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China's Ministry of Education asked universities to terminate or suspend some 12,200 degree programmes in a bid to address the high youth unemployment there. Most of these degrees are in social sciences and humanities. This episode discusses this topic and proposes a way forward for universities to reform their curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment.

Discover how internal uncertainty impacts leadership decisions. Learn actionable insights from experienced leaders about overcoming self-doubt and embracing leadership roles. In the dynamic world of leadership, the journey from uncertainty to confidence can be daunting. Many individuals find themselves grappling with internal doubts, often referred to as imposter syndrome, especially when transiti...

In our recent conversation, Mushtak Al-Atabi and Robert MacIntosh explored the structure of education in Iraq and Scotland and how our early experiences of war in Iraq and peace in Scotland shaped the individuals we became.

Understanding Impostor Syndrome in Leadership Learn about imposter syndrome in leadership roles, its impact, and how leaders can navigate uncertainty with authenticity. In the world of leadership, uncertainty can often trigger feelings of self-doubt, commonly referred to as impostor syndrome. Why does this happen, and how can leaders effectively manage these feelings? In this conversation, we will...

In today’s fast-paced business environment, many organisations grapple with the question of how long their strategic plans should last. Should they map out one or two years, or dare to envision a decade ahead? In this episode, we’ll explore insights from strategy experts Robert MacIntosh and Mushtak Al-Atabi, focusing on the metaphor of strategy as a map. Discover how to adapt your strategy in an...

Discover how effective leadership is needed when traditional maps fail. Learn insights on adapting leadership strategies in uncertain times. In today's rapidly changing world, we often find ourselves navigating uncharted territories in various aspects of life: financially, academically, and geopolitically. This uncertainty begs the question: how do we lead when the maps run out? In this blog p...

In our latest chat, we dove deep into the importance of names and how they shape our identities. From ‘Beyond the Ivory Tower’ to ‘When the Map Runs Out,’ we explored how each title reflects our vision and mission. Names carry weight; they tell a story. They can inspire hope or create confusion. The right name can bring clarity, while the wrong one might lead you down a rabbit hole of misinterpret...

Hiring, retaining, and developing (and eventually letting go) of people who are smarter than you has its own challenges, but it is one of the most important tasks that leaders do. This requires, besides the team's management, self-management for the leaders themselves to make sure that they do not develop insecurities that will harm the team's performance.

Ever felt lost in a world without a roadmap? Let’s talk about the realities of learning and leading today. In our latest discussion, we dive into the challenges of education in a rapidly changing landscape. A recent story highlights a student's struggle with a plagiarism accusation due to AI-generated work. It’s a reminder of how critical it is to verify our sources and understand the tools we...

The old cartographers used to write "Here be Dragons" at the edge of the map that the know. Metaphorically, we still do the same. We assign fear and uncertainty to what lies beyond what we are familiar with. Just like the case of Schrödinger’s cat that might be dead or alive, depending on the observer, that dragon we fear may not be there.

Are university degrees still worth it? A recent survey says 34% of Brits think they're not! In a world where the maps are struggling to keep up with the terrain, education costs are rising, and the value of a degree is under scrutiny, Mushtak Al-Atabi and Robert MacIntosh dive deep into the changing perceptions of higher education. When we went to university, it was a gateway to opportunities....

How to Frame Your Thoughts: Insights from a Decade of ConversationsDiscover how effective framing can transform your thinking and find solutions. Insights from a decade of conversations between educators Mushtak Al-Atabi and Robert MacIntosh. In our fast-paced world, the way we frame our thoughts significantly impacts the decisions we make. In this post, we explore insights from a decade-long dial...