Looking Outside

You can’t talk about the future without talking about change . But change can trick you, as guest Roger Spitz says on this latest episode, filmed live at the Rulebreaker Future Congress in Germany. Roger is the founding Chair of the Disruptive Futures Institute and, there, instructs global leaders in operating with agility in uncertain environments. The thing about change, Roger explains, is that...

We’ve been living digitally for decades. While many of us think romantically about an analog and physical existence, the future is not taking us back there, but deeper into a digital immersion. So says our guest today, Lyron Bentovim , CEO and President of The Glimpse Group, a company advancing augmented and virtual reality innovation. In this episode, filmed live at the Rulebreaker Future Congres...

Bioengineering is a complex field. In some industries it’s well established, in others still nascent. But one thing is true regardless of where it’s applied – it poses interesting problems. Dr Hamid Noori is one scientist motivated by solving these kinds of big, difficult and (he would say) fun problems. As CEO of bioengineering company, The Cultivated B, his work takes cellular technologies from...

For over two decades, Germany's most demanded futurist, Sven Gabor Janszky , has been gathering business leaders across Europe, exposing them to the 'rulebreaking' ideas that are changing our world. In this 24th edition of this event, Sven sits down with host (and international keynote at the congress) Jo Lepore, to discuss the science behind finding breakthrough ideas, particularly those in longe...

Arguably, the most important thing we need to do when thinking about the future, is to hold our strong opinions weakly. In the world of business strategy, the process of mapping what may lie ahead is usually tempted by a perfected, tried-and-true, method. So what happens when the forecast is wrong? On this episode of Looking Outside we are exploring the process and purpose of scenario planning , w...

Art is nice, but it’s not just a nice-to-have. And it’s not relegated to galleries, museums and exclusive circles. Not only is art everywhere in our lives, day in and out, it has a profound impact on our physiology, psychology and our ability to better connect with other people. On this episode of Looking Outside we speak with author of ‘Your Brain on Art’, Susan Magsamen . Having researched the t...

After 200 years of rapid growth, we’re seeing the consequences of putting the planet to the limits of habitability. But with future endless growth goals, and finite resources it’s time we get climate action into the P&L. On this episode of Looking Outside , we’re talking about sizing the impact of climate change, with climate and sustainability leader, David Carlin . David shares how climate f...

Futures Thinking: Spotting Signals in Turbulent Times In a world of constant flux and uncertainty, the ability to spot signals of change is an essential skill for navigating the future. Volatility has been escalating for over a decade, and the exponential growth of data presents both challenges and opportunities. Understanding how to contextualize signals through futures thinking is becoming incre...

Enough with the “Delving” – Staying Human in the Age of AI. Is AI making us better or worse at communicating? On one hand, platforms like ChatGPT have unlocked the ability to instantly create and customize vast reams of messaging – emails, social posts, and more. But the telltale fingerprints of AI, from overused words like “innovative” and “delve,” its preference for middle-of-the-road conclusion...

In this episode of Looking Outside we’re going back to the past and into the future - exploring the biggest transformative breakthroughs in science and technology that have and are transforming civilizations and societal values. Historian and futurist Jamie Metzl joins us to step into the world of science innovation, and equally to take a step back to see the bigger picture of human evolution. A l...

Today we’re going to get a little political, without the hostility. We’re exploring the bias, misrepresentation and dangers that come with ascribing to the ‘left wing’ and ‘right wing’ political spectrum. Political scientist, professor in political and constitutional studies, and co-author of ‘The Myth of Left and Right’ Verlan Lewis joins us to debunk the essentialist theory behind the left/right...

Being a marketer today is challenging enough, just imagine what it’s like for the next generation of brand leaders coming in to study marketing. On this episode of Looking Outside we explore the mindset and skills that future brand leaders are considering, with Professor of Practice at SMU Cox School of Business , Radhika Zaveri . With over 20 years experience leading billion dollar brands at some...

