What Next?

Andrew Essex, a seasoned executive at Tata Consultancy Services on the future of business, creativity, and brands in an AI-driven world. The founding CEO of the award-winning agency Droga5 and CEO of the Tribeca Film Festival argues for the importance of human ingenuity and the need for brands to maintain their value, and gives us his vision of the evolving role of Madison Avenue. He predicts that excellence in craft and the hybridization of creativity and technology will be the way to thrive in an AI world, and says that continuous learning and curiosity is the way to navigate the changing landscape effectively. #business #leadership #advertising

Seth Green, Dean of the University of Chicago Graham School, discusses the art of navigating career transitions with a focus on lifelong learning and purpose. He emphasizes moving from the 'first mountain' of material success to a 'second mountain' shaped by personal values. Green highlights the evolution of education in response to longer lifespans and stresses the importance of joy over financial gains. He advocates for pursuing passions and maintaining healthy relationships as key to personal fulfillment in an ever-changing world.

Peter Naylor, seasoned media executive on the impact of streaming television and the superior experience it provides. The former global Vice President at Netflix argues that Sports streaming will explode our expectations of the viewing experience as Netflix and others begin to leverage the advertising potential of what was the last bastion of traditional media. And through his involvement with Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit focused on gun violence prevention, he reminds us of the power and responsibility of media influence as it expands exponentially, particularly on children. *This episode was recorded on December 11, 2024.

Donna Dupont, founder and chief strategist for Purple Compass on the importance of good governance and forward planning in business as we face the challenges of climate security and extreme weather events. As an award-winning designer and futurist who helps organizations build their future literacy, she argues how in preparation for future risks, we can see future opportunities. She reminds us that the ramifications of climate change impact every one of us, both as leaders and as individuals, but that in business, it will affect how we hire talent, how we manage risk and where potential clients might or might not spend their money. #ClimateChange #Business #FutureOfWork

Scott Donaton, Chief Marketing and Content Officer at Versus Game, is a brand storytelling expert with a rich background at Hulu and Digitas. He discusses how AI-driven engagement can revolutionize media, arguing for the need to embrace new technologies to stay relevant. Donaton emphasizes the agility of startups compared to large corporations and the importance of meaningful audience engagement rather than just subscriber growth. He also highlights the necessity of rethinking business models in the AI era to foster genuine connections and sustainable growth.

David Kenny, Chairman of Nielsen, dives deep into the evolving landscape of talent, data, media, and technology. David explores the critical intersection of people and business goals, offering powerful insights on creating synergy between the two. He discusses how to navigate the complexities of industry shifts, the importance of adaptability in leadership, and how the future of data-driven decision-making will impact companies and consumers alike. #Leadership #Media #Technology #Data #BusinessStrategy #Innovation

Sairan Aqrawi is an inspiring engineer and business coach who helps midlife women unlock their hidden talents. She shares her journey from Iraq to the U.S. and emphasizes the vital blend of emotional intelligence and technical skills in leadership. Sairan discusses the transformative impact of coaching, particularly for women seeking purpose and fulfillment. She champions the importance of trust, communication, and adaptability, revealing how mentorship can cultivate future leaders while encouraging personal and professional growth.

Joaquin Gil, author, filmmaker, composer and digital artist on AI and the creative experience. He’s also a programmer, creator of graphic novels, live action, animated films and shorts, electronic music albums and the technical director of special effects for classic feature films like Starship Troopers, Godzilla and Oscar winners like Contact and As Good As it Gets. And his children’s book, The Caretakers whose use of AI illustration is one of the first experiments of its kind. He discusses new interfaces, the importance of imagination, the power of creativity and the exciting new world available to creative people.  #AI #Creative #Advertising #Media #contentcreation

Brian Morrissey, founder of Rebooting and former president of Digiday Media, dives into the evolution of sustainable media. He discusses the shift from mass media to micro media, emphasizing individual creativity and niche expertise. Morrissey highlights how AI will complement human talent rather than replace it, and explains the rise of independent work post-pandemic, advocating for a new perspective on entrepreneurship. He also underscores the importance of personal branding and adaptability in today's changing job landscape.

Itamar Friedman, CEO of Qodo on the evolution of AI in software development, and the changing philosophy of AI.  The former director of Machine Vision, which was bought out by Alibaba, established Codium AI before ChatGPT, predicts a future in which increasingly AI will think like humans, and argues that System  2 Thinking could even improve human reasoning. He gives us an insight into many of the tools that his own company is creating, and explains that jobs for developers will grow rather than fall victim to AI. The need for coders and software engineers, he says, will increase, but their jobs will expand and operate at a higher level. #Business #Leadership #AI #SoftwareEngineer