Fearless Thinkers

Why do some conversations feel effortless while others fall flat? Harvard professor and author Alison Wood Brooks joins Fearless Thinkers to unpack the psychology behind meaningful dialogue. Drawing from her research and her book TALK, Alison reveals what makes conversations thrive, from the importance of asking good questions to the power of levity, kindness, and truly listening out loud.

NYU Professor Anna Tavis joins Peter Mulford to explore how AI is reshaping the workplace and what it means for leaders today. Drawing on her book Humans at Work, Tavis explains why organizations must shift from optimizing for efficiency to optimizing for humanity, how AI is driving a redesign of work itself, and what courageous leadership looks like in a time of technological transformation.

In this episode of Undiscovered Country, host Peter Mulford sits down with Columbia Business School’s Michel Tuan Pham to explore the psychology behind what makes an experience feel truly special. Drawing on his latest research, Professor Pham reveals three powerful drivers of unforgettable moments—uniqueness, meaningfulness, and authenticity—and how even the smallest touches can have a lasting impact. Together, they unpack how brands and leaders can design emotionally resonant experiences, and why AI may enhance or erode our sense of what’s real.

In this episode of Undiscovered Country, host Peter Mulford talks with Ron Pierantozzi, scientist, inventor, and innovation leader with thirty-two U.S. patents and a career spanning Air Products and Chemicals, Wharton, and Babson. Ron shares how to build a discovery, incubation, and acceleration pipeline, avoid leadership traps that stall learning, and use AI to accelerate innovation without losing discipline. He also reflects on the value of options thinking and offers personal advice on helping the next generation navigate uncertainty with critical thinking. Listen now!

In this Fearless Thinkers episode, BTS CEO Jessica Skon unpacks the realities and possibilities of AI at work. She shares: Her take? Simulation culture will be your organization's next superpower.

In this episode of Undiscovered Country, host Peter Mulford is joined by Mickey Connolly, founder of Conversant and co-author of The Communication Catalyst, to explore why better conversations—not better tools—are the key to better business results. Mickey shares practical frameworks for aligning teams, building trust, and creating lasting impact in the age of AI and hybrid work. Tune in to learn how thoughtful communication can reduce waste, drive commitment, and elevate leadership. Listen now! For transcript, click here.

Coaching is no longer just for executives behind closed doors. It’s now a personalized, tech-enabled lever for scaling leadership development across the enterprise. In this episode, Christine Tao, co-founder of Sounding Board, and Katrin Mulford, SVP and Global Head of Coaching at BTS, dive into what’s changed—and what’s possible. From navigating uncertainty to building mindset shifts that stick, they explore how modern coaching is accelerating readiness, driving retention, and evolving through AI.

How do you lead in a world where roles are changing faster than people can adapt? In this episode, Rick Cheatham talks with Steph Peskett and Abi Scott about the second major trend from their recent research: human sustainability. The conversation covers everything from AI disruption to proactive talent strategies—and why the most forward-looking companies are rethinking how they grow, support, and retain their people.

What happens when employees lose trust in their organizations? In part one of this two-part conversation, Steph Peskett and Abi Scott unpack one of the biggest trends reshaping talent development: the erosion of trust and power. Drawing on original research and real client stories, they discuss how even well-intentioned policies can backfire—and what leaders can do to rebuild confidence, clarity, and connection across the workforce.

Rebecca Stern, Head of Learning at Udemy, discusses how her team is using AI to build a stronger learning culture. From skills mapping to hands-on experimentation, Rebecca shares how Udemy is helping employees get comfortable with AI, stay curious, and build the skills they need to grow. Listen now! For a transcript, click here.

In the debut of our new Quarterly Fearless Thinkers CEO Mini-Series, BTS CEO Jessica Skon brings you inside the conversations she’s having with today's Fortune 500 executives on what it will really take to lead through the seismic shifts ahead. Join host Rick Cheatham for a peer-to-peer conversation you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of Undiscovered Country, host Peter Mulford is joined by Jenny Dearborn, Chief People Strategy Officer at BTS, to explore how data analytics is transforming leadership. Jenny shares how HR leaders can leverage insights from data to drive business outcomes, develop future-ready talent, and create a culture of agility. Tune in to learn how analytics can unlock untapped business potential and empower leaders. Listen now!