The very best philosophy is equal parts exhilarating and distressing. As one of the most profound pursuits towards greater understanding, through the love of wisdom, philosophy employs logic and demands critical thinking. But at worst it is left in the esoteric world of theory: disconnected from the world we live in. Out of touch. While philosophy is the practice of asking questions, experimental...

After 18 topics explored in 2024, it's time to reflect back on the themes covered, the insight gained and the ideas sparked from this year's podcast. ---------- More: Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com Connect with host, Jo Lepore Watch this episode on YouTube ---------- ⭐ Follow, like and rate the show - it makes a difference! ---------- Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh...

This is a cross-over podcast episode between Looking Outside and Ree-thinking Sustainability , co-hosted by Ben McCabe and Jo Lepore. This episode was filmed LIVE at the 2024 Dubai Future Forum , the largest gathering of futurists from around the world, which features some of the most prominent activists and climate innovators pushing for environmentally-sustainable futures. Together with Marc Buc...

On this episode of Looking Outside , we explore emerging risk - those issues seemingly in the further out future that we chose not to prioritize, act on, or perhaps even take seriously. Joining us is trained economist turned futurist, and CEO of futures think thank and advisory, the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, Daria (Dasha) Krivonos. Having led strategic risk management at Maersk (up...

On this episode of Looking Outside , we’re exploring the role of humor in business. Whether it’s silly doodles, clever cartoons, or gentle jokes, giving and having the permission to laugh at ourselves, at our industry, and at our field of expertise can elevate corporate culture. Sharing how he does this every day, with over 200 corporate clients, is world-leading marketing cartoonist, Marketoonist...

In this episode of Looking Outside , we're exploring the influence and influencers of Food Culture , and the sociological, traditional and modern values that are redefining how we innovative in food. We're joined for this conversation by Jing Gao , Founder & CEO of modern Chinese food brand Fly by Jing . Armed with a desire to help people discover new facets of Asian cuisine, driven by re-disc...

We’ve covered climate change and environmental causes on Looking Outside , focused on the innovation that’s helping to create new solves for existing problems. On this episode, we’re exploring the topic of environmental action from a human perspective, looking at what sociology and the study of historical patterns of collective human behavior can tell us about how we’re reacting to, and in some ca...

Investigating for the hidden truth, putting the puzzle pieces together, building a strong case, leading with objectivity … you might be thinking of the responsibility of business leaders. But today, we’re exploring these same familiar elements from the perspective of a field where this holds greater weight. We’re speaking about investigations & interrogations with private investigator and reti...

Today we’re looking outside a very familiar topic, exploring brand building that strengthens a brand’s equity today and sets it up for the future. We’re joined for this all-marketing chat with marketing rockstar, fellow podcaster, Founder of unmtchd.brands and former Puma exec, Oana Leonte . Oana recently pivoted from a marketing career working to build some of the world’s biggest brands, includin...

Today we’re taking a no BS look at the world of customer insights , leadership and business visioning with the President of software company Zappi , the ever-passionate and transparent leader, Ryan Barry . Having led Zappi for over four years, Ryan shares his no holds barred take on company leadership and people leadership, and it’s all anchored on authenticity. Years ago, Ryan says, he was called...

In this episode, we’re taking a look outside the very familiar food industry and a closer look at the emerging sector of plant-based food , with food activist, entrepreneur, and CEO and Co-Founder of Heura , Marc Coloma . Marc’s mission to transform the food industry starts with his own company, which acts as a symbol for what is possible; investing in food innovation to solve not just taste and n...

In this episode of Looking Outside , we explore personal and professional growth from the angle of imperfection ; not having it all figured out and embracing what you don’t know as a lever for learning. Even if you work for the world’s biggest and best brands. Just like our guest has done, Marco Andre , author of Imperfect Stories and Head of Marketing and Generative AI at Novartis . Marco shares...

On this episode of Looking Outside we discuss the evolved art of photography and its role in capturing the state of nature and wildlife as a form of conservation , with nature photographer and conservationist, Derek Nielsen . A photographer for more than 20 years, Derek’s journey to capture images from across each continent of the world started with curiosity; his passion for global travel prompte...