Think: Business Futures

What happens when you finish your degree, full of hope and ambition - only to find that the job you trained for doesn’t exist, or isn’t hiring?  In the final episode of this series, Think: Business Futures explores the difficult and often disheartening journey that many young graduates face in low-income contexts, particularly in West Africa. Host Ali Aitken is joined by three expert guests from U...

What if the way we invest money could either destroy ecosystems or help regenerate them? In this episode of Think Business Futures, we’re taking a look at the urgent and complex challenge of the biodiversity crisis. But this isn’t just a story about endangered species or vanishing rainforests. It’s about the invisible threads that connect nature to our economy, our wellbeing, and our future. We ar...

Gambling is no longer just a weekend activity, it’s embedded in our daily lives. In this episode, Think: Business Futures talks to Professor Ross Gordon, Director of the Change for Good Research Centre and professor of Behaviour and Social Change At UTS Business School, about the growing normalisation of gambling and the strategic marketing tactics driving it. From sports betting apps to ‘bet with...

As businesses race to meet net zero targets, many are turning to digital technologies to reduce emissions. But are innovations like AI, sensors, and blockchain truly delivering on their promise? In this episode of Think: Business Futures, we explore digital carbonisation and how Industry 4.0 technologies are reshaping climate strategy with Dr Yun Shen from the UTS Centre for Climate Risk and Resil...

If you had $100,000 to grow your startup, how much would you spend on marketing? Chances are - not enough. And you wouldn’t be alone. In this episode of Think: Business Futures, Ali Aitken is joined by Dr Ofer Mintz, Associate Professor and Associate Head of Marketing at UTS Business School, whose research uncovers a surprising truth: more than half of startups don’t invest in marketing at all. Of...

Retirement isn’t what it used to be. More Australians are entering retirement with debt, navigating complex pension rules, and feeling financial pressure from family. To unpack how the concept of retirement is shifting, and the growing financial pressures facing older Australians, Think: Business Futures is joined by Kathy Walsh, Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) and Professor of Finance at...

What if your clothes could help fight climate change?  Think: Business Futures explores how Australia is leading the charge to decarbonise the fashion and textile industry. From circular supply chains and rental models to designing garments for reuse and repair, we look at how research, design, and industry collaboration are reshaping the future of fashion. We are joined by three experts working a...

What if the future of work for Indigenous Australians was shaped entirely by Indigenous voices? In this powerful episode of Think: Business Futures, we spotlight a groundbreaking initiative: the Centre for Indigenous People and Work at the University of Technology Sydney - the first Indigenous-led, self-determined research centre of its kind in Australia. We are joined by two trailblazers - Profes...

In this episode of Think: Business Futures, we dive headfirst into the shifting tides of women’s surfing.  We are joined by two changemakers making serious waves: Dr Ece (AJ) Kaya, Senior Lecturer at UTS Business School and co-author of the landmark report Waves of Change: Women and Surfing in Australia, and Shanice Ryder from Surfing Australia, who’s leading the charge to support women and girls...

How celebration can be a catalyst for change? In this episode, Think: Business Futures dives into the vibrant world of cultural festivals and their powerful role in shaping a more inclusive Australia. Ali Aitken is joined by Pavlina Jasovska, and Najmeh Hassanli, both senior lecturers at UTS Business School, and Fatma Mohamed from the Africulture's Festival Committee. The conversation explores how...

How does strategy get smarter when it’s designed? In a world of accelerating complexity, traditional strategy alone isn’t enough. Enter design thinking - a mindset and methodology that’s reshaping how we solve problems, lead innovation, and build resilient organisations. Joining Think: Business Futures for a dynamic conversation about design, systems thinking, and strategic leadership are Leanne S...

In today’s hyper-connected world, brand activism has emerged as a defining feature of modern marketing. No longer confined to selling products or services, brands are increasingly expected to articulate values, take stances, and engage with the social and political issues that matter to their audiences. This shift reflects a deeper transformation in consumer-brand relationships, where alignment on...

When you think about your best day at work, what made it great? Was it where you were, who you were with, or how you worked? In this episode we dive into a topic that's transforming workplaces around the world: hybrid work. Flexible work modes have come a long way since the 1980s, evolving from part-time and job sharing to the comprehensive hybrid systems we see today. But what does this mean for...

Imagine if language barriers, unfamiliar systems, and everyday challenges constrained your dreams for your children's education. This is the reality for many immigrant families living in our diverse communities here in Australia. In this episode of Think: Business Futures we are looking at the challenges faced by immigrant parents as they navigate their children's educational pathways. Joining the...

Is digital banking making fraud easier? Think: Business Futures looks beyond bricks to the evolving world of digital banking and the rising tide of consumer fraud. We explore the impact of bank branch closures on consumer behaviour, the sophisticated tactics used by fraudsters, and the measures financial institutions are taking to combat these threats. Bringing invaluable insights to this conversa...

Can businesses truly drive social change, or are they merely paying lip service to social responsibility?  In this episode of Think: Business Futures, we delve into the fascinating intersections of business, society, and social change. We explore the role of business in shaping our world, examining the different scales of capitalism, from small radical businesses to large corporations, and how eac...

In this powerful episode of Think: Business Futures, we explore how domestic violence extends beyond the home and into the workplace, affecting productivity, safety, and economic security. For this important discussion we are joined by Dr Mahajla Gavin, senior lecturer at UTS Business School, and an expert on domestic violence workplace policies, Thomas Shortridge, Policy and Research Project mana...

As the country races towards a more sustainable future, what are the broader social and economic impacts of widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Australia? We are joined by Theresa Harada, a researcher leading the Race for 2030 project, which aims to understand Australian consumers' attitudes towards electric vehicles, and Nathan Moore, a PhD student from UTS Business School who focuses on...

How do you balance your own consumption habits with sustainability?  In this episode, we delve into the complex relationship between consumerism and sustainability. Featuring insights and highlights from a recent panel discussion held during the 2025 Climate Action Week at UTS, the conversation covers the urgency of decarbonisation, the impact of consumer behaviour, and the role of businesses in d...

Welcome to a new series of THINK: Business Futures! In this first episode we ask the question: How have international climate policies, particularly during Trump's presidency, influenced Australia's efforts to decarbonise? We are joined by Dr Mona Mashhadi Rajabi, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Centre of Climate Risk and Resilience at UTS, and Professor Damien Giurco, an expert in sustaina...

Recently the University of Technology Sydney's Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research, the UTS Business School and the Diversity Council Australia (DCA) announced that they will partner on a new Gari Yala report, due to be released in 2025. Gari Yala means 'speak the truth' in the Wiradjuri language. The Gari Yala report aims to detail the lived experience of First Nations Austral...

In this episode of Think: Business Futures, we’ll be diving into just one area of personal finance–superannuation. What is super? Why is a percentage of your potential income siphoned off into a super account I can’t touch for decades, and what does that mean for your future? And, if you’re a woman, why are you retiring with–on average–almost 25% less super than men? To discuss these and other iss...

Think: Business Futures is back, with another stimulating panel discussion. In this episode, we ask the question: are social enterprises the future of business? Joining our panel discussion are Associate Professor Paul Brown from the UTS Transdisciplinary School, Shaun Christie David, the founder of Plate It Forward, and Dr. Adam Cohen, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management from UTS Business School....

Think: Business Futures is back, with another stimulating panel discussion. In this episode, we ask the question: are social enterprises the future of business? Joining our panel discussion are Associate Professor Paul Brown from the UTS Transdisciplinary School, Shaun Christie David, the Founder of Plate It Forward, and Dr. Adam Cohen, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management from UTS Business School....

Following on from the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi we return to the Australia China relationship and find that it is moving ahead despite major headwinds. Our guest this week was Professor James Laurencson. Produced and hosted by Anthony Dockrill