Business Daily

Featured voices include Pedro Sanchez, Spain's prime minister pushing legalisation, NGO staff helping migrants navigate red tape, an MEP on economic risks, and a restaurateur facing hiring shortages. They discuss plans to regularise half a million undocumented people, labour gaps in tourism and construction, visa and asylum bureaucracy, and how migrants keep small businesses running.

Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leads global health and development work. He discusses how cuts to international aid have reversed child survival gains. He explains the impact of sudden funding withdrawals on vaccines and treatment. He addresses the Foundation's growing role, its priorities like malaria and polio, and experiments with AI in health.

Brian Niccol, CEO who led Starbucks' 'Back to Starbucks' turnaround, talks about refocusing on the in-store experience and bringing back warm, stay-a-while coffeehouse vibes. He discusses store redesigns, menu and mug changes, smarter staffing and AI-driven convenience. He outlines balancing speed with human connection and plans to empower local store leaders to sustain growth.

Karim Beguir, mathematician-turned-entrepreneur who co-founded InstaDeep and launched Project Tatooine to train African tech talent. He recounts starting with two laptops and $2,000. He talks about meeting major tech figures, applying reinforcement learning to industry, using LLMs to track COVID variants, and the company’s growth and acquisition by BioNTech.

Rory Sutherland, vice-chairman of Ogilvy and behavioural science pioneer, and Ben Jones, behavioural scientist at The Behaviour Architects, explore how science quietly steers choices. They discuss authority effects in ads, nudging in policy and business, sensory cues that alter taste, and real-world projects from plastic bag taxes to TV dramas changing behaviour.

Global demand and supply strains pushing copper prices skyward. A surge in organised thefts stripping cables, rail lines and solar arrays. Billions lost in repairs, service disruption and economic damage. Telecoms, railways and recycling yards racing to deter thieves and harden networks.

Matthias Hansen, an international country broadcaster who built P4 Country in Sweden and won a CMA international broadcasting award, joins from Nashville. He discusses why Nordic folk and country connect. Conversations cover genre‑blending, Gen Z appeal, global touring strategies, and moments that pushed country into the mainstream.

Dr Victoria Ivankova, aviation management researcher focused on routing and emissions. Gilbert Ott, travel expert who writes about fares and loyalty. They discuss expanding conflict-driven airspace closures, how routes now detour over poles, rising fuel use and costs, carriers cutting services, and which hubs and routes are most vulnerable.

Lew Frankfort, former CEO and chairman emeritus of Coach, transformed a modest family-run handbag company into a billion-dollar global brand over 35 years. He shares his unexpected journey into fashion and how a pivotal meeting with JFK ignited his social consciousness. Discussing the importance of handbags to women, Lew emphasizes accessible luxury and the brand's cultural evolution. He also critiques New York’s housing issues and praises Gen Z’s commitment to ethics and climate, revealing his hopes for the future.

Atsuyoshi Koike is the visionary CEO of Rapidus, tasked with revitalizing Japan's semiconductor manufacturing. In a fascinating discussion, he unveils how Hokkaido, traditionally an agricultural region, is becoming a tech powerhouse. Koike shares insights on partnerships with giants like IBM and Toyota, and the ambitious goal of creating advanced two-nanometre chips. He also tackles Japan's challenges in R&D, workforce shortages, and the geopolitical landscape impacting technology transfer. Tune in for a glimpse into the future of Japan's chip industry!