If/Then

Steven Callander, Herbert Hoover Professor at Stanford GSB who builds theoretical models of learning, discusses correlated learning and why outcomes across similar choices are linked. He explains models like Brownian motion, job-search and mechanic examples, and how this logic shapes decisions about markets, experts, and finding product-market fit.

Seemingly unrelated activities — like taking a soccer penalty kick or crafting an online dating profile — involve an embedded economics. “Understanding and applying economic logic can be valuable in pretty much any job or any other endeavor in your life,” says Paul Oyer, a professor of economics at Stanford Graduate School of Business.  On this episode, Oyer digs into the shared economic logic of online dating and the labor market, explains why pro athletes and sports fans think like economists, and explores how AI has reduced the beneficial friction that was once a part of job searches. Got a question about the economics of dating, sports, or the job market? Ask us at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.Related Content:Paul Oyer faculty profileUtility Player: Paul Oyer Explains How Economics Can Make Sports More FunChapters:00:00 Strategic decision-making in air traffic control03:06 Introduction03:27 Why sports are a useful lens for understanding economics09:53 Why economics matters far beyond money10:54 Economics & online14:36 Applications of game theory16:54 How AI is reshaping hiring and the labor market22:25 The labor market challenge economists still have not solved24:18 ConclusionIf/Then, from Stanford GSB, features conversations with faculty that explore how their research deepens our understanding of business and leadership.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When should we leap instead of take the obvious next step? Why do we instinctively see gender everywhere? When do our opinions begin to feel less like ideas and more like our identity?If/Then, from Stanford Graduate School of Business, is back with a new season of sharp, surprising conversations that deepen our understanding of business and leadership.Each episode brings you into the room with a Stanford GSB faculty member as they discuss their research and how it challenges conventional wisdom, sharpens judgment, and reframes the way we approach complex decisions. Join us on Wednesdays for a new season of If/Then.What do you want to hear on If/Then? Email us at ifthenpod@stanford.edu.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on If/Then we’re sharing an episode of GSB at 100, a limited audio series created especially for Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Centennial. GSB at 100 presents a scrapbook of memories, ideas, and breakthroughs as Stanford GSB celebrates its first century and looks around the corner to what the next 100 years may hold. On this episode of GSB at 100, you’ll experience Centennial Day, hear Dean Sarah A. Soule honor the past, celebrate the present, and look to what the future may hold. GSB at 100 depicts a school defined not only by its innovation and impact, but by its people: curious students, devoted faculty, and accomplished staff — a community of thinkers, dreamers, and doers.Learn more about the Stanford GSB CentennialSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Christian Wheeler, a creativity-focused marketing professor, as he unveils the power of improvisation to spark innovative thinking. Susie Ngo, an accounting expert, redefines numbers as a vital communication tool for ethics and business strategy. Ken Schatz, political economy professor, dives into how organizational incentives shape intentions and societal impacts. Together, they explore adapting creativity in unpredictable environments and the importance of interpersonal dynamics and empathy in leadership.

This week on [If/Then or View From The Top] we’re sharing an episode of GSB at 100, a limited audio series created especially for Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Centennial. GSB at 100 presents a scrapbook of memories, ideas, and breakthroughs as Stanford GSB celebrates its first century and looks around the corner to what the next 100 years may hold.On this episode of GSB at 100, you’ll hear from the dedicated and accomplished staff members who work behind the scenes to make Stanford GSB a community unlike anywhere else in the world.Learn more about the Stanford GSB CentennialSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on If/Then, we’re sharing an episode of What’s Your Problem?, a show from Pushkin Industries where entrepreneurs, engineers, and scientists talk about the future they’re trying to build—and the problems they must solve to get there. Hosted by former Planet Money co-host Jacob Goldstein, each conversation explores the challenges and breakthroughs shaping the next wave of innovation.In this episode, Goldstein speaks with Fei-Fei Li, Stanford computer scientist, former Chief Scientist of AI and Machine Learning at Google, and one of the most influential figures in the field of computer vision. Li reflects on her pioneering work developing ImageNet, the massive dataset that helped spark the modern AI revolution, and the “north star” questions that have guided her research from neuroscience to machine learning.Together, they trace how a single insight about how humans see the world led to a paradigm shift in artificial intelligence—and how Li’s vision continues to shape the way we teach machines to see, learn, and collaborate with us.More Resources:    •  Fei Fei Li   •  Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI)    •  ImageNet    •  What’s Your Problem?If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society.Chapters: (00:00:00) Introducing “What’s Your Problem?” Kevin Cool introduces the Pushkin Industries podcast hosted by Jacob Goldstein.00:00:45 — What Is Computer Vision? Jacob Goldstein and Fei-Fei Li explain how machines learn to see and interpret images.00:03:18 — Real-World Uses of AI Vision Li shares examples from healthcare, robotics, and environmental science.00:05:06 — Discovering the Science of SeeingHow human vision research inspired Li’s lifelong “north star” in AI.00:09:56 — Creating ImageNet Li builds a massive image database that transforms computer vision research.00:13:29 — Defining 30,000 Visual Concepts How cognitive science helped shape ImageNet’s massive scale.00:16:41 — Building the Dataset by HandLi's team uses global crowdsourcing to label millions of images.00:19:38 — The 2012 Breakthrough Jeff Hinton’s neural network shatters records and sparks the deep learning era.00:22:19 — Data Meets Hardware Li reflects on how big data and GPUs converged to power modern AI.00:24:55 — Lightning Round with Fei-Fei Li Quick insights on resilience, mentorship, and the future of human-AI collaboration.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on If/Then, we’re sharing an episode of GSB at 100, a limited audio series created especially for Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Centennial. GSB at 100 presents a scrapbook of memories, ideas, and breakthroughs, as the GSB celebrates its first century and looks around the corner to what the next hundred years may hold.The first episode of the series begins where the GSB begins: in 1925, Herbert Hoover, a Stanford alum and future U.S. president, had an idea. “A graduate School of Business Administration is urgently needed upon the Pacific Coast,” he wrote. One hundred years later, what has Stanford Graduate School of Business accomplished, and what might its future hold? Listen in as professors reflect on founding principles, frontier technologies, and the magic that makes the GSB the place it is — and shapes what it aspires to be.If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.Learn more about the Stanford GSB CentennialSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lisa Su, the dynamic Chair and CEO of AMD, shares her remarkable journey from a first-generation immigrant to a tech leader. She talks about the importance of curiosity and lifelong learning, emphasizing that mentorship shaped her path. The conversation dives into AMD's innovative culture and the challenges posed by global geopolitics in the semiconductor industry. Su also sheds light on the strategic shift towards AI, balancing technological advancement with compliance, and offers insights into the competition between hardware giants like AMD and NVIDIA.

Deborah H. Gruenfeld, a senior associate dean and professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, explores the profound impact of academic research on organizations and individuals. She emphasizes how research provides reliable tools to understand truths beyond personal experiences. Topics include the vital role of interdisciplinary approaches in business and how leadership shapes cultural dynamics. Gruenfeld also discusses the significance of untapped research areas like gendering in technology and celebrates the joy of discovery and continuous learning.