I by IMD

In this episode of the CEO Dialogue series, Jean-François Manzoni speaks with Morten Wierod, President and CEO of ABB, about how one of the world’s great engineering companies is transforming itself for the road ahead.With 110,000 employees, 170 factories, and more than $30 billion in annual revenues, ABB has long been central to electrification, automation, and industrial innovation.Now, under Wierod’s leadership, the company is driving a “leaner and cleaner” mission that connects competitiveness with sustainability.

On the IMD Podcast network, Mike Wade and Amit Joshi speak about the future of health, with Achim Plueckebaum, a contributor to their latest book GAIN.As a senior executive with decades of experience in the life sciences industry, Plueckebaum believes AI will have a transformative impact on medicine, pharmacology, and patient care. He emphasizes the importance of data privacy, ethical considerations, and the need for AI to serve patients effectively.Plueckebaum predicts significant AI-driven drug innovations within the decade, and even the discovery of entirely new treatments. From synthetic biology to personalized medicines, healthcare is set to change in a big way.

IMD Dean of Faculty and Research Stefan Michel sits down with Amar Bhidé - Emeritus Professor at Tufts University, and a founding member of the Center on Capitalism and Society at Columbia. Drawing on insights from his latest book, Uncertainty and Enterprise: Venturing Beyond the Known, Amar unpacks the vital difference between risk and uncertainty, why this matters for entrepreneurs, and how imagination shapes decision-making in business and innovation.In today’s business environment, true visionaries rely on contextual judgment rather than just statistical models. And though the evolution of AI will bring many opportunities, understanding its pitfalls remains key to success. Amar discusses these issues and the surprising role that routines play in enabling creativity and collaboration.

In this I by IMD podcast, Rohit Jawa, the former CEO of Hindustan Unilever, outlines how he is reshaping the company’s strategy to meet the evolving needs of India’s growing middle class, leveraging digital transformation, talent development, and a future-focused growth agenda. In conversation with IMD’s Jean-François Manzoni, Jawa explains how he is future-proofing the Indian consumer goods giant to take advantage of the nation’s rapidly expanding middle class. For nearly a century, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has been flourishing in the Indian subcontinent, growing in tandem with the nation. As India’s largest consumer goods company, the maker of Lux soap, Surf Excel laundry detergent, and Lipton tea has become deeply embedded in the country’s economic and cultural fabric, serving nine out of 10 Indian households and earning its place as the “crown jewel” in Unilever’s global portfolio. India is Unilever’s second-largest market after the US, contributing around 10% of the parent company’s turnover. While HUL draws on Unilever’s global R&D and brand strength, it has also become an exporter of talent and innovation, helping shape success in other markets.  Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at what drives the company’s success. 

In this I by IMD podcast, host Michael Watkins, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change, sits down with executive coach Brenda Steinberg to discuss a common challenge: the "post-summer blues."They reframe this experience not as a slump but as a transition and discuss the importance of acknowledging and processing the seasonal change. For many, returning to work triggers a “survival mode” attitude. Watkins and Steinberg say it's common to feel a sense of loss or "grief" for the holiday break and to fear returning to the "go-go-go" office dynamic. The show provides practical advice for leaders, including the need to create space for team members to reflect on what they learned about themselves over the summer and what their new priorities are. They also delve into the strategic importance of managing one’s energy, a core tenet of leadership, and how personal reflection can be a catalyst for meaningful professional change. 

In this episode of Mike and Amit Talk Tech from the IMD Podcast Network, hosts Mike Wade and Amit Joshi speak with Tomoko Yokoi, Senior Researcher at IMD, about one of AI’s fastest-growing frontiers — Edge AI. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in B2B and B2C industries, Tomoko explains what Edge AI is, why it matters, and how it could reshape both consumer and business applications in the coming decade. The discussion unpacks how running AI directly on local devices brings speed, bandwidth savings, and potential privacy benefits, while also creating new opportunities for non-traditional AI players like telecoms companies and hardware producers. Tomoko also explores the likely rise of hybrid AI models that blend cloud and edge capabilities, and the competitive shake-up this could trigger in the AI ecosystem. From healthcare wearables to next-generation smartphones, mining equipment and future 6G services, this conversation dives deep into the technical, strategic, and regulatory implications AI “at the edge.” 

What it means to be “working-age” is changing, and so too are the ways in which people look at their careers. The traditional “three-stage” life is giving way to a “multi-stage” life, and businesses that fail to adapt to this new reality are in danger of being left behind.In this special episode of the IMD Podcast Network, we bring together two of the world’s most influential thinkers to discuss the future of work and leadership. Host Andrew Sharman, Adjunct Professor of Risk, Resilience and Safety Culture at IMD and author of Who Cares Wins, is joined by the globally renowned author Lynda Gratton to explore the profound implications of her book, The 100-Year Life.Lynda and Andrew dive into what it means to live and work for longer. They discuss why leadership must evolve to accommodate ageing populations,” the challenge of transforming organisations to support multi-stage careers, and how “care” is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity. They tackle tough questions, like how leaders should balance empathy with productivity, and outline the importance of “unlearning” old habits.

Poul Weihrauch, CEO of Mars, Inc., leads the 114-year-old family-owned company towards purpose-driven growth and sustainability. He discusses how family ownership allows him to prioritize long-term goals over short-term profits. Weihrauch outlines Mars’ innovative ‘Compass’ metrics for success, integrating financial performance with societal impact. He shares insights on substantial sustainability investments and the unique strategy behind their approach to acquisitions. Emphasizing people development, he highlights how Mars embeds core principles into its culture, while balancing the pressures of performance and purpose.

AI is a double-edged sword for the environment. Its growth requires masses of energy, water, and rare earth metals. The LLMs of tomorrow may even require the world to bring old power plants, powered by fossil fuels, back online. On the other hand, AI has the potential to accelerate sustainable transformation by providing innovative approaches to energy production and consumption. So, is AI a groundbreaking innovation or an environmental burden? Might it one day save our planet? Today on the IMD podcast network, we're bringing you an episode of Mike and Amit Talk Tech, in which our hosts discuss AI and sustainability with Julia Binder, Professor of Sustainable Innovation and Business Transformation at IMD. To find out more about Mike Wade & Amit Joshi's latest book, "Gain: Demystifying Gen AI for Office and Home", visit the IMD website here or buy it directly from Amazon. 

What got you here won’t get you there. But that’s not all, says Kevin O’Brien, CEO of Gammon Construction in conversation with Professor Ric Roi. You’re also going to need to really unpack the detail of your new brief, marshal the data to spot the opportunities, figure out how to unlock future potential, and bring everyone with you on the journey.