Brain for Business

Originally from The Netherlands, Sacha had an accomplished career as learning & development professional spanning the energy and technology sectors for organisations including Shell, LinkedIn and Oracle. Yet in 2015, suddenly and completely unexpectedly, everything changed. Since that time Sacha has grappled with disability and overcome significant adversity. Along the way she has become a rights...

In modern mythology, most particularly that of Silicon Valley, failure and entrepreneurship go hand-in-hand. But is that always the case? And is there a “dark side” to entrepreneurial failure? Dr. Jeffrey Overall is an associate professor of entrepreneurship and strategy in the Faculty of Business and Information Technology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. He has held professo...

Over recent years many countries and organisations have introduced legislation and policies to support whisteblowers, yet the challenges remain. Although a vital function of any organisation, whistleblowing can have significant personal and professional impacts. In this episode we speak to Professor Kate Kenny of NUI Galway about her research into whistleblowing and discuss both the challenges and...

At a certain point all organisations are destined to fail, or are they? In a recent article, Professor Charles McMillan and colleagues explored some of the reasons why organisations fail and considered, in particular, three levels at which organisational failure can occur. We discuss these further with Professor McMillan in this episode of Brain for Business, Brain for Life. Professor Charles J Mc...

Little did we know when we kicked off Brain for Business 12 months ago how the year would turn out. So much has happened, and yet so much of our normal, everyday lives has been prevented from happening by Covid and associated restrictions. To reflect on the past year and everything that has happened in the world of the brain and behavioural sciences we are re-joined by Professor of Experimental Br...

In a recent article discussing the evolution of organisations, Professor Francisco Brahm and colleagues draw upon cultural evolution theory to explain their growth. But what does this tell us about how organisations have evolved and what makes them effective and productive? Francisco is Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School. His research focuses on two key...

While we might like to think that innovation is a rational and considered process with a clear formula for success, the reality is somewhat different. Trial & error, failure and even serendipity all play a crucial role in the innovation process and recognising the value of these is more important than ever. Dr Wendy Ross is a Senior Lecturer at London Metropolitan University. She is particularly i...

In times of great turmoil and uncertainty radicalisation can emerge as a real challenge. Yet what is it that really drives radicalisation and how can we better support de-radicalisation? Based in Stockholm, Robert Örell is an internationally sought-after trainer, speaker, workshop facilitator and expert in the field of radicalisation, disengagement, and intervention. Robert Örell has two decades o...

It is sometimes claimed that more needs to be done to increase diversity in the tech sector, yet beyond rules and legislation, what tools do we actually have to help that make that change a reality? Perhaps the answer lies in behavioural science and the application of approaches from that field to help drive greater change. Nurit Nobel is co-founder and CEO of Impactually, a management consultancy...

In a recent article Professor Ian McCarthy and colleagues argue that “Many organizations are drowning in a flood of corporate bullshit, and this is particularly true of organizations in trouble, whose managers tend to make up stuff on the fly and with little regard for future consequences.” So what are the implications of this? And is there a better way to deal with organisational bullshit? Ian Mc...

While the topic of neuroscience might seem daunting, in this episode we are joined by Professor Eric Chudler of the University of Washington who believes that even young children can be introduced to the wonders of the brain and start to appreciate how amazing and intriguing our brains really are. Professor Eric Chudler is Research Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the Uni...

In the modern era of social media it seems as though we are surrounded by influencers all trying to grab our attention. In this episode we explore some of the science behind how influencers actually "influence" us , and along the way try to make sense of the madness that is "virtual influencers"!Sara Kennedy is the Founder of Uplift Marketing and an award-winning marketing professional and an expe...

At its core, innovation is an innately human process involving individuals, teams and organisations striving to do things better and find better solutions. Consequently, while processes and technology are vital to innovation, just as crucial is an understanding of the psychology of innovation and the way that individuals, teams and leaders can become more creative and innovative. So what then is t...

More and more, leaders and organisations are having to grapple with the reality of a “multi-generational” workforce, with three or more generations working together side-by-side. But what challenges – and more importantly what opportunities – does this create? Ciara Kelly of Futureneerz has over 24 years business and leadership experience in marketing, strategic planning, graduate programme develo...

With resources stretched and organisations under more pressure than ever, the need for Learning & Development interventions to have the greatest possible impact and relevance has gained greater importance. So what does the evidence say? In this episode we are joined by Professor Claire Gubbins of Dublin City University to discuss how practitioners can draw on the research and evidence in order to...

In a recent article in The Conversation, Professor John Quiggin of the University of Queensland asserted that the Covid-19 pandemic might just have helped us to stumble on the biggest productivity increase of the century. But is this really the case? And if so, what are the longer term implications for societies, most particularly when the threat of the pandemic recedes? John Quiggin is an Austral...

While we might like to think that all accents are regarded equally, this is far from the case. Research has found that even in supposedly neutral and objective settings such as court rooms, accents can play a crucial role in defining our understanding of and engagement with a person with significant impacts on the outcome of criminal proceedings. Dr Lara Frumkin is a Senior Lecturer at The Open Un...

In this episode we speak to Professor Barry Quinn of Ulster University Business School and explore the motivations for our buying decisions. In particular, we examine some of the key drivers that lead us to buy local when the online options can be so appealing. Barry Quinn is Professor of Retail Marketing at the Ulster University Business School. His areas of expertise include SME growth and innov...

In this episode we speak to eminent psychiatrist and physician, Professor John Ratey of Harvard Medical School to discuss his decades-long research into the cognitive and psychological benefits of exercise for people of all ages. Professor Ratey is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in Neuropsychiatry. He has published o...

We hear alot about bias and biases, but how do we and should we deal with them? And what do they mean for us - both as individuals and leader? In this - our 10th episode - I am joined again by neuroscientist Professor Shane O'Mara of Trinity College Dublin to further explore some of the implications of cognitive biases for leadersShane O’Mara is Professor of Experimental Brain Research (Personal C...

The Covid-19 crisis has had a significant impact on consumer behaviour but what will this mean longer term? In this episode I am joined by Claire O’Rourke, Research Lead at Dentsu Consult in Dublin to examine how behavioural research can help businesses and leaders understand key market trends and, as a consequence, better connect with their clients and customers. Claire O'Rourke is an experienced...

When leaders think of organisational change they almost inevitably think of linear models of change and human behaviour. Yet as Jo Kearney, Leader of Learning Strategy for Facebook Global Operations by drawing on new approaches such as Organizational Network Analysis, more effective ways of leading and implementing change are possible. Jo Kearney leads learning strategy and change for Facebook’s g...

Do uncertain times call for different approaches to decision making? In this episode of the Brain for Business, Brain for Life podcast we speak to Professor Mark Fenton-O’Creevy of the Open University Business School and explore aspects of decision making under conditions of radical uncertainty. Mark Fenton-O'Creevy is Professor of Organisational Behaviour at The Open University Business School ....

What will the future hold for cities, work and mobility? Will the car continue to dominate the urban landscape or are new ways of doing things possible? And if new ways are possible, what will that mean for the way we live and work? In this episode of the Brain for Business, Brain for Life podcast we talk to Professor Jeffrey Schnapp, Chief Visionary Officer of Piaggio Fast Forward and discuss how...

We all know that walking can help keep us physically fit, but what about the cognitive, emotional and psychological benefits of walking? In this episode we speak to Dr Eric Soehngen, cardiologist and CEO of Walkolution to find out why walking is not only good for your heart but also for your mind. Eric Söhngen, M.D. is the founder and CEO of Germany-based treadmill desk manufacturer Walkolution. H...