#27: Predicting Future Company Valuations (with Dan McCarthy, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Robert H Smith School of Business)
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
Release Date: 05/28/2025
#42: Saying Yes to Opportunity with Guy Kawasaki
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
What if success isn’t about how you get in, but what you do once you’re there? And what if saying “yes” matters more than having the perfect résumé? In this episode of World’s Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague sits down with Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist at Canva and former Apple evangelist, for a masterclass in career serendipity and mission-driven leadership. Drawing on five decades in Silicon Valley, Guy explains why execution beats credentials, how authentic evangelism cuts through noise, and why he once turned down a billion-dollar CEO role. From Steve Jobs’...
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#41: Why Planning Less Can Lead to More Fulfilment with Daniel Pink
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
What if the career you carefully planned at 20 looks nothing like the life you’re living at 50, and yet, that’s actually a good thing? In this episode of World’s Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague sits down with bestselling author Daniel Pink to unpack why curiosity beats certainty, and why rigid career plans often fail us in a fast-changing world. Pink shares how autonomy, mastery, and purpose still define meaningful work in the AI age, and why paying attention to weak signals can reveal your next opportunity before it’s obvious. They also delve into an unexpected...
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#40: From Awareness to Advantage: Branding Lessons from David Aaker
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
What if everything you thought about branding was missing the real asset underneath? What if the most powerful driver of growth in your business isn’t your product, your pricing, or your marketing spend? In this episode of World’s Greatest Business Thinkers, Nick Hague speaks with David Aaker, widely regarded as the father of modern branding, to unpack why brand equity and not awareness is the real strategic asset behind sustainable growth. David explains how the Five B’s framework elevates branding from a cost centre to a core business discipline, why relevance beats visibility in...
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#39: Why Product Obsession Beats Marketing Every Time with Will Butler-Adams
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
What if a billion-dollar brand could be built not through hype, but through relentless craftsmanship and purpose-driven focus? In this episode of World’s Greatest Business Thinkers, Nick Hague speaks with Will Butler-Adams, CEO of Brompton Bicycles, to unpack how a quirky folding bike became a global icon. Will reveals why engineering excellence beats marketing spend, how disciplined focus fuels sustainable growth, and why manufacturing in London is a strategic advantage, not a sentimental choice. The conversation explores balancing legacy with innovation, maintaining brand integrity under...
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#38: Why 75% of Marketers Are Useless - And How to Join the Elite 25% with Mark Ritson
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
Is modern marketing broken, and are you missing the fundamental frameworks that are relevant today? In this episode of World’s Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague welcomes back Mark Ritson, founder of the Mini MBA, to unpack why marketing has regressed despite unprecedented access to data, tools, and talent. Mark breaks down the misconceptions and differences behind “strategies with long and short impact,” why the 95/5 rule should guide budget allocation, and how most CMOs are dangerously undertrained. He exposes the pitfalls of discounting, the power of friction in brand...
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#37: The Secret Power of Workplace Conflict (with Amy Gallo, Global Speaker, Author, and Contributing Editor at Harvard Business Review)
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
Conflict isn’t the enemy; it’s the path to stronger relationships. In this episode of World’s Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague sits down with Amy Gallo, Global Speaker, Author, and Contributing Editor at Harvard Business Review, to explore how to handle even the most difficult colleagues. Amy reveals the eight archetypes of toxic coworkers, why emotional regulation outperforms empathy, and how psychological safety fuels high-performing teams. Discover practical tools to navigate tension, transform workplace dynamics, and turn conflict into connection. Whether you manage...
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#36: Unlock Creativity and Drive Innovation (with Duncan Wardle, Former Head of Innovation at Disney)
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
What if innovation wasn't about having more resources, but about unleashing the creativity you already possess? In this episode of World’s Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague sits down with Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, to share actionable strategies for fostering innovation in any organization. From sending Buzz Lightyear to space to transforming slum lighting with water bottles, Duncan reveals practical tools, playful mindsets, and techniques like “Yes And” and “What If” to break conventional thinking. Leaders at any level will gain...
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#35: How to Balance Profit and Purpose (with Douglas Lamont, CEO of Tony’s Chocolonely)
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
Short Summary: What if your company could change the world and deliver exceptional profits? In this episode of World’s Greatest Business Thinkers, host Nick Hague speaks with Douglas Lamont, CEO of Tony’s Chocolonely, about how purpose-led leadership can drive both impact and growth. Drawing from his journey leading Innocent Drinks and now Tony’s global mission to end exploitation in the chocolate industry, Douglas reveals how transparency, ethical sourcing, and long-term thinking create lasting value. Listeners will learn practical strategies for scaling a mission-driven business,...
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#34: How to Spot Epic Disruptions (with Scott Anthony, Strategic Advisor and Business School Professor)
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
Today I’m joined by Scott Anthony, Senior Advisor at Innosight and Professor at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, for a thought provoking discussion on how epic disruptions shape industries and societies.
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#33: How to Think Differently (with Roger Martin, Strategic Advisor and Award-Winning Author)
World's Greatest Business Thinkers
Today I’m joined by Roger Martin, named the world’s #1 management thinker by Thinkers50, for an invaluable discussion on how to achieve superior management effectiveness.
info_outlineToday I’m joined by Dan McCarthy, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Robert H Smith School of Business, for a fascinating discussion on how customer-based corporate valuations can be used to predict the future.