9. What Books Should Professionals Read at Different Points of Their Career? Pt 1
Release Date: 07/09/2019
28. Why is it important for professionals to write well? Part 2
Building Bridges
Good writing is not complicated. As one guest notes, “it’s about injecting personality, making it engage and entertaining for your audience. But most importantly, it's about structure. … How is one paragraph leading to the next, how are they connected? The worst kind of writing, and we all see it all the time, is just rambling. It's not at all clear. People get lost and the idea gets lost.” This is the second part of our two-episode conversation about the value of effective business writing. In this episode, Jeff Bradford, Laura Brown, and Ryan Craig join us again to...
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27. Why is it important for professionals to write well? Part 1
Building Bridges
As one of our guests asserts, “it's very, very difficult to get to the top in any organization without being able to communicate in writing.” But how to become a better writer? Consider these two suggestions from another guest: “One is just simply read more and read better stuff. And secondly, write a lot. The more you write, the better you're going to get.” This is the first part of our two-episode conversation about the value of effective business writing. In this episode, Jeff Bradford, Laura Brown, and Ryan Craig join us to discuss: Why schools don’t...
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26. Why is it so hard to be an ethical leader? Part 2
Building Bridges
Fictional 1980s corporate raider Gordon Gekko famously proclaimed that “,” seeking to justify why one of the seven deadly sins is, in fact, ethically virtuous. Leaders should think deeply about the ethical dimensions of their actions. However, too many fail to recognize the moral complexity inherent in their decisions. As one guest argues, “Just like some people are tone-deaf, and they can’t carry a tune, some are ethics-deaf.” This is the second part of our two-episode conversation about why it’s so hard to be an ethical leader. Joanne Ciulla, Eugene Soltes, and Ann...
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25. Why is it so hard to be an ethical leader? Part 1
Building Bridges
Warren Buffett has described integrity as “a reputational advantage that others will weigh in subsequent dealings.” His partner, Charlie Munger, agrees, noting that “You’ll make more money in the end with good ethics than bad.” So, why are many leaders often tempted to take ethical short-cuts—or worse? This is the first part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore why it’s so hard to be an ethical leader. In this episode, Joanne Ciulla, Eugene Soltes, and Ann Tenbrunsel join us to discuss: - Why it’s hard to define ethics—and why some...
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24. What is the future of money? Part 2
Building Bridges
One of our guests argues that, “cash has historically been seen as a friend of the poor, [because] banks have never been seen as friends of the poor. Banks historically have been seen as institutions of elite control. They've been seen as run by social elites in the interests of social elites.” But much is changing. This is the second part of our two-episode conversation about the future of money. In this episode, Paul Avery, Dave Birch, and Brett Scott join us to discuss: - Cryptocurrency as a commodity - The inevitability of digital money - Why the US is slow...
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23. What is the future of money? Part 1
Building Bridges
As one of our guests observed, we’re soon “going to have lots of different kinds of money. And the technological limitation of the past— which is, I only had five slots in my wallet, and I couldn't carry around 30 million different currencies— is about to vanish. My mobile phone is perfectly capable of managing 30 million different currencies.” This is the first part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore how money—and the monetary system—is evolving. In this episode, Paul Amery, Dave Birch, and Brett Scott join us to discuss: - Money as a form...
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22. How well does our current system of corporate governance address the big challenges of the future? Part 2
Building Bridges
According to one corporate director, “there are two places [in the United States]—the boardroom and the Supreme Court— where a lot of people go on them and think it's for a lifetime.” But this mindset is starting to change. This is the second part of our two-episode conversation about the evolution of corporate governance as climate change and other societal challenges become more acute. In this episode, George Anderson, Amy Borrus, and Megan Shattuck join us to discuss: - Corporate governance outside the United States - How turnover can help boards to achieve greater...
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21. How well does our current system of corporate governance address the big challenges of the future? Pt 1
Building Bridges
As one of our guests observed, corporate governance “used to be a sleepy backwater. Now, it's on the front pages of the papers all the time.” This is the first part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore how corporate boards are evolving to address new challenges. In this episode, George Anderson, Amy Borrus, and Megan Shattuck join us to discuss: - The purpose and design of corporate governance practices - Board and management responsibility toward stakeholders - Corporate governance evolution - Challenges of the current governance model is a Consultant...
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20. Why do some new ideas gain traction—while others fail to catch on? Part 2
Building Bridges
As comedian Robin Williams once observed, “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” This is the second part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore why some ideas gain traction, while others fail to catch on. In this episode, Ethan Beute, Mark Bonchek, Dara Treseder, and Sangram Vajre join us to discuss: - Ideas as personal truth - Influence of digital technologies - Aligning ideas and culture - The role of idea champions is Chief Evangelist of . He is co-author of , and host of the . is...
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19. Why do some new ideas gain traction—while others fail to catch on? Pt 1
Building Bridges
Victor Hugo once wrote that “There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.” This is the first part of our two-episode conversation in which we explore why some ideas gain traction, while others fail to catch on. In this episode, Ethan Beute, Mark Bonchek, Dara Treseder, and Sangram Vajre join us to discuss: - Characteristics of ideas that take hold - Value of storytelling and community to spread ideas - Ideas as products - Incremental vs. exponential adoption curves is Chief...
info_outlineThis is the first part of our two-episode conversation discussing which books individuals should read at different parts of their career.
In this episode, we discuss the characteristics of the best business books, the sort of material one might read at different stages of life, and how to realize lasting value from what we read.
Special guests Larry Gennari, Alex Graham, and Alison Jones join us to discuss:
- The importance of reading for any aspiring business leader
- The difference between great books and those that are less valuable
- Why history books and biographies are often better than "business books"
- Their favorite books (and why they make the list)
Alison Jones has more than 25 years of experience with leading publishers. She’s also the founder of Practical Inspiration Publishing & host of The Extraordinary Business Book Club podcast. Lastly, she’s written and edited several books, including This Book Means Business.
Larry Gennari is a co-founder of Gennari Aronson, LLP. He’s also the chief curator for Authors & Innovators, and writes a regular column about business books for the Boston Business Journal.
Alex Graham is an investment banker with over 30 years’ experience. He was previously on the board of the Writers’ Trust of Canada, and is the creator and leader of a popular book club for business leaders in Toronto.