Join host Rick Cheatham in this episode of Fearless Thinkers as he talks with Richard Hargreaves, Managing Director at Corporate Research Forum (CRF), about how HR leaders can build a future-ready workforce in times of uncertainty. They discuss the importance of focusing on critical roles, prioritizing impact, and staying agile amidst disruption. Tune in to hear practical advice on how HR can prepare organizations for the challenges ahead. Listen now!

Join host Rick Cheatham in this episode of Fearless Thinkers as he sits down with Matt Tonken, a leader in BTS's Assessment practice, to explore the power of "future-back thinking" in creating frameworks for leadership success. They explore how organizations can build "success profiles" by imagining future scenarios and preparing leaders with the skills and mindsets necessary for those challenges. Tune in to learn how to create leadership frameworks that stand the test of time. Listen now!

Tune into this exclusive repost of the HIKE2 webinar featuring Peter Mulford and Peter Coffee, VP for Strategic Research at Salesforce. In this insightful session, they dive into the game-changing role of AI in transforming industries. From the shift to edge devices and AI’s impact on the future of work, to the rise of quantum computing—discover how these groundbreaking technologies are fueling innovation and reshaping the business landscape. Don’t miss out—listen now!

Join Rick Cheatham in this insightful episode of Fearless Thinkers as he talks with Peter about the transformational power of AI in business. They dive into the three key phases organizations go through when adopting AI—awareness, experimentation, and impact—and how they can successfully navigate each stage. From shifting mindsets to embracing AI as a virtual teammate, Peter shares how organizations can move from experimentation to scaling AI for real impact. Learn about the mindset shifts necessary to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape and unlock new opportunities for business growth. Listen now!

In this episode Peter speaks with Professor Alejandro Lozano Robledo. He is the Director of Future Mobility Design Lab at UC Digital Futures and Mobility Systems Design Professor University of Cincinnati. He’s a proven innovator with a record of successful collaborations, including with Boeing, NASA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Hyundai, and MIT. During our conversation we discuss the future of cities and mobility, the shift from car ownership to a subscription-based models, the implications of autonomous vehicle technology on various industries, the potential of level 5 automation and mobility as a service by 2040. the challenges of energy paradigm shift in the mobility industry, and other topics.

Join host Rick Cheatham in this episode of Fearless Thinkers as he chats with Miguel Sequeira, an expert in sales leadership, about the five key mind traps holding back sales teams. As we kick off the new year, it’s a great time to reflect on how to drive a winning mentality in your teams. From the ‘victim mindset’ to the ‘lone wolf mentality’, Miguel uncovers the common barriers that can prevent high sales performance and how to overcome them. Discover strategies for leaders to recognize and address these traps, empowering their teams to embrace change and drive success. Tune in now! For a transcript, click here.

Undiscovered Country - Preparing for the future now: how to lead your teams to thrive in uncertainty Join host Peter Mulford in this first episode of Undiscovered Country, a podcast about the future, and future back thinking at work. Here he speaks with Professor Rita McGrath, C-Suite advisor, professor at Columbia Business School, best-selling author of The End of Competitive Advantage, Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen, and Discovery Driven Growth, and one of the world’s top experts on leading innovation and growth in times of uncertainty. Together they explore a range of future-focused topics, including strategic inflection points and how to spot them; discovery driven growth as a tool to de-risk projects; the importance of agility and adaptability and how to develop them; the digital, dematerialized future; talent in a digital world; and AI as a partner along your journey. Listen now! For a transcript, click here.

Join host Rick Cheatham in this episode of Fearless Thinkers as he sits down with Zander Ross, a leader in Change and Transformation at BTS. Together, they explore why the biggest challenges leaders face often lie within—the habits, mindsets, and ways of working that no longer serve us. Zander shares five key shifts that leading organizations make to unlock growth, from customer-centric strategies to rethinking incentives and building new capabilities. Discover how small mindset changes can lead to big results and what it takes to align teams, systems, and leadership for the future. Listen now! For a transcript, click here.