We live in a world that seems more divisive and polarized than ever, and it’s common to describe this phenomenon as tribalism. But Michael Morris, professor at Columbia Business School, says that term is often misunderstood and that tribal instincts can in fact be very positive influences in society and at work. He uses the lens of cultural psychology to exp ... Show More
Feb 3
The Cognitive Science Behind Sudden Change
Difficult change is an inevitable part of life, but few of us have the skills and mindset to handle it well. That can trickle into our work and careers, but there are lessons from psychology that can help us be more resilient. Dr. Maya Shankar, cognitive scientist and host of the ... Show More
25m 11s
Dec 2024
Three Instincts Of Tribalism and Office Culture | Michael Morris
In today's episode, we talk about the value of tribalism with Michael Morris, the Chavkin-Chang Professor of Leadership at Columbia Business School and a Professor of Psychology at Columbia University. A renowned expert in leadership, negotiation, and cultural psychology, he has ... Show More
59m 17s
Aug 2025
The Best of The BoF Podcast: James Whitner on Culture, Community and Building Brands with Purpose
James Whitner — founder of The Whitaker Group and the visionary behind retailers such as A Ma Maniére and Social Status — reveals how culture, purpose, and empathy drive his approach to business. Whitner witnessed firsthand how marginalised communities often face limited options, ... Show More
40m 10s
Mar 2025
237 Phil Wagner - Polarization
<p>Have you ever avoided interacting with a colleague because the two of you see the world very differently? You know the conversation will be frustrating, so you just go another way. That, in its most basic form, is an example of polarization. We tend to think of polarization in ... Show More
22m 45s
Jun 2025
Think Being Honest Builds Trust? Not Always — Learn What Actually Works
What does it take to genuinely connect across cultures, identities, and worldviews? In this episode, we sit down with my friend Melisande Kingchatchaval Schifter to unpack the mindset and skillset behind powerful human connection. Having lived on multiple continents, worked acros ... Show More
38m 57s
Oct 2020
"We Need to Stop TipToeing Around Race"
In the midst of a powerful social justice movement, Quita Highsmith, VP and Chief Diversity Officer at Genentech, and Simone Hill, MBA/MA ’14, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) strategist at Omidyar Network, work to steer their organizations toward a new definition of corpo ... Show More
34m 52s
Mar 2023
Navigating Toxic Work Cultures & Office Politics: Q&A with Marty and Em
<p>Episode #238 // Leadership drives culture, culture drives performance.</p><br><p>Today, we look at a few very common team culture dynamics, and give some perspectives for how you might be able to handle these situations, when you find yourself in the middle of them.</p><br><p> ... Show More
16m 8s