IAF Continued Conversations

For thirty years, the International Academy for Leadership shaped liberal thinkers, activists and future decision-makers from more than 130 countries. In this special episode of “IAF Continued Conversations,” host Sven Gerst speaks with Bettina Solinger, Verena Schweickhard and Axel Friedrichsen about what made the IAF unique. They discuss the spirit of Gummersbach, the craft behind great facilita...

Around the world, young people are taking to the streets to challenge failing governance systems, rising living costs and limited opportunities. These Gen Z movements share a common call for accountability, transparency and a political system that reflects their realities and expectations. In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers speak with Kathya Berra...

What does it really take for an organization to survive and succeed when resources are tight and expectations are high? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez from Anew - a leadership and organisational development agency speak with campaign, strategy and fundraising expert Jonathan Moakes about the real foundations of a resourced organization....

What makes land rights such a powerful tool for freedom, development, and climate resilience? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers speak with land governance expert Karol Boudreaux from Landesa about why secure property rights are at the heart of liberty and prosperity. They discuss why land titles alone aren’t enough, how customary systems can work...

The liberal world order is under pressure. Geopolitics is not making a comeback — it was never gone. In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst talk with geopolitical strategist Velina Tchakarova about shifting power dynamics, strategic uncertainties, and what the “bifurcation” of the global order really means. From the “Dragonbear” axis between Russia an...

What does it mean to practice “hard hope” in politics and leadership today? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez from Anew - a leadership and organisational development agency - talk with Lisa Witter, CEO of the Better Politics Foundation and co-founder of Apolitical. Lisa shares her ideas on “hard hope”, a mindset that faces reality, embrace...

What makes societies flourish—and what causes their decline? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers talk with Johan Norberg about his latest book Peak Human: How We Can Learn from the Rise and Fall of Golden Ages. Drawing on examples from Athens to Baghdad and Song China, Norberg shows how openness to ideas, trade, and innovation has fueled human prog...

What if a city could write its own rules? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst explore the world of charter cities together with Honduran attorney and IAF alumnus Christian Betancourt, who lives and works in Próspera on the island of Roatán. Charter cities are autonomous zones with their own regulatory frameworks for business, taxation, and labor —...

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez from Anew - a leadership and organisational development agency - talk with Gareth Morgan, Executive Director of Future Planning & Resilience for the City of Cape Town and coauthor, along with Peter Willis, of Becoming Good at Crises – A Field Guide for Leaders. Together they explore what it takes to lead i...

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers talk with Sam Bowman—editor at Works in Progress and Head of Publishing at Stripe—about what housing has to do with everything from economic growth to climate change, fertility rates, and even innovation. Bowman explains why cities that build more homes thrive, why restrictions on housing development worsen inequality,...

Is shrinking the state enough to fix it? Or do liberals need a better plan altogether? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst are joined by political economist Mike Munger for a wide-ranging discussion on state capacity, government reform, and the limits of bureaucracy. From Argentina’s dramatic cuts to Elon Musk’s failed DOGE experiment, they explore...

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez welcome Brent Colburn—former director for President Obama's reelection campaign and current Vice President for Global Public Affairs at Microsoft—to explore the challenge of leading with vision when the world demands instant results. From the “Yes We Can” breakthrough to today’s shifting political playbook...

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers explore the meaning and measurement of development with economist Lant Pritchett. Drawing on decades of research and practical experience, Pritchett makes a compelling case for distinguishing between national development and individual human flourishing—two processes often conflated in policy debates. The conversation...

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst sit down with political entrepreneur Josef Lentsch to explore how liberal parties can evolve beyond traditional models. Drawing on the founding of Austria’s NEOS, insights into participatory leadership, and the rise of political technology, they map out a strategy for renewing liberalism in a rapidly changing world. Wh...

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers sit down with seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor John Chisholm to tackle a critical policy question: How can we regulate markets without suffocating innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic dynamism? With over four decades of experience in the tech industry, Chisholm brings sharp insights into ho...

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez from Anew - a leadership and organisational development agency - sit down with leadership communication expert Pamela Hart, founder of Release Your Voice, to explore the vital art of authentic leadership communication. As leaders navigate an increasingly noisy world, the need for messages that truly resona...

Is Javier Milei the face of liberal populism in Argentina? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst are joined by Marcos Falcone to discuss the rise of Argentina's controversial president. Milei, a figure often compared to populists like Trump and Erdogan, has surprised many with his unique mix of anti-establishment rhetoric and classical liberal policies. Bu...

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers are joined by renowned economist and thinker, Deirdre McCloskey. Together, they explore the forces behind human prosperity and how ideas shape progress. McCloskey challenges the common belief that economic growth is driven by capitalism, institutions, or exploitation. Instead, she argues that liberty and the free...

In the latest episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Marike Gronewald and Clinton du Preez engage in a powerful discussion with crisis management expert Thomas Lahnthaler on the theme of Leading Beyond Crisis. With a career spanning from conflict zones in Afghanistan to organizational crisis management, Thomas brings a wealth of experience to the table, offering fresh perspectives on what i...

In the latest episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Ibrahim Bàbátúndé Anọ́ba, an African affairs analyst and editor of African Liberty. With Africa’s population expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the question arises: is this demographic explosion a monumental opportunity or an overwhelming challenge? Ibrahim...

In this engaging episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst explore the deeper aspects of liberalism with guest Alexandre Lefebvre, a professor of politics and philosophy at the University of Sydney. Lefebvre discusses his book, Liberalism as a Way of Life, where he challenges the conventional view of liberalism as just a political doctrine, proposing instead tha...

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversation, hosts Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Motoki Tonn, a specialist in mindful leadership, organizational culture, and digital accountability. With his extensive experience in Mergers & Acquisitions and social-impact initiatives, Motoki brings a unique perspective to the conversation about leadership in...

What role does immigration play in shaping societies—and how can we navigate its complexities? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers engage with three insightful guests: Mohammad Farid, Ken Schoolland, and Akash Budathoki. Together, they unpack the historical, social, and economic dimensions of migration, offering perspectives from Egypt, the U.S., a...

What is "the West"—and does the world still need it? In this thought-provoking episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst sit down with Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, author of The World Needs the West, to explore these pressing questions in light of shifting global dynamics. Together, they unpack how the concept of "the West" has evolved, both from within and from the...

Leadership comes with challenges—but what happens when the pressure at the top becomes overwhelming? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez sit down with leadership expert Jennifer Miksch to explore one of the most pressing issues in modern workplaces: burnout. Together, they discuss how to recognize the early signs of burnout, practical ways t...