders to embrace rather than resist it.

Margaret Heffernan, an entrepreneur and author, shares her unique insights on uncertainty in decision-making. She challenges the reliance on data for predicting the future, stressing that it's often inadequate. Instead, she advocates for fostering creativity and collaboration within organizations. Using the 'super chicken' experiment, she illustrates how competition can harm team performance. Heffernan also highlights the importance of local action and the creative energies of artists as vital tools for navigating unpredictability.

Margaret Heffernan, businesswoman and author who critiques Silicon Valley’s hype culture; Bill Harrington, former Moody’s analyst who saw ratings pressure before 2008. They explore contract cheating and AI in education, rating agencies’ compromises, startup “fake it till you make it” lore, Theranos-style hype, and how systemic incentives normalize fakery.

Margaret Heffernan, Professor of Practice at the University of Bath and best-selling author, joins mental health expert Petra Velzeboer, CEO of PVL, to explore how conformity can stifle creativity in the workplace. They discuss the psychological barriers employees face and the importance of fostering psychological safety to break free from mediocrity. The conversation emphasizes embracing individuality and the dangers of groupthink, highlighting strategies for innovative leadership and creating environments where diverse voices can thrive.

Margaret Heffernan, author of Wilful Blindness, discusses the dangers of willful ignorance and the importance of confronting uncomfortable information. The podcast explores the impact of willful blindness on decision-making, problem-solving, and personal growth, while emphasizing the need to break free from the trap of obedience and conformity.