Masters of Scale

Scott O'Neil has run NBA and NHL franchises. Now he's betting on a golf revolution. The LIV Golf CEO joins Rapid Response to reveal what it really takes to disrupt a legacy sport, the unique pressures of answering to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, and why golf may be the most underleveraged business in all of sports. Plus, inside the startup mindset Scott’s instilling his team, and what every leader can steal from the way LIV is chasing opportunity.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI is moving fast. But are we really keeping humans at the center? In this special live Rapid Response, recorded on stage at South by Southwest, host Bob Safian sits down with AI scientist, founder of Affectiva, investor at Blue Tulip, and host of Pioneers of AI, Dr. Rana el Kaliouby.  Rana makes the case that human-centric AI isn't just a safety guardrail; it's the key to thriving socially, economically, and emotionally. She also cuts through the noise on the buzziest AI myths, weighs in on AI in therapy and Meta Glasses, and draws a sharp line between AI founders who are truly visionary and those who are simply opportunistic. Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to lead a meditation company without finding a moment’s peace? David Ko spent years as CEO of Calm, one of the world's most recognized mental health and wellness apps, helping millions manage stress. Now he's stepping down. Ko unpacks why he made the call, what the relentless pressure of the C-suite really does to a person, and how to draw the line between the kind of stress that sharpens you and the kind that quietly breaks you down.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Abrahams, communication expert and Stanford lecturer who teaches techniques for managing speaking anxiety. He explores why anxiety happens and simple tools to manage nerves. He shares practice routines, pitch tips that start with the audience, strategies for meetings and facilitation, and ways to prepare for big talks and recover if you blank.

Matthew Prince, Co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare, a leader in internet infrastructure and security. He discusses skyrocketing AI bot traffic and the future makeup of the web. He explains how AI shifts hacking and defense, why data and local news matter for AI power, and how agents may rewrite commerce and brand trust.

Arthur Brooks, bestselling author and Harvard professor studying happiness, offers a concise mini-bio and big ideas. He explores the modern collapse of meaning, three channels of well-being, and how tech and boredom shape creativity. He discusses love, risk, friendship types, leadership ethics, and how to anchor capitalism in moral purpose.

Ryan Petersen, founder and CEO of Flexport and global trade expert, gives a real-time take on the Strait of Hormuz disruption. He discusses oil and air freight spikes, container rerouting around Africa, stranded containers and port headaches. He also covers the looming $160B tariff refund opportunity, how refunds are bought and financed, and AI’s role in speeding customs and logistics.

Amy Webb, futurist and CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group, famous for forecasting tech and convergence research. She explains why static trend lists are dead. She spotlights convergences as the real unit of change. She discusses the post-search internet, programmable biology, corporate surveillance, and why leaders miss transformative collisions.

Maryam Banikarim, former CMO of Univision, Gannett and Hyatt and founder of NYC Next and The Longest Table, blends marketing savvy with community building. She talks candidly about career pivots, C-suite politics, and the value of pauses. Stories from growing up in Iran and creating civic projects highlight resilience, belonging, and why embracing mess can spark joy and bold moves.

Shantanu Narayen, longtime Adobe CEO who led its shift to cloud subscriptions and steered AI strategy. He recounts moving Photoshop and Creative Cloud to subscriptions. He discusses data-driven product lifecycles, experiments with AI models and partnerships, and how AI augments creativity and changes workflows.