

Skydeck
Harvard Business School
The Harvard Business School alumni podcast
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 18, 2026 • 19min
Lessons from Major League Baseball's Game-Changing Innovations
Chris Marinak, former MLB operations and strategy chief and HBS alumnus, led innovations like instant replay, streaming platforms, and rule tweaks. He discusses designing data-driven systems, shortening games to boost engagement, building an independent tech incubator, and experiments from robot umps to streaming deals. The conversation highlights culture, testing, and business impacts of sports innovation.

Feb 25, 2026 • 15min
How AI is Shaping the Future of Journalism
Axios COO Allison Murphy (MBA 2014) on how AI is influencing their strategy—and upending the industry’s business model

Feb 3, 2026 • 15min
Making Community College a ‘Bold First Choice’
At One Million Degrees, CEO Aarti Dhupelia (MBA 2005) is supercharging the experience of thousands of students

Jan 13, 2026 • 15min
Why We’re Going Dry
Entrepreneur Pat Dooling (MBA 2010) on the cultural movement fueling the non-alcoholic market

Dec 18, 2025 • 14min
Best of 2025
Explore captivating media recommendations from HBS alumni and students! Discover Teresa Amabile's love for the deep sci-fi narrative of Project Hail Mary. Dive into Jake Goodman's fresh take on teenage boxers in Headshot. Maria Curry highlights the inventive horror of Sinners, while Josh Nelson shares quick insights from Precursor Ventures. Pat Dooling dives into personal growth with the Rich Roll Podcast, and Ty Kim recommends action-packed films like Sisu. Plus, uncover the emotional depth of Julia Hsu's film Rosemead and the rich storytelling of Northwoods.

Dec 2, 2025 • 15min
Can Tech Solve Health Care’s Workforce Crisis?
Ascend Learning CEO Lissy Hu (MD/MBA 2014) on how AI can help address a generational challenge

Nov 11, 2025 • 17min
Leadership Lessons from the “Lone Survivor” Mission
Former Army helicopter pilot Matthew Brady (MBA 2016) discusses his battlefield experience—and how it shaped his approach to business

Oct 28, 2025 • 18min
Taylor Swift, CEO
Sinead O'Sullivan, an author and former NASA engineer, delves into the billion-dollar business strategy of pop icon Taylor Swift. She explains how Taylor's 'drip' release strategy maintains fan engagement and contrasts it with 'drop' methods used by industry giants. Sinead highlights Taylor's ability to create compelling narratives and compares her long-term strategy to Warren Buffett's investment philosophy. She also discusses Taylor's ownership of her production and fan relationships, showcasing her as a multi-talented leader in the entertainment industry.

Oct 7, 2025 • 19min
My First Job
Listen to alumni share their fascinating first-job experiences. From making perfect copies at PwC to working on a family cattle farm, each story is unique. A startup employee emphasizes the importance of building internal relationships, while a McDonald's worker highlights teamwork and playful competition. Learn strategies for prioritizing tasks and the thrill of earning trust on an assembly line. Each tale reveals valuable lessons on leadership, customer service, and personal growth.

Sep 18, 2025 • 18min
Strength in Suffering
In this engaging discussion, John Travers, an author and physician who traded a business career for medicine, shares his inspiring journey. He reflects on his early volunteer work in Kolkata and Ghana, which fueled his passion for helping the vulnerable. Travers delves into his research on frailty and its surprising links to psychological resilience. He emphasizes the power of storytelling and active listening in patient care, revealing how these elements can transform diagnosis and foster a deeper understanding of resilience.